Vladimir Tarasenko is the most polished rookie in the NHL this year and he is wasting no time scoring in bunches. Tarasenko has been a point per game player in the KHL over the last three years and has matured into a very special forward. Vlad already has 3 goals, 2 assists and 8 shots in two games this year. Expect about 40 points from the twenty-one year old Russian in this shortened season. But… keep an eye on his ice time- in two games he’s only averaging 14 minutes per game(the Blues are deep and defense oriented).
Mikael Granlund is probably the most anticipated European rookie this year after having spent the last few years playing in SM-liiga. Granlund does have one point in two games this year but he will not be relied upon much in Minnesota this season unless injuries hit the Wild. The off-season acquisitions of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to go along with Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi will limit Granlund’s impact this year. Granlund is also averaging only 14 minutes of ice time per game thus far but don’t expect 40 points from him this year.
If you want to go the rookie rout in deeper leagues and I’m not talking about Nail Yakupov, you may want to consider Jakob Silfverberg, Cory Conacher or Jonathan Huberdeau(if he stays past five games).