Taking nine players from the DobberHockey Top 10 Prospects list, and tossing in goalie Simeon Varlamov...let's take a look at how camp is progressing.

1) John Tavares - New York Islanders

He has only played two pre-season games but Tavares has a long way to go. He appears lost on the ice at times and although he clearly belongs in the NHL, he is not close to his upside as a first-line center. He has scored one routine assist in two games. It's very early but it looks like it's going to take some time for him to adapt. Expect a season similar to Steve Stamkos' rookie campaign. Tavares' Calder chances will depend on how quickly he adapts to the NHL game and how often he scores once he does. Tavares is handicapped terribly with an incredible lack of offensive support. Tavares should score at least 45 points.  

2) Nikita Filatov - Columbus Blue Jackets

The young Russian added 17 much needed pounds of muscle over the summer. Filatov's frail build last season was reminiscent of teammate Derick Brassard whose light frame cost him the Calder. Filatov is going to need all the help he can get with veteran-loving coach Ken Hitchcock behind Columbus' bench. Hitchcock uncharacteristically referred to the "new NHL" as a young man's league when Filatov said he would consider playing in the KHL if he was demoted. The rhetoric died down considerably after Freddie Modin went down with an injury on September 20th. With Modin out 4-6 weeks, Filatov will definitely start the season with Columbus and likely with Brassard who he has played with consistently. Filatov has three points in four games with about 16 minutes of ice time. Expect his minutes to decline once the season begins but expect 45 points anyway.

3) James van Riemsdyk - Philadelphia Flyers

van Riemsdyk has played well in the pre-season. From all accounts he worked hard during the summer and although the Flyers have considerable depth, there is a spot available on the left side, albeit not in the top six. van Riemsdyk has three goals and four points in four games averaging 15 minutes of ice-time. On almost any other team he would have a good chance to make the top-six, but this Flyer team is a Cup contender and doesn't need him at the moment. After playing only 11 AHL games last season, expect the New Jersey native to be up and down between Adirondack and Philadelphia, especially if there are any top-six injuries.    

4) Simeon Varlamov - Washington Capitals

Washington's brass have taken the obvious (Jose Theodore's $5 million contact) step of anointing Theodore their No. 1 goalie. Dobber has stated publicly that this will only be a temporary situation and that Theodore will eventually give way to Varlamov. How long that takes and how many games Varlamov plays will largely determine his Calder chances. Varlamov has two wins in three games and has enjoyed a solid pre-season     

5) Claude Giroux - Philadelphia Flyers

Giroux is pretty much ensconced in Philadelphia's lineup after posting 32 points in 48 games (including playoffs) last season. Only 21, Giroux still needs to gain about 20 pounds to take the constant pounding he's going to receive over a full NHL season. Aside from his frame, however, Giroux has nothing left to prove in the minors and should score at least 50 points this season. Giroux has three points in four pre-season games despite playing only 15 minutes and averaging four minutes a game killing penalties.

6) Matt Duchene - Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche wants to know as much as possible about Duchene before they decide to keep him for his 10th NHL game or send him back to junior. Duchene has played 16 minutes per game for five games and has seen an average of three minutes on the power play. He has three points so far and has played well defensively, but the Avs don't want to rush their most prized asset. The problem is that Colorado has only Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk, Wojtek Wolski and Marek Svatos in their top six. There will be a lot of pressure to keep Duchene in Colorado. Expect him to stick. He's looking more and more like a top Calder candidate every day. Expect 50+ points.   

7) Cody Hodgson - Vancouver Canucks

The sneaky good Hodgson has averaged only 12 minutes of ice time over five pre-season games. Vancouver's depth at forward is the only thing holding Hodgson back from the Calder Trophy. For example, Hodgson is very responsible defensively and yet has seen almost no time on the penalty kill. Hodgson is more than ready for the NHL but the Canucks are going to have to find a way to keep getting him at least 12 minutes a night in order to keep his development on track. Hodgson has scored twice in the pre-season. Look for slow, steady development and about 40 points.    

8) Jamie Benn - Dallas Stars

A goal-scoring power winger, the 6'2, 205-pound Benn continues to defy expectations. After scoring almost a goal per game in the WHL last season, Benn has scored four times in four pre-season games despite playing on the third line 30 percent of the time. Benn has averaged 15 minutes of ice-time per game but has received more than his fair share of power play time which bodes well for his regular season. His average of four minutes of power play ice-time is a direct result of Dallas' dearth of top-six talent. Mike Ribeiro, Brendan Morrow, Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson are the only true top-six forwards, Sergei Zubov is gone and if Morrow gets injured, Ribeiro's points will disappear. This team needs Benn as much as Colorado needs Duchene. If Morrow goes down and Benn clicks with Ribeiro, look for Benn to score 55 points and win the Calder.

9) Ville Leino - Detroit Red Wings

Talk about a sweet situation. Leino, 25, can play centre or right wing and has the talent to play in Detroit's top-six. He'll likely start the season on the second line with Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams. He has scored three points in three games although his four minutes of power play ice-time per game bodes well for his regular season. An injury is the only thing stopping him from getting 50 points although his age and his great support will take away some Calder votes.        

10) Jiri Tlusty - Toronto Maple Leafs

If anyone has been a major disappointment on this list it has been Tlusty. After a solid AHL season, it looked like Tlusty was ready to break through. Instead, the "Frat Pack" of Viktor Stalberg, Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak has grossly overshadowed Tlusty's pre-season performance. Even 18 year old first rounder Nazem Kadri has made Tlusty look ordinary. Tlusty is destined to spend most of the season with the Marlies. He will see some time with the Leafs because the young guns are not going to be able to play a full NHL season after playing in college.

Comments (6)

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Stuart McDonald said:

Ribeiro and Hodgson I sincerely believe that Hodgson is NHL material and that he's ready right now! One of his weaknesses has been his skating, but I've seen enough of him to know that he is one of the smartest players you're going to find anywhere. That will stand him in good stead at the NHL level. If he gets dropped it will only be because of Vancouver's depth and nothing else. He could make most NHL teams. As for Ribeiro, he's going to have to prove to me last season wasn't a fluke. He's been too soft for too long for me to sit back and say with confidence that he can do it on his own.

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September 26, 2009
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Stuart McDonald said:

Howdy folks! Except for Varlamov I took the list right from the top of Dobber's Top Prospects list. I probably would have put Anisimov on my own list (I drafted him in my keeper league). The other three are defensemen which I decided to stay away from. Maybe I'll look at D next week. As for the Calder race I have an article in Dobber's Fantasy Guide where I list my top 20 candidates. I am well aware that Giroux doesn't qualify and nor did I mention anything about him and the Calder in my article. Like I said, I took nine of 10 players from Dobber's Top 10 list of prospects. I don't think Tavares is Daigle because at least Daigle could skate. I've interviewed Tavares though and he was as mature a kid as I've interviewed and I've interviewed about 100. Tavares has a tonne of mental toughness and will eventually fulfill his promise - just not this year.

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September 26, 2009
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Oilers rock 99 said:

swiss cheese!! your list has as many holes in it as swiss cheese!! the order is completely wrong and you forgot Guys like Hedman, Artem Anisimov, Erik Karlsson, Alex Goligoski?? if you are listing players that will contend for the calder then guys like Nikita Filatov, Benn, Hedman, Karlsson, Ville Leino have to be at the top Claude Giroux doesnt even qualify for the calder so should he even be on this list?? here is a News flash John Tavares = Alexander Daigle, both were extreme talents in Junior and both drafted to horrible teams and Tavares will be rushed and put in impossible situations for a Kid just look at the past winners of the calder and who they had to play with none of them had the entire weight of the franchise on their sholders. Mason, Kane, Malkin, Ovechkin all had support. JT is on an ISLAND (pretty witty island-islanders ) by himself.

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September 26, 2009
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steve said:

	... Good read, I dont agree with pretty much everything said on Hodgson, but w.e. Did Ribeiro's points disapear last season when morrow got hurt?...
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September 26, 2009
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Eric Daoust said:

	... I'm a bit worried about Tavares this year. Unlike Stamkos, he doesn't even have any other proven talent to line up with. Stamkos had St. Louis, Malone and others. Granted, I think Tavares is a lot more talented than Stamkos. He'll figure it out eventually.
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September 26, 2009
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Nikos Kioussis said:

... I have to disagree with your comment that Hodgson is "more than ready for the nhl". This preseason his skating has not been good enough, and he had made several giveaways leading to scoring chances. Vigneault has stated that Hodgson is 100% after his back problems. At this point Hodgson is looking like a tweener: too goo for junior, but not good enough (yet) for the nhl. If he was old enough he would be starting in the AHL this season, but since he is not he will be sent back to junior, canucks have to much depth.

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