NHL Rookies to Watch within the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Stuart Skinner The Edmonton Oilers may have an enormous position to play as they attempt to advance previous the Western Convention first spherical to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season.
The 24-year-old goaltender completed the season 29-14-5 with a 2.75 goals-against common and a .914 save proportion in 50 regular-season video games (48 begins). However since March 1, he’s gone 14-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and a .920 save proportion in 16 video games (all begins).
Named NHL Rookie of the Month for March, Skinner led the league with 10 wins in 12 video games (10-1-1) and had a 2.83 GAA and .908 save proportion. He additionally had a 43-save shutout in a 2–0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on March 30, Edmonton’s first shutout of the season.
“Stu needed to break via,” Edmonton goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz instructed The Hockey Information. “He’s actually labored his means via the levels of his growth and I believe he’s served him nicely at this level.”
Skinner hopes to proceed his strong play and be part of the ranks of the freshmen who’ve performed an enormous position within the championship season. The checklist consists of ahead brad marchant (19 factors; 11 objectives, eight assists in 25 video games) for the Boston Bruins in 2011; Ahead Tyler Toffoli for the Los Angeles Kings in 2014 (14 factors; seven objectives, seven assists in 26 video games); Ahead jake kunzel (21 factors; 13 objectives, eight assists in 25 video games) with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017; Goalie jordan pinnington (16-10, 2.46 GAA, .914 save proportion in 26 video games) St. Louis Blues in 2019; and ahead rosscolton (six factors; 4 objectives, two assists in 23 video games) for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.
Listed below are the opposite seven rookies within the playoffs (in alphabetical order):
Matty BeniersF, Seattle Kraken
The left-shooting middle led all NHL rookies with 57 factors (24 objectives, 33 assists) and an even-strength 46 factors (20 objectives) in 80 regular-season video games this season. He completed second in interceptions (969) and third in hits (409). Beniers, the No. 2 choose within the 2021 NHL Draft, is fourth amongst rookie forwards in pictures on objective (148), sixth in pictures on objective (48) and eighth in hits (79) with a median of 17: 06 ice time. . Jared McCann AND jordan eberle. He scored his first NHL game-winning objective with 6:34 remaining within the third interval of a 5–4 victory on the Calgary Flames on November 1.
In line with a panel of 16 NHL.com writers, Beniers was the favourite to win the Calder Trophy, awarded to NHL Rookie of the 12 months, within the closing common season ballot with 79 factors (15 first-place votes).
luke hughesD, New Jersey Devils
19 yr outdated brother from the Devils middle. jack hughes, Luke performed simply two NHL video games to complete out the common season, however he definitely wasn’t out of character. He collected his personal rebound and scored his first NHL objective on a rebound with 27 seconds remaining in additional time of a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday. It stays to be seen when the younger Hughes will make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, however primarily based on what he has accomplished to date, it’s going to probably be after Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention first spherical towards the rival New York Rangers. He already is aware of what to anticipate in a best-of-7 playoff collection between the Devils and Rangers.
“I heard they don’t like one another very a lot,” he mentioned throughout his postgame interview on Thursday. “I believe it’s going to be an excellent setting. [Prudential Center]. I believe it’s going to be wonderful.”
Luke Hughes had two factors (one objective, one help), two pictures on objective, three blocked pictures and averaged 16:14 of ice time in his two common season video games. The Devils’ No. 4 choose within the 2021 draft, Luke turned skilled after his sophomore season on the College of Michigan, the place he scored 87 factors (27 objectives, 60 assists) in 80 video games over two seasons. He scored 48 factors (10 objectives, 38 assists) in 39 video games in 2022-23, serving to the Wolverines go to 26-12-3 and attain the Frozen 4 for the second straight season.
VIDEO: [email protected]: Luke Hughes scores the primary NHL objective in additional time
wyatt johnstonF, Dallas Stars
Johnston led the Penners in scoring with 24 objectives, was fourth with 41 factors, second with 160 pictures, and third with 34 even-strength factors (21 objectives) in 82 regular-season video games. The 19-year-old ranked third (47) with a median 15:29 ice time as a middle on a line with the captain. jamie benn and rightist Yevgeny Datonov. He’s the fourth teenager to play for basic supervisor Jim Nill since he arrived in Dallas in 2013. miro heiskanen, Denis Kurianov AND Valery Nichushkin. Thought of a 200-foot two-way participant, the twenty third total choose within the 2021 draft led the Ontario Hockey League in 2021-22 with 124 factors (46 objectives, 78 assists) in 68 video games.
Pyotr KosetkovG, Carolina Hurricanes
Chosen within the second spherical (No. 36) of the 2019 NHL Draft, the 23-year-old went 12-7-5 with a 2.44 GAA, a .909 save proportion and 4 shutouts in 24 video games this season. common (23 begins). ) however has not performed since March 28. He was 2-3-0 with a 2.82 GAA and an .892 save proportion over the previous 5 video games, however Hurricanes followers will always remember Kochetko’s efficiency of their Stanley Cup playoffs. When he made 30 saves as an injured reliever in Sport 2 of the 2022 Japanese Convention First Spherical. andy randa A 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. frog or frederick anderson Not accessible, Kochetkov might be despatched off.
Nils LundqvistD, Dallas Stars
A puck-moving defenseman, Lundqvist did an admirable job whereas within the lineup and paired with the senior. ryan sweater. The Stars managed 51.9 p.c of all 5-on-5 capturing in the course of the common season when the 22-year-old was on the ice. Chosen by the New York Rangers within the first spherical (No. 28) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Lundkvist completed first amongst rookie defensemen with six objectives and eighth with 16 factors and 67 blocked pictures. The suitable-handed shot, acquired from the Rangers on September 19 for 2 conditional NHL draft picks, averaged 16:19 of ice time in 60 regular-season video games.
nick berbicksD, Tampa Bay Lightning
Berbicks completed the season fifth in scoring with 20 factors (5 objectives, 15 assists) and tied for first with a top-four pair, averaging 15:24 ice time. The sixth-round choose (No. 169) within the 2017 NHL Draft had a strong coaching camp, however he wasn’t on the opening evening roster. He made his debut within the fourth recreation of the season on October 18 and continued within the lineup.
Berbicks signed a two-year, $2.25 million contract with the Lightning on January 2. He signed a $2.25 million contract with the Lightning, ending ninth amongst rookie defensemen in hits (73), blocked pictures (65) and fourth in steals (27) in 69 regular-season video games. .
logan thompsonG, Vegas Golden Knights
Thompson completed the season second solely to Skinner in hits by a rookie goaltender (21), however performed simply as soon as previously three months as a result of a lower-body damage sustained in a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. on February 9. . He had a 2.65 GAA, .915 save proportion and two shutouts in 37 regular-season video games (36 begins). The 26-year-old right-handed catcher provides alternatives to the Canadian Hockey League and Canadians to play within the Canadian college league, U Sports activities, at Brock College after 4 seasons with Brandon of the Western Hockey League. Junior Hockey League graduates. After two seasons within the ECHL, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with Vegas on July 13, 2020, adopted by a three-year contract on January 30, 2022.
Thompson started engaged on the ice, however his playoff standing was unclear. If he will get the possibility, he might play a key position for Las Vegas.
