AHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM ANNOUNCED

It’s not a surprise, but the Hartford Wolf Pack’s Evgeny Grachev did not make it to the AHL All-Rookie team. While many are raving about his being a future NHL star, the Russian rookie is struggling in his rookie season to find any kind of consistency of effort and results on the stat sheet.

Here’s the abbreviated version of the official release:

The American Hockey League announced today the 2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 29 member cities.

The team consists of one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards:

2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team

 

Goaltender: Alex Stalock, Worcester Sharks (56gp, 37-16-2, 2.63gaa, .908sv%, 3so)
Defenseman: John Carlson, Hershey Bears (48gp, 4+35=39pts., +37)
Defenseman: P.K. Subban, Hamilton Bulldogs (71gp, 18+34=52pts., +43)
Forward: Logan Couture, Worcester Sharks (42gp, 20+33=53pts.)
Forward: Lars Eller, Peoria Rivermen (66gp, 16+37=53pts.)
Forward: Tyler Ennis

, Portland Pirates (69gp, 23+42=65pts.)

 

 

Each All-Rookie Team member will receive a custom designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team.

 

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2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team

 

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Alex Stalock, Goaltender (Worcester Sharks):
Alex Stalock

has been a workhorse in net for Worcester this season, posting a 37-16-2 record while appearing in 56 of the Sharks’ 73 games to date. Stalock’s league-leading 37 victories are the most ever by an AHL rookie, and the South St. Paul, Minn., native also ranks among the AHL’s top five goaltenders in minutes played (3,266), saves (1,414) and shots faced (1,557). A fourth-round draft pick by San Jose in 2005, the 22-year-old Stalock turned pro after three years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and represented the Sharks at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic.

 

John Carlson, Defense (Hershey Bears):
A first-round draft choice (27th overall) by the Washington Capitals in 2008, John Carlson

has flourished in 2009-10 after making his pro debut with Hershey during the 2009 postseason. Carlson ranks fourth among AHL rookie defensemen with 39 points (4-35-39) in just 48 AHL games, and his plus-37 rating is good for a share of third place in the entire league. The 20-year-old native of Natick, Mass., has also appeared in 19 games for the Capitals this season, skated in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic, and scored the overtime gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

 

P.K. Subban, Defense (Hamilton Bulldogs):
Drafted in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, P.K. Subban

has provided a consistent two-way presence on a Hamilton defense that has allowed the fewest goals and the fewest shots in the AHL. Subban, 20, leads AHL rookie defensemen in both goals (18) and points (52) through 71 games, and his 11 power-play goals are tops among all league rookies. A Toronto native and a 2010 AHL All-Star Classic participant, Subban is tied for first in the AHL with a plus-43 rating and has chipped in two assists in his first two career NHL contests with Montreal.

 

Logan Couture, Forward (Worcester Sharks):
Logan Couture

registered a point in 21 of his first 24 AHL games this season and has never looked back, totaling 20-33-53 in 42 contests to rank among the AHL’s rookie leaders in goals and points. Drafted ninth overall by San Jose in 2007, Couture leads all first-year pros with nine game-winning goals and has put together 15 multiple-point efforts for Worcester. The 21-year-old London, Ont., native played in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic and has also earned eight separate NHL recalls this season, registering two goals and three assists in 19 games with the parent Sharks.

 

Lars Eller, Forward (Peoria Rivermen):
A native of Rodovre, Denmark, Lars Eller

is tied for second in the AHL rookie scoring race with 53 points (16-37-53) in 66 games this season, ranking him second in team scoring on Peoria. Eller, drafted 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, is tied for second among AHL rookies with 21 power-play assists and put together a six-game point-scoring streak from Mar. 4-12. Eller, 20, represented the Rivermen at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic and has appeared in five games with St. Louis thus far, scoring a goal in his NHL debut for the Blues on Nov. 5, 2009.

 

Tyler Ennis, Forward (Portland Pirates):
Tyler Ennis has been a fixture near the top of the AHL’s rookie scoring list all season, currently setting the pace in goals (23-tied), assists (42) and points (65) in 69 games for Portland. The 20-year-old Edmonton native and 2010 AHL All-Star Game MVP also leads AHL rookies with 30 power-play points (9-21-30) to help the Pirates to the league’s fourth-ranked unit. A first-round draft pick (26th overall) by Buffalo in 2008, Ennis has played three games for the Sabres and netted a goal in his NHL debut on Nov. 14, 2009.