2008-09 Crowder Award: Rookie of the Year

[Merlin401]

Overall I'd say that this year's Rookies were pretty weak compared to some previous year's crops.

Nominees:

B.J. Crombeen - St. Louis Blues
After getting waived early in the year by Dallas, St. Louis scooped up this solid player who can fight and score a few goals as well on November 17. He added 12 fights for the Blues and 11 goals, an unusual combination of skill and grit. Although not the most fearsome fighter, he did lay waste to Derek Dorsett in one of the year's best KOs

Mitch Fritz - NY Islanders
The Islanders flirted with this mammoth fighter (6'8", 258) throughout the year, giving him a few call-ups throughout the year. Boogaard-East managed to get himself into 20 games and 6 fights. In early November he sent a shock-wave through the fight community by beating Georges Laraque. Next call-up saw him beating Andrew Peters but getting edged out by Eric Godard. A call-up at the end of December gave rise to a bloody loss from Colton Orr. He rounded off the year with a great fight with Riley Cote and a win over David Koci.

Steve MacIntyre - Edmonton Oilers
Nearly identical to Fritz in every way: Size (6'6", 265), playing time (22 games), fights (6), and first loss (Eric Godard). Unfortunately for Big Mac, Godard got him good, breaking his orbital bone and KO'ing most of his season. Up till then it had been an unlikely journey, getting claimed by Edmonton and making the team as the gigantic answer to divisional beasts like Boogaard, who he fought to a draw in late January. The rest of his fights were wins, although mediocre competition (Prust, Davison, Cote, Koci).

Joel Rechlicz - NY Islanders
The Isles found some life in late-season call-up, Joel "the Wrecker" Rechlicz. In just 17 games he amassed 68 PIMS and 8 fights. Although not a heavyweight, he provided some excitement and even managed to beat the likes of Riley Cote in a excellent fight. He also was a great little story as he was promoted from the ECHL to the AHL, played only 4 games, and got the call into the Show due to a great work-ethic (and perhaps an awesome AHL fight with Josh Gratton to boot).

Luke Schenn - Toronto Maple Leafs
If you're looking for a skilled contribution to the NHL, look no further than Luke Schenn who made the jump directly from the WHL to the NHL with Toronto and had a steller year on the blue-line while dropping the gloves 7 times (in addition to tallying 14 points). He started out the year game but suspect, getting wrecked by Chris Neil and Rob Davison. However the scrappy rookie turned it around and won a few fights down the stretch, including surprising Jared Boll. He will be a solid force on the blueline for years to come in Toronto.

Chris Stewart - Colorado Avalanche
Chris Stewart turned in a great all-around year for the losing Avalanche, scoring 19 points and getting into 8 fights with good success. He proved himself a top-class middleweight by beating fighters like Arron Asham, Jared Boll, and Travis Conboy. He even stepped up in class when needed, taking on Colton Orr at the end of a lopsided game and catching a beating for doing so. He should be a solid power forward for many years.

My Pick:
Reaaaaaaaaaly tough pick here. They were all so mediocre in some way or another. Fritz, MacIntyre and Rechlicz impact was limited by playing time. Schenn was a great surprise but more a player than a fighter. Stewart and Crombeen were solid but unspectacularly in between. I'll go with Chris Stewart. Good fighter. Good player. Welcome to the NHL. I doubt he'll win the voting.


Previous Winners:

2003-04: Andrew Peters
2005-06: Brian McGrattan
2006-07: D.J. King
2007-08: Riley Cote

[JKidd]

Had to go with Crommer on this one. He was exiled from Dallas, only to be gathered up in St. Louis and then provide not only the offense - but a damn good number of fights, including a hell of a KO along the way. One of the few guys with 10+ fights and 10+ goals.

[Agitator97]

I just can't pick Mac/Fritz/Wrecker because of playing time. Can't picture the winner only playing 20 games. Mind you if they were dominant in their bouts during those games, then possilbly...but it didn't happen.

Being an Avs fan Chris Stewart was one of the few bright spots this year. He put up more points than expected, and having seen him scrap in junior he came up and did what he's capable of, even stepping up against Orr.

Vote - Stewart

[stevecanuck16]

I'm gonna go with MacIntyre. Only one in this crop to have real top 10 potential.

[Snipes19]

I voted for Crombeen. He's a solid all-around player that actually helped his team win and make the playoffs. No he's not a heavyweight, but the heavyweights on this poll didn't do much at all. So I think it should go to Crombeen.

The other candidates really didn't do much.

- Rechlicz didn't beat any legit fighters. Kostopoulos, Konopka, and Conboy? What is he doing fighting them?
- Fritz and MacIntyre weren't that impressive either and neither did enough to make the top 10.
- Stewart is a similar player to Crombeen, but Crombeen was better.
- And Schenn will be good in the future, but he doesn't fight a lot like the other guys and was on a bad team. So he's not deserving of it.

So I see only once choice to be honest... and I'm not being a homer.

[DARCY T]

chris stewart.i hate colorado but i would like to have him on my team

[OneilltheGiant]

Fritz for me ...

He edged one of the best fighters of this era in Laraque. Also beat Cote, Peters, Rupp, Brookbank, Koci and had a close fight with Orr...

Very impressive 1st season in the NHL....

[Isles4life]

Probably the best three fighters on the list just didn't play enough to take this award for me.

I've gotta go with Chris Stewart. He pretty much flew under the radar playing for a miserable Colorado team, but had a real solid rookie season both with the gloves on and off. Not real great competition, but I'd say he deserves the honor.

[majew17]

I have to write-in Derek Dorsett here.

[Grittzkey]

Any of them could win.. But i went with BJ. He's game. and he's a good player..

I hope Joel can stick around i like his style.. I can live without Mitch. Stewert seemed game. Schenn didn't impress much.. and then and Mac is a legit heavy, but his broken orbital lost him my vote.

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by majew17

I have to write-in Derek Dorsett here.

I actually agree. He is my ROTY but I have to choose someone on the ballot so its B.J. Crombeen.

[Boogeyman2383]

Mitch Fritz gets my vote for taking down Georges Laraque

[Blouin]

steve from Edm

[BStreetBullies]

Shallow pool here, but I like Stewart's potential.

[Boogeyman2383]

Originally Posted by stevecanuck16

I'm gonna go with MacIntyre. Only one in this crop to have real top 10 potential.

I disagree, I know Steve MacIntyre has top ten potential, but Mitch Fritz also has high hopes. He took down the champ, Georges Laraque and looked impressive vs. Colton Orr, and Riley Cote.
The award will be between Fritz and Big Mac