It’s pretty rare that you get an impact rookie in the NHL these days. We did get both Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin in 2005-06; the yield from this year’s crop is more typical.

The Chicago Blackhawks have arguably the two best rookies in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. But Toews suffered a strained MCL and has played just 55 games, opening the Calder Trophy door for his teammate. Kane has 17 goals and 45 assists after 73 games to lead all first-year players in points.

Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals was two points back at press time with 11 goals and 49 assists. The top rookie defenseman appears to be Tobias Enstrom, who is playing 24:33 a game for the Atlanta Thrashers. There is one goalie of note that could crash the Calder party: Montreal Canadiens starter Carey Price (.915 save percentage). Nashville’s Dan Ellis (.920 SV%) deserves kudos, but remains virtually anonymous as the Predators backup.

Maybe now that Alex Ovechkin is making the big bucks he can buy some decent clothes. $124 million will buy a guy a lot of t-shirts.

Alex Ovechkin today signed a 13-year $124 million-dollar deal with the Washington Capitals. Not only will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL (he’ll average $9.54 million starting next year), but it also has to make him one of the richest 22-year-olds that has ever played the game of hockey before. Pittsburgh Penguin super-kid Sidney Crosby doesn’t even make that much…he rakes in a paltry $8.7 million a year (once his extension kicks in the summer).

Ovechkin was picked first overall in the 2004 NHL draft and currently makes $4 million/year. He leads the Capitals in goals and points in 43 games. Overall, he’s played 206 career games — 130 goals and 250 points.

But $124 million? The dude is only twenty-two. I’m still trying to fathom what that kind of coin even looks like… (sigh).