E.J. Hradek at NHL.com gives his top 10 players who offer the best bang for the buck including Derek Stepan…
10. Derek Stepan, C, Rangers
A second-round pick in 2008 (No. 51), the Minnesota native has found a nice chemistry with Rangers’ star sniper Marian Gaborik. That’s important. After putting up 21 goals and 45 points in his rookie year; Stepan is making a steady progress in his sophomore season, putting up 10 goals, 30 points and a plus-15 rating through 43 games.
In the middle of his three-year entry level deal, Stepan’s cap hit is a very manageable $875,000. If he continues on his current career path, that number will go up sometime in the summer of 2013.
…Stepan has done an outstanding job staving off the “sophomore slump” and has helped Gaborik regain his All Star form. He has been a winner at every level and I hope it continues with the Rangers.
…what I like the best about Stepan is that he’s got a great head on his shoulders and understands the game. He realizes that he needs to be complete player to succeed in the NHL.
Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at [email protected].
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
