The MLN Ones2Watch™ are players who miss the FAB50 for one reason or another. For some it's a timing issue. For others it's a road-bump in an otherwise solid career. Some are fighting for a position, not quite ready for prime time, or could use a change of scenery to advance further in their careers. Whatever the reason, the Ones2Watch are just a heartbeat away from the fast-track that qualifies them for consideration in the FAB50 Hockey rankings.
Rookie free agent find by Tampa, showed great scoring touch early, but tailed off badly after first of the year.
Atlanta Thrashers
James Sharrow (Jimmy)
D
Chicago Wolves
Jimmy Sharrow Demoted to the Coast league early on, has rebounded with a tremendous showing in February.
Atlanta Thrashers
Mark Popovic
D
Chicago Wolves
Popovic, who made the MLN FAB50 Hockey 2005 at 44th overall with the Cincinnatti Mighty Ducks, slid off the list in 2006. He has very good power play tools, has also shored up his defensive game a bit. Struggles with consistency keep his ranking down a bit.
Washington Capitals
Tomas Fleischmann
RW
Hershey Bears
Ranked 45th overall in the FAB50 Hockey 2005 rankings, Fleischmann can be deadly from the circles, but overall, several more promising candidates moved ahead of him in the overall rankings in 2006.