NHL Power Rankings: Checking on the rookies

The Montreal Canadiens are on fairly a rookie run.

In 2025, Lane Hutson received the Calder Trophy as the highest freshman within the NHL. Six months in the past, Ivan Demidov completed runner-up in rookie-of-the-year voting to probably the greatest first-year gamers we’ve ever seen, Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer. Two slots down from Demidov on the poll was goalie Jakub Dobes, who completed fourth in Calder voting earlier than he’d even proven his greatest work within the playoffs. Then there’s Oliver Kapanen, whose 22 objectives as a rookie final season had been greater than all people besides Schaefer and Anaheim’s Beckett Senecke (who each had 23). 

Dobes, because it seems, has misplaced his beginning job to 21-year-old Jacob Fowler this season, and the latter was simply named the NHL’s rookie of the month for October. Heck, the Canadiens even had the rookie of the month within the AHL, the place defenceman Luke Mittelstadt — instantly trying like a seventh-round steal — had a implausible begin to his professional profession.

If you need to get loopy and do some early handicapping on subsequent yr’s Calder race, Canadiens prospect Michael Hage — at the moment tearing up the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines — would garner critical consideration, given he’ll be becoming a member of the NHL at age 21 after three full faculty campaigns. 

Of course, not each membership has that a lot positivity to report with regards to rookie showings. Still, it’s at all times attention-grabbing to examine in with the freshmen class and see how the following technology is coming alongside. With that in thoughts, we’re utilizing this week’s version of the Power Rankings to focus on the efficiency of a rookie or two on all 32 golf equipment.

1. Carolina Hurricanes (12-3-1) Winger Bradly Nadeau has performed three NHL video games this yr and retains his rookie standing regardless of taking part in a minimum of one contest in every of the earlier three NHL campaigns. While he hasn’t cracked the Canes — no simple job — on a full-time foundation but, he had an important AHL season final yr and nonetheless presents promise as a secondary scorer. 

2. Minnesota Wild (11-3-3) 23-year-old David Spacek is following within the footsteps of his dad, Jaroslav, who performed 880 video games on NHL bluelines. David is a right-shot defenceman who’s seen over 12 minutes per evening by 9 outings with the Wild. 

3. Edmonton Oilers (11-2-3) “Thank God for Owen Michaels” — Mike Babcock, Oilers coach

Clearly, the undrafted Michaels rapidly endeared himself to the boss together with his succesful play in the course of Edmonton’s fourth line. Michaels, 24, received an NCAA title as Western Michigan’s captain in 2025 and inked a two-year pact with the Oilers this previous summer time. 

4. Boston Bruins (11-4-1) You by no means know the way issues are going to go when a participant slips a bit from the place he was initially projected to go within the draft. At this time, two years in the past, James Hagens was firmly within the combine to be taken first general in 2025. The B’s, after a down yr in Boston, acquired him at No. 7, and it seems issues couldn’t have labored out higher. Hagens, a Long Island native who performed at Boston College, leads all freshmen in scoring with 12 factors in 16 video games. 

5. New Jersey Devils (10-5-0) If we handed out {hardware} for the perfect rookie deal with, Devils winger Amadeus Lombardi can be the runaway winner. As it stands, the fourth-line winger remains to be seeing over 10 minutes per evening on the fourth line. 

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (9-3-2) One yr after the Bolts had 5 rookies play a minimum of 20 video games, Tampa has not used a freshman skater in any contest to date. The subsequent younger man to look at in T-Bay might be Sam O’Reilly, who’s within the toddler phases of his professional profession with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. 

7. Montreal Canadiens (9-3-3) For all of the rookies we highlighted in Montreal to kick off this piece, there’s one more one to watch: 2023 fifth-overall decide David Reinbacher. The massive defenceman has battled unhealthy damage luck, however he appears to be like good within the AHL and — thanks partially to being a righty — might but play a significant function in Montreal this season. 

8. Dallas Stars (9-5-1) Undrafted 25-year-old Arttu Hyry continues to be a beautiful Finnish shock for Dallas, posting three factors in his previous two outings. The six-foot-three ahead has performed an necessary function in Dallas’ middle-six this season. 

9. Utah Mammoth (10-6-0) The Mammoth acquired Sebastian Cossa from Detroit for a first-round 2026 decide as a long-term play after the six-foot-six goalie had a powerful AHL profession within the Wings system. He’s had his ups and downs to date, however has a .919 save proportion in his previous two begins. 

10. Vegas Golden Knights (10-5-2) You don’t affiliate the Golden Knights with homegrown success tales, however Trevor Connelly is quick turning into one. The 19^th-overall choice in 2024 has six objectives and 11 factors in 17 outings this yr. For a crew that’s at all times up in opposition to it cap-wise, having Connelly pop on an entry-level deal can be an enormous boon. 

11. Florida Panthers (9-5-2) 22-year-old Latvian winger Sandis Vilmanis performed 19 video games with the Cats final season and had the sport of his NHL life on Wednesday, notching two objectives and a pair of helpers for an enormous four-point evening that took his season whole from three factors to seven.

12. Colorado A-Z Eventz (9-6-1) Undrafted T.J. Hughes signed with Colorado after his faculty profession at Michigan ended, and he had a pleasant displaying within the AHL playoffs final yr with 14 factors in 17 contests. So far, he’s seeing simply over quarter-hour per evening with the Avs. 

13. Ottawa Senators (10-6-1) The Sens had been leaning on Carter Yakemchuk by a barrage of blueline accidents, however currently the 21-year-old has been a wholesome scratch as our bodies return to the lineup. A second season within the AHL can be greater than wonderful for the No. 7 decide within the 2024 draft.

14. Washington Capitals (8-6-0) Here comes Cole Hutson. The youthful brother of the 2025 Calder winner has 4 factors in his previous three outings from the Caps blueline. Can you say second-round heist?

15. Seattle Kraken (9-5-1) Ville Ottavainen has helped in a third-pair, depth function for the Kraken this yr. The 24-year-old Finnish defenceman might by no means dazzle, however he does deliver a few fascinating traits in the truth that he’s six-foot-five and shoots proper. 

16. Buffalo Sabres (7-5-3) Konsta Helenius was a point-per-game participant within the AHL final yr and had a pleasant little displaying with Buffalo within the playoffs, notching two objectives in three video games. Things haven’t come simply for the 20-year-old Finnish ahead this season, although, and he’s been a wholesome scratch right here and there.

17. New York Islanders (7-5-2) Victor Eklund figures to have an extended profession as an undersized scorer who makes life tough on the opposition together with his tenacity and expertise. He might not stick within the NHL for your complete season, however he’s a keeper for the Isles. 

18. Nashville Predators (6-4-5) There’s not a lot of a rookie presence on the Preds proper now, however undrafted 22-year-old winger Vitali Pinchuk drew again into the lineup in Nashville’s most up-to-date sport — a 4-1 win versus Carolina — and has performed six contests general this yr. Let’s see if offence-oriented defenceman Ryan Ufko will get one other look this season. He netted 44 factors in 52 AHL video games final yr and suited up for Team USA on the World Championship. 

19. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-7-2) The Gavin McKenna expertise has had its predictable ups and downs, however 17 video games into his NHL profession, you possibly can definitely see the potential he has to impress an offence. 

20. Detroit Red Wings (7-6-3) Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, the 15^th decide in 2024, has had a pleasant begin to the marketing campaign. The 21-year-old Norwegian winger has 10 factors by 16 outings, flashing among the potential Detroit noticed when it drafted him. 

21. Anaheim Ducks (7-7-1) Four rookies have performed a minimum of 10 video games for the Ducks, together with right-shot defenceman Noah Warren. The 2022 second-rounder is seeing practically 17 minutes per evening by 15 showings. 

22. Calgary Flames (7-8-1) Russian winger Aydar Suniev, a third-rounder in 2023, has proven a bit one thing for the Flames this season, depositing 4 objectives in 13 contests. 

23. St. Louis Blues (7-7-1) Adam Jiricek is anticipated to be a big a part of St. Louis’ future on the blueline, and he’s starting to point out why. The six-foot-three, right-shot Czech — picked 16^th general in 2024 — has been averaging greater than 17 minutes per evening in his previous six video games. 

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (6-7-0) The Jackets haven’t had a freshman swimsuit up this yr, however we’d see an intriguing one hit the ice earlier than the tip of the season. Six-foot-four defenceman Jackson Smith — the 14^th-overall choice in 2025 — is having a powerful sophomore season at Penn State and is likely to be prepared for the professionals by springtime. 

25. Los Angeles Kings (5-7-2) Kenny Connors — a 2022 fourth-rounder — performed his first two NHL video games with the Kings final yr and made his season debut on Wednesday evening, notching his first big-league level (an help) within the Kings’ massive 7-2 win over the Sharks. Atta boy, Kenny!

26. San Jose Sharks (7-9-1) Eight of Ivar Stenberg’s 10 factors have come on the ability play, and the second-overall decide from 2026 is minus-14, the worst mark amongst forwards. The 19-year-old Swede will ultimately be a lethal two-way menace, nevertheless it’s going to take a while. 

27. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-8-2) Sergei Murashov confirmed actual promise with a powerful AHL season final yr, nevertheless it’s been a wrestle for Pittsburgh to maintain the puck out of the web to date. Murashov, a 22-year-old Russian, has an .871 save proportion in 5 contests and has but to put up a ‘W.’

28. New York Rangers (8-7-1) Dylan Garand was lights out when he was first requested to fill the large skates left by the injured Igor Shesterkin. However, predictable struggles set in after that. Garand, 24, did have a pleasant outing in his most up-to-date sport, a 3-1 win over St. Louis on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Alberts Smits — the large Latvian defenceman taken fifth general in June — has performed all 16 Rangers video games and seen simply over 14 minutes per evening. 

29. Winnipeg Jets (5-8-3) The good-news tales have been arduous to search out in Manitoba this season, however man oh man, did Tyrel Bauer and the boys ship one on Tuesday. The Jets snapped a nine-game shedding streak by erasing a 4-0 Montreal lead within the last three minutes of the sport earlier than netting yet another in additional time. Bauer, the 24-year-old powerful man from Alberta, recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick within the contest and the factors represented the primary objective and help of his NHL profession. Hopefully Mr. Hockey himself was trying down on that one. 

30. Philadelphia Flyers (4-9-4) Porter Martone was a Calder favorite coming into the season, however nothing went proper early on for Philly and the large, energy winger was definitely struggling. In his previous eight video games, nevertheless, Martone — the sixth decide in 2025 — has seven factors as issues have begun to fall into place. Oliver Bonk, in the meantime, drew into the lineup on Oct. 11 and has been taking part in over 18 minutes per evening on the blueline. And how about Cole Knuble scoring two objectives in his second NHL sport for the crew his dad, Mike Knuble, used to skate for. 

31. Chicago Blackhawks (4-11-1) Roman Kantserov leads all rookies with seven objectives after firing one in Wednesday evening’s loss to the Florida Panthers. The 22-year-old Russian winger has definitely been a vibrant spot within the Windy City. 

32. Vancouver Canucks (3-13-1) Vancouver goes to have every kind of high-potential rookies debut in coming years, however there’s not a lot to discuss proper now. At the second, the Canucks are most likely most involved with serving to second-year defenceman Zeev Buium discover his manner on the highest stage.