Latest rookies helping change face of the NHL
By NEIL STEVENS -- Canadian Press

Twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been an instant success with the Vancouver Canucks, and other rookies around the NHL are making names for themselves, too.

With 30 teams now, there are plenty of opportunities, and there are so many new faces that it is difficult to keep track of them all.

The Sedins, swift stickhandlers from Sweden, are emerging as catalysts for what might emerge as a formidable Vancouver power play, and they have helped the Canucks get off to a great start. Coach Marc Crawford has shown no hesitation in giving the 20-year-olds full-time roles.

"He's pretty good in being at the right place at the right time so he's not very tough to pass to," Henrik Sedin says about skating with his brother.

They are here to stay.

So, too, are Brad Richards and Andrei Markov.

Richards, 20, of Montague, P.E.I., the Canadian junior player of the year last season when he scored 71 goals for the Rimouski Oceanic, has won permanent employment with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With five points going into his team's Wednesday game against the Minnesota Wild, Richard was tied for the team points lead with Vincent Lecavalier. They were linemates in Rimouski, and Tampa Bay selected them with its first two draft picks two years ago. Lecavalier centres the Lightning's top line, and Richards is centring the second line as well as working the point on one of the team's two power-play units.

Markov, 21, a Russian on Montreal's defence, also will put in a full season in his first year in the NHL. The Canadiens see rookie-of-the-year potential in the six-foot native of Moscow, who has improved by leaps and bounds since being drafted 162nd overall two years ago.

Justin Williams and Martin Havlat are two of the most impressive teens.

Williams, 19, of Cobourg, Ont., has made the jump to the Flyers from the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. The Flyers' first pick in the 2000 entry draft has so impressed coach Craig Ramsay that Ramsay has been using him on the right side of Keith Primeau on the first line.

Havlat, 19, a Czech centre, was Ottawa's first pick, 26th overall, in 1999. Havlat scored his first NHL goal in Toronto in a 4-0 victory over the Maple Leafs last Saturday night.

"Martin is an excellent young player," says coach Jacques Martin. "He demonstrated through camp that he has the speed to play in the NHL and has a great understanding of the game."

Added captain Daniel Alfredsson: "He's definitely an up-and-coming star."

Some come right out of junior, while others have paid dues in minor-pro leagues.

Ottawa stowed Finnish goalie Jani Hurme in the IHL for three years before bringing their second 1997 draft pick, 58th overall, up this season. At 25, he's ready to star.

Eric Belanger of Sherbrooke, Que., is impressing the Los Angeles Kings. The 22-year-old centre spent the last three years with AHL teams in Fredericton, Springfield, Mass., and Lowell, Mass.

Two weeks into the new NHL season, Belanger and the Flyers' Williams were tied for most points by a rookie with six.

Belanger isn't the only rookie centre with the Kings. With veteran Jozef Stumpel absent in a contract dispute, Steve Reinprecht of Edmonton is filling the void. Reinprecht, 24, played at the University of Wisconsin and the Kings signed the free agent when he completed his college career last spring. The way Reinprecht is playing, Stumpel might want to find a pen.

Shane Willis, 23, a right-winger from Edmonton, showed in scoring 35 goals for Cincinnati's IHL team last winter that he was capable of playing in the NHL. The Carolina Hurricanes are giving him the chance.

Dan LaCouture is getting a long look from new coach Craig MacTavish in Edmonton. After three AHL seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs, LaCouture is eager to stick with the Oilers this time. The Hyannis, Mass., native, 23, scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday night.

"This afternoon, I was lying in bed and I had a hard time falling asleep," he said after his team's 6-1 victory over Boston. "I got the feeling deep down inside that I was going to score.

"It couldn't have come against a better team with all my friends and family watching on TV."

The expansion Columbus Blue Jackets are pleased with David Vyborny, 25, a Czech right-winger who was drafted by Edmonton in 1993, played an AHL season for the Oilers' Cape Breton farm team, then returned home to stay -- until Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean looked him up last spring.

For all we know about them, some rookies might have arrived from outer space.

Somebody by the name of Reto Von Arx is playing for the Chicago Blackhawks. He's from Switzerland, apparently. He's not in the NHL media guide, after being an afterthought at the 2000 entry draft. The 24-year-old forward was Chicago's 14th choice, 271st overall -- one of the last men taken. A lot of fans were scratching their heads when he scored two goals in his first two games.

"Who's he?" they were asking.

Maxim Sushinsky is a 26-year-old forward from Leningrad who has been one of Minnesota's few productive shooters so far. He was the Wild's fourth pick, 132nd overall, in June.

The next two weeks will be a nervous time for players such as Taylor Pyatt of the New York Islanders who are on NHL rosters today but who are eligible to return to their junior teams before they play a 10th game.

The Sedins, Richards, Williams, Havlat, Pyatt and all the other rookies want to be successful in the big league, and one of them will pose with the Calder Memorial Trophy next June.

Magnus Arvedson gave Lalime all the offense he needed with 7:36 left in the first period before 19-year-old rookie Martin Havlat scored his first NHL goal on a breakaway 3:06 into the second.

Havlat turned around the early in the second period, intercepting a clearing pass by rookie Donald MacLean, who was playing his first game for the Maple Leafs. Havlat broke in alone down the left wing and beat Curtis Joseph with a slap shot to the top left corner of the net.

"I poked the puck and had a breakaway," said Havlat, who also recorded an assist on Rob Zamuner's shorthanded goal that made it 3-0 in the third period. "I saw Curtis Joseph think that I will go backhand and I shoot and score. A nice first goal."

"(Dimitri) Yushkevich gave me a good pass and I was away with some speed and I thought instead of stickhandling by him, I'll throw it by (Havlat)," MacLean said. "But he blocked it and took it away and scored."

Sens Wade into season without Redden
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

BOSTON -- The Senators are going to have to start the season without D Wade Redden, but D Sami Salo could be ready for a return.

While Redden skated with his teammates during practice in Portsmouth, N.H., coach Jacques Martin told reporters Redden's hand isn't ready for action, but Salo's ankle appears to be strong enough for him to play in tonight's opener.

"It feels pretty good. The only problem is there's some pain when I skate backwards," said Salo. "We'll have to see how it is (this morning). It feels pretty good."

Should Salo not be able to play, the Senators will insert Shane Hnidy into the lineup. Redden has been placed on the injured reserve list, but can be taken off at any time.

A NEW STOPPER IN THE ORGANIZATION: The Bruins signed G Peter Skudra to back up Byron Dafoe, but he won't be in the lineup against the Senators. Skudra, who didn't attend training camp, has been sent to the Providence Bruins to get in shape before making an appearance here. Instead, Boston will dress Andrew Raycroft for the time being. Once Skudra, 27, is ready, he'll be called up to Boston. "With the injury to John Grahame, we felt we needed to sign a goaltender with NHL experience to serve as a backup to Byron Dafoe," said Boston assistant GM Mike O'Connell.

THIS N' THAT: Senators tough guy Andre Roy is going to have to earn himself a spot in the lineup. After signing a two-year contract last summer, it appears he'll be a healthy scratch against the Bruins. The Senators are willing to move Roy, but there haven't been any takers ... Rookie W Martin Havlat has traded in his training camp jersey No. 37 for No. 9 while D Karel Rachunek has given up No. 44 for No. 23. Both will wear them in their debuts tonight.