MLN FAB50 Hockey 2007
The best of the best in minor league hockey. Our 5th anniversary edition goes black tie to bring you the class acts of the NHL player development system.
The fifth anniversay of the MLN FAB50 Hockey rankings represents a bunch of firsts on the way to our no. 1 prospect in minor league hockey.
The NHL continues to evolve from the also-ran of major league sports to the sport on the cutting edge of the modern game and business models. This year, tightening of the rules in the National Hockey League (NHL), particularly on defensemen, and eliminating tie games, have given a new look and pace to the game that takes the ice at the top level of the sport. |
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That being said, the second best hockey league in the world, the American Hockey League (AHL) has been both testing ground for some of these new ideas, and for the development of the next-generation players who will play under these new rules.
In a league filled with top-notch talent, who are the best fifty? The ones who advance.
Our MLN FAB50 Hockey rankings are both a movement and a talent ranking. We take into account not only the player and their talents, but also the system in which they play. If the depth chart is jammed up with prospects, even the best player can find themselves stuck in place, or facing a trade that may or may not improve their chances to make the NHL.
We also include realities like the split system used by the Oilers, who do not have a development club directly, but share with other teams. This can affect the ability of a player to develop, particularly when coaches' first loyalties lie with their primary parent club. |
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New Rules
The other new reality that we are looking at are the new NHL rules themselves. With the goals moved back, and defensemen limited in their physicality in the corners and in front of the net, the burn rate on D-men looks to become one of the big factors in the volume of players needed lined up behind particular positions.
Not that goaltenders weren't important before, but the changes in the goaltenders' gear improves scoring opportunities, and means that they too, will be playing much tougher, longer games.
The AHL system has always developed defensive players very slowly. If the rules generate more injuries or burn out, they may need to rethink that pace, or revisit the rules changes.
We think that the NHL, which wants higher scoring games to compete with the excitement levels that primary television rivals like hoops and NASCAR generate, is not going to be changing the rules to the old-school style any time soon. Physical hockey plays well live, but it is following the puck that plays on HD television.
The upshot will be that speed and deft handling is king on offense, and reading the play and being in the right place at the right time, while always important to the defense side of the game, becomes doubly so when there are fewer avenues to slow down or stop the speedsters.
Our MLN FAB50 Hockey 2007 picks reflect the realities of the game which many of these young players will enter into at the NHL soon.
Not surprisingly, then, defensemen take the lion's share of this year's FAB50 Hockey rankings, with 14 picks.
With four picks apeice, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins were tied for the number of MLN FAB50 nods. Particularly with the last minute trade between the two clubs, Versteeg for Bochenski, the edge goes to the Bruins, our MLN FAB50 Hockey Farm System of the Year 2007 winner, who have the 4, 8, 15, and No. 35 picks in the annual rankings. The Bruins organization, both in Boston and Providence, have done an outstanding job of developing the best players in minor league hockey available this year. Congratulations!
How It Works
Below is the FAB50 broken down in various ways. If you want to get started easiest, click on "By Rank" and peruse the list. Each player has a full bio and player honor page. To see it, click on their report link or on their photo!
Ones2Watch (O2W)
Every year we have a second round of twenty-five (25) players who, for one reason or another, missed the FAB50 Hockey 2007 list. Injury, highly-ranked players playing below their organization's expectations, depth chart and size issues are just a few of the reasons that a player may move back on to the O2W. You can jump to their list from the bottom of any page.
Blog & Board Safely
We get a lot of great attention from hockey fans and bloggers across the web. Thank you! We know that you like to quote us, so please take a second to read the copyright and fair use rules to know how to use the FAB50 for your boards and blogs!
Extra Credit
Special note needs to be made to thank columnist Dan Hickling, one of MLN's most gifted freelance writers and a regular contributor as the "Guerrilla Stringer" to the MAJOR BLOGS of Minor League News for all of his hard work spearheading this massive annual project, and coordinating the writing of this year's FAB50 Hockey. His passion for great hockey has been a driving force at MLN throughout the rankings' five year existence.
And The Winners Are....
Who is the number one player in all of minor league hockey? Select a story below to find out, or visit one of our galleries to see the list of players by rank, name, club, NHL club, or position.
The number one hockey player in minor league hockey is...
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