Thursday, June 22, 2006

Sounds like a pretty good starting six!

The NHL announced it's all rookie team for 2005-06 on Thursday and while on paper it may say that they are rookies, the six named played more like long time veterans during the season.

New York Rangers Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was selected as the all rookie goaltender for his stellar work with the Broadway boys this past season.

The back end was anchored by a couple of solid studs, Dion Phaneuf of the Caglary Flames who became legendary this season for his crushing bodychecks and creative play in the Calgary end all year long.

The Ottawa Senators Andrej Meszaros also got the nod for the back end, Meszaros who made the step up from the WHL's Vancouver Giants to the big leagues with hardly a missed step, so reliable was he this year that when the Sens ran into injury trouble during the playoffs they had no concerns what so ever about throwing him into the heat of battle.

The front line of the rookies has one thing in common for sure, scoring goals is not something that would be a problem. Washington's Alexander Ovechkin got the nod, as did Sid the Kid, Sidney Crosby from Pittsburgh, the two waged a terrific battle all year long for first year supremacy in the NHL. Joining them on the forward line is Brad Boyes of the Boston Bruins who surprised many this season with his poise on a not particularly good Bruins hockey team.

Point totals for the three show that if together they would walk over any competition, Ovechkin tallied 106 points on the year, Crosby 102 and Boyes 69 points. Giving them a combined points total of 277 points.

Which would no doubt be good for a few W's in the won-loss column over the course of season.

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