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Scott Burnside: 10 rookies/sophomores to watch this season

We all know about John Tavares on Long Island. Watching the No. 1 pick from this past June's draft will be a given, as will be keeping an eye on the second overall pick, the Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman. But here are some other rookies and sophomores to keep an eye on this season:

Steve Mason, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
Full value for rookie of the year honors last season, Mason was the main ingredient in Columbus' first drive to the playoffs. But can he replicate those gaudy numbers in his second NHL season? He'd better.

Fabian Brunnstrom, F, Dallas Stars
The Stars' much-heralded rookie had an up-and-down first NHL campaign after being courted by seemingly half the league's 30 teams last offseason. He played in only 55 games and had 29 points in 2008-09. His continued evolution will be a key to the Stars' return to the postseason.

James vanRiemsdyk, F, Philadelphia Flyers
The second overall pick in 2007 is making a case to stay with the big club, and his size and skill could make an already impressive forward corps that much more dangerous.

Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville Predators
The big Finnish netminder didn't get the same attention afforded to Mason, yet he is just as crucial to any playoff hopes in Nashville as Mason is in Columbus.

Jonathan Quick, G, Los Angeles Kings
Huge expectations in Los Angeles mean huge expectations for the sophomore netminder, who was an invitee to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp.

Evander Kane, F, Atlanta Thrashers
The fourth overall pick in this past June's draft has been impressive at the Thrashers' camp and looks to join an explosive offense.

Matt Gilroy, D, New York Rangers
Last year's Hobey Baker Award winner as the top collegiate player will get an instant chance to shine with a Rangers team that has some holes along the blue line.

Bobby Ryan, F, Anaheim Ducks
Ryan led all rookies last season with 31 goals despite playing in just 64 games. He scored five more goals in the postseason but seemed to hit a bit of a wall against Detroit in the second round. His continued maturation will be crucial to the Ducks' jump in the Western Conference standings.

Jonas Gustavsson, G, Toronto Maple Leafs
The hottest non-NHL prospect this past offseason was slowed in training camp with a minor heart issue, but the Leafs hope he's the next Henrik Lundqvist.

Alex Goligoski, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
With the departure of Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill from the Stanley Cup champion Penguins, Goligoski will get a chance to shine. He logged 18 minutes, 18 seconds of ice time a night in 45 games and chipped in 20 points as a rookie.

Pierre LeBrun: 10 players with something to prove this season

Steve Sullivan, C, Nashville Predators
The Timmins Tornado was the comeback story of the year after returning in January from a career-threatening back injury that had sidelined him for two years. He put up 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 41 games, showing enough spark for the Preds to sign him to a $7.5 million, two-year deal in July. The talented playmaker has been a point-per-game guy for the Predators, but he knows everyone around hockey is wondering whether he can stay healthy.

Paul Kariya, F, St. Louis Blues
The speedy winger, who will turn 35 on Oct. 16, played in only 11 games last season after needing a pair of hip surgeries. Kariya is in the last year of a deal that pays him $6 million and is hungry to show he still can be an elite player, the one who put up 85 points, 76 points and 65 points, respectively, in the first three seasons after the lockout. He also wants to play a major part in the Blues' resurgence.

Evgeni Nabokov, G, San Jose Sharks
The 34-year-old netminder was below-average in a first-round upset loss to Anaheim this past postseason, allowing 17 goals in six games and sporting an .890 save percentage. He's in the final year of a contract that pays him $6 million and must prove he's still an elite goalie who can help the Sharks finally get over the playoff hump.

Brad Richards, F, Dallas Stars
The pride of Prince Edward Island redefined the term "bad luck" last season, when, in his first game back from a broken right wrist, he broke his left hand. Come on, is that even possible? Then, the 29-year-old star forward, a member of Canada's 2004 World Cup of Hockey championship team and the 2006 Olympic team, was left off the Canadian Olympic camp invite list this past summer. You want motivation? Watch out for Richards this season in Dallas.

Jonathan Cheechoo, F, Ottawa Senators
Talk about a player who needed a fresh start … and he got it in Ottawa. The 29-year-old winger has gone from 56 goals in 2005-06 to 37, 23 and then 12 last season. He fought through a sports hernia surgery for some of that period, but now it's time to prove he's still an elite, top-six forward in the NHL. He has that chance with the Senators.

Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens
Time to put the sophomore slump behind him. Playing in Montreal is hard enough. Not delivering when you're considered the franchise goalie? That's tough. Allowing 15 goals in four playoff starts this past spring? Ouch. He's only 22, but Price has to have a huge season to get the locals off his back.

Marian Gaborik, F, New York Rangers
What do 17 games get you these days? Five years and $37.5 million, that's what. The immensely talented Slovak winger is under the gun to show the Rangers weren't crazy to hand him that dough given his hip problems last season. Then again, it was only two seasons ago when he put up 83 points (42-41) in 77 games. Which Gaborik will show up this season?

Marty Turco, G, Dallas Stars
In the last year of a deal that pays him $5.4 million this season, the 34-year-old Stars netminder is coming off the worst statistical season of his NHL career. But he worked extremely hard all summer and impressed in camp and the preseason. Whether the Stars have any real chance this season rides on his shoulders.

Olli Jokinen, C, Calgary Flames
This is the biggest season in Jokinen's NHL career. He's in the final season of a deal that pays him $5.5 million, and he's the No. 1 center on a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations. And he gets to play with Jarome Iginla. His 57 points (29-28) last season were his lowest total since 2001-02. Time to deliver.

Ray Emery, G, Philadelphia Flyers
Can you imagine any single player in the NHL who has more to prove this season than Emery? The mercurial netminder, who turned 27 on Monday, has a second chance at an NHL career after being banished to Russia last season. He just happens to have resurfaced with a team that has designs on a Stanley Cup but plays in a market that has devoured netminders for 20 years or so. He signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, so he has plenty to play for. He wants his next deal to pay much better.