One rookie to watch on all 32 NHL teams in 2024-25

With Gauthier’s mix of confidence and skill, the Ducks are getting a big boost to their top six this season. The former Boston College star is built for the pro game and will be a nice addition to a top line that should include center Leo Carlsson and veteran winger Alex Killorn. Gauthier made a good impression during the preseason, showing that the large shot output that made him dangerous in college is still there. Look for Gauthier to challenge for the Calder Trophy, especially as he looks to play close to 18 minutes a night right out of the gate.

Boston Bruins: Justin Brazeau, RW

At 26, Brazeau is the first on this list to not actually be Calder eligible. But after putting up five goals and seven points during a 19-game NHL stint – after starting the year on an AHL-only deal with Providence – it’s great to see him crack his first opening-night roster. Brazeau took a while to become an everyday AHLer after splitting time in the ECHL as recently as 2022, but the hard-working, 6-foot-5 forward gives the Bruins some size, grit and two-way responsibility. Brazeau is a role player in the NHL, no question about it. But his flashes of skill can be tantalizing, and it’s always good to see a player who had to grind their way to the top as much as Brazeau has get a chance.

Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich, LW

Will Kulich be an everyday contributor for the Sabres, or will they ease him in and not play him every night? That’s the big question. Kulich doesn’t have much more to prove in the AHL and should be getting every opportunity to establish himself with the big club. He’s a sharpshooter that many scouts believe can be a 25-30 goal scorer one day – perhaps filling a void left by Victor Olofsson after watching his production wither away last year. Kulich should be a big piece of Buffalo’s future, and it’s already a good sign that they’ve given him top-six work alongside Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn.

Calgary Flames: Dustin Wolf, G

Few goalie prospects have been as dominant at just about every level they’ve played in as Wolf. Now, the Flames are all-in on their star goalie prospect after trading Jacob Markstrom away to the New Jersey Devils. Wolf is on the smaller side at six-foot, so there are concerns about whether his skill will translate to the NHL, but don’t be surprised if he’s a top-10 goalie in the NHL by December, either. When Wolf’s on his game, few can be as dominant as he can. The Flames likely won’t rush to make him the clear No. 1, especially with Daniel Vladar in town, but it’s Wolf’s net to lose this year – and for the next decade, at least.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jackson Blake, RW

The son of former NHLer Jason Blake was taken 109th over in 2021 after splitting the season between Eden Prairie High School and the USHL’s Chicago Steel. At the time, he was a solid playmaker with good hockey IQ, but there wasn’t enough to make him a surefire NHL player one day. But after two incredible seasons with North Dakota and a great showing at the 2023 World Juniors, Blake quickly established himself as a winger with top-six potential. Blake can play with just about anyone, and while I think some time in the AHL later on is still the way to go, I like the potential of him pushing the envelope.

Chicago Blackhawks: Nolan Allan, D

After spending his first season of pro hockey with Rockford of the AHL, the Blackhawks must feel that Allan is ready for a tougher challenge this year. The 6-foot-2 defender is an excellent skater, and he uses that to take time and space away while showcasing the odd high-end passing play. But Allan’s real value comes in his own zone, where he doesn’t tend to make many mistakes. Allan isn’t flashy, but he’s smart, speedy and isn’t afraid to lay the body. Allan likely is a third-pairing defenseman at best on this squad, but he has a chance to be an effective one, at that.

Colorado Avalanche: Nikolai Kovalenko, RW

With more than 300 games of KHL experience, the 24-year-old isn’t your average rookie. The Avs are hoping Kovalenko can build upon two good years in the KHL and a decent short stint with the Colorado Eagles and become a legit contributor right away. Some holes in Colorado’s lineup could allow Kovalenko to step into a middle-six role, combining speed and strength to win puck battles. Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin and Arrturi Lehkonen are all out to start the season – an excellent start for Kovalenko could ensure he stays with the big club and becomes a bigger piece of the future.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Mikael Pyyhtiä, LW

With Gavin Brindley and Denton Mateychuk sent down, Pyyhtiä has three points in 19 career NHL games over the past two years, but he showed what he can do with his high-end speed and ability to make some quality plays up the ice. He primarily played with Cleveland last year, and while he didn’t produce much, he showed how toolsy and energetic he can be. Pyyhtiä will be a bottom-six player for Columbus this year, showing up on the penalty kill and blocking shots when needed. He might not be flashy, but he plays a role.

Dallas Stars: Logan Stankoven, RW

The Dallas Stars have a great roster with a combination of youth and experience. Stankoven is on the younger side, but the 21-year-old is set to play a big role on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Stankoven played in 24 regular season games in 2023-24, and he put up 14 points in that span. The former WHL star made a huge impression in his first pro season, scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 47 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars, and could have potentially won the league MVP title had he remained in the AHL. Still, it was enough to win Rookie of the Year honors. Stankoven is small at just 5-foot-8, but that hasn’t slowed him down in his pursuit to become one of the best prospects in the game. Stankoven is one of the best rookies in the game today, and it’s going to be fun seeing what he can do.

Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, D

Edvinsson isn’t eligible for the Calder Trophy this year, but this will be his first full year of NHL hockey. He looked more engaged at both ends of the ice in his 16-game NHL stint than he did in his first year in North America, and he has figured out how to command the ice better as his confidence continues to grow. The thing that stood out the most about Edvinsson in his draft year is that he doesn’t have many glaring flaws – he can skate, hit, has great reach and is good with the puck. The foundation is there for Edvinsson to be a star on the Red Wings for more than a decade, and that journey starts now.

Edmonton Oilers: Matthew Savoie, RW

Savoie was sent down to the AHL during the preseason but was called up for the official opening night roster earlier this week. It’s not clear if he’ll stick around in the NHL all year, and he really would benefit from time in the AHL. But he looked great in his short time in Bakersfield before his call-up and I’m excited to see what he does, regardless of where he spends most of his time. The first thing that stands out when watching Savoie is his playmaking. He plays the game at a high pace, which means making decisions on the fly under pressure. When the game’s moving slowly around him, he uses his patience to make the right pass at the right time. For someone who touches the puck as often as Savoie does, we don’t see him giving it up often or sending it to someone who isn’t ready. When Savoie makes a pass, he does it with a purpose. We’ll see how his 5-foot-9 frame adjusts to the NHL.

Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich, RW

Samoskevich’s pro rookie season was a big success, with the winger scoring 22 goals and 54 points in 62 games. He also played another seven games with the big club but failed to register a point. Still, it was good to see him take the steps forward he did after a great 43-point sophomore campaign with the University of Michigan in 2022-23, where he played a key role in the team’s second consecutive Big 10 championship. From a style perspective, Samoskevich is an excellent skater who loves to attack the puck, and he’s got excellent hands, too. One issue that has persisted for years, though, is how often he overhandles the puck. Sometimes, he just needs to slow down and keep things simple to be effective. But regardless, the Panthers have to be thrilled with how well he took to pro hockey this past season.

Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke, D

Clarke isn’t Calder-eligible after playing more than six games in each of the past two years, but he’s still one of the best NHL prospects in the game today. Clarke registered 10 goals and 46 points in 50 games as an AHL rookie with the Ontario Reign last year. He also had six points in 16 games with Los Angeles while looking increasingly comfortable the more he skated in the NHL. Drew Doughty’s absence could really help Clarke secure more power-play time and establish himself as a long-term threat there. Clarke is ready to challenge for a top-four spot while showing why he’s one of the most exciting young defenders in the game.

Minnesota Wild: Marat Khusnutdinov, C

Khusnutdinov got his first taste of NHL action at the end of 2023-24, putting up four points in 16 games to close out the year. Now, we’ll see how valuable he can be on a team with plenty of opportunities for someone like Khustnudtinov to play a significant role. Khusnutdinov is just 5-foot-9, but he has some great, pure skill and hustles hard to make up for it. I think Khusnutdinov will become a third-liner in the NHL, one capable of winning a boatload of faceoffs and beating players in tight to provide valuable depth scoring. He’ll start the year as the fourth-line center, but it’ll be interesting to see if he can at least crack the second power-play unit as he gets more comfortable playing on the smaller ice.

Montreal Canadiens: Lane Hutson, D

Habs fans are so pumped about him, and for good reason. He finished his sophomore campaign with the NCAA’s Boston University Terriers with 15 goals and 49 points in 38 games, a single point more than his freshman total last year. Nobody came within spitting distance of Hutson’s 1.28 point-per-game average during his college tenure, either. From an early age, his offensive instincts were top of the class. You won’t find defensemen with Hutson’s creativity often – he’s so slick, often taking the puck from a standstill and creating a chance in close, a la Cale Makar. Hutson could still end up going to Laval to work on his defensive play, but he absolutely deserves to start the year in the NHL.

Nashville Predators: Magnus Chrona, G

The Preds are another team without a rookie on their active roster. But Chrona is a fascinating option with the team’s ecosystem. Many who watched the 6-foot-6 keeper at the University of Denver loved his raw potential, and he showed it at times during his nine-game NHL stretch in San Jose last year. A key piece of the Yaroslav Askarov trade, Chrona’s play was one of a few bright spots with San Jose’s AHL team, too, showing he can handle an AHL workload and give his team a shot to win. Chrona is going to start the year with the Milwaukee Admirals, but his NHL experience (while limited) should give the Preds some comfort if they need to call Chrona up at some point during the season. Who knows? Maybe he ends up becoming Juuse Saros’ backup one day.

New Jersey Devils: Seamus Casey, D

Will Casey stick with the Devils once Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce return from injury? It seems unlikely, but he played well enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the main roster and will get some opportunities to prove himself early in his debut pro season. Casey is coming off a monster season with 45 points in 40 games last year and helped USA win gold at the World Juniors, too. The pro game will be a new challenge for the 5-foot-10 defender, but he has shown that size hasn’t been a problem for him early on.

New York Islanders: Maxim Tsyplakov, RW

Tsyplakov is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger coming off a breakthrough KHL season. He scored a career-best 31 goals and 47 points in 65 games, making him the most coveted free agent to come over this summer. Tsyplakov is a good skater, but he’ll need to add a bit more speed to his game to thrive in the NHL. We’ll see if last year’s KHL play was a fluke, or if he’s actually a great find by the Isles. Right now, it looks like they’ll give him every opportunity to shine in a top-six role alongside Brock Nelson.

New York Rangers: Matt Rempe, RW

Obviously, there’s a bit of a skill discrepancy between Rempe and others on this list. But, man, he made quite the impact last year in his short time in the NHL (which, shockingly, was just 17 games). He quickly made himself a fan favorite, taking on anyone willing to drop the gloves with him at any time. At 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, and almost always sporting a black eye, Rempe is an absolute menace out there, and there will be a point where his allure starts to die down and players are less willing to drop the gloves with him. But the Rangers seemed to play better with Rempe’s energy in the lineup. As long as he continues to be one of the more terrifying players in the league, he’ll stay in the lineup.

Ottawa Senators: Tyler Kleven, D

Kleven isn’t Calder-eligible after playing more than six games in each of his past two years, but he’s ready for his first season of full-time NHL action. He has three points in 17 games over two years, but his game is all about playing with muscle and defensive awareness. The 2021 World Junior Champion is a big, 6-foot-4 defender who loves to play with an edge and isn’t afraid of anyone. Kleven is suited to be more of a bottom-pairing defenseman who is a pain in the rear end to get around, but he also showed some good playmaking chops over the past two years. We’ll see if he sticks in the NHL full-time, but if he can play with a bit more pace, he’ll be in good shape.

Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW

After a couple of years of uncertainty surrounding Michkov’s arrival, the Russian winger is set to play an impact role on a Flyers team that’s looking to push themselves back into playoff contention. It’s been a long time since Flyers fans have had such a high-profile prospect to get excited about. Michkov is so skilled and dangerous and took very little time to adapt during the preseason. The 19-year-old was HK Sochi’s top player in the KHL over the past two years, but the NHL is a different animal. Fortunately for Flyers fans, Michkov is as close to a complete package as anyone in this year’s rookie class, and should be near the top of any Calder Trophy prediction list.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Rutger McGroarty, LW

The Penguins are wasting no time throwing McGroarty into the fire, taking him straight from the University of Michigan and into the NHL (after a trade with Winnipeg). McGroarty should be given a top-six spot beside either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, but he could start lower down as he adjusts to the pro game. McGroarty’s ability to score, hit and outwork opponents makes him so intriguing. He does so much with and without the puck that often gets overlooked. He’s got size and speed, two things the Penguins need right now.

San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C

Let the fun begin. All eyes will be on Celebrini in 2024-25 after going first overall back in June. From an all-around standpoint, Celebrini is one of the best two-way first-overall picks in a while, and that’s exciting. He doesn’t have to be flashy to be good, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to steal the spotlight in California. Celebrini was banged up a bit during the preseason, but looks ready to go for his NHL debut last week – and NHL goaltenders should be on notice. His arrival might not be as hyped as Connor Bedard’s last year, but Celebrini is going to be exceptionally important to this franchise – both on and off the ice.

Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright, C

Finally, after a bit of stop-and-start action, Wright is ready for the big show.  Wright scored 22 goals and 47 points in his first full year of pro hockey in Coachella Valley and was a big reason why the team made the Calder Cup final. He also skated in eight NHL games, putting up a solid five points for a Kraken team that ultimately missed the playoffs. The onus is on him to insert himself into a spot to be a regular contributor, but many still believe in him – his two-way game is too good for him to fall by the wayside. This season is going to be extremely important as Wright looks to become a more valuable, all-around threat for a team needing some help.

St Louis Blues: Zack Bolduc, C

Bolduc was one of the final cuts in training camp, meaning they’ll start the season without any fresh faces. Bolduc got his first taste of pro hockey last year, scoring five goals and nine points in 25 NHL games and playing at a half-point per game pace in 50 AHL contests. From an overall standpoint, Bolduc had a decent time adjusting to pro after scoring consecutive 50-goal seasons in the Q. When Bolduc is on his game, he’s one of the most creative forwards in St. Louis’ system and can really dazzle with some high-IQ moves. But consistency was definitely an issue, although not an isolated one for high-output junior scorers moving to the AHL and no longer being “the guy.” At the very least, he’ll need to perform if called upon to the NHL early on.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Conor Geekie, LW

Geekie was a big piece of the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah. Now, he’s on the opening night roster for a Bolts team that has managed to find scoring depth all throughout the lineup year after year. He had 99 points in just 55 WHL games between Wenatchee and Swift Current and even skated in a pair of games with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners to close out the season. He’s so competitive, and received rave reviews during camp for how difficult he makes himself to play against. Don’t be surprised if Geekie spent time in Syracuse at some point, but at 6-foot-4 and with his pure skill, it’s nice to see him get a chance with the big club first.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Nikita Grebenkin, LW

The Leafs won’t have any rookies to start the season, and defenseman Topi Niemela will have a tough time moving up with how many defenders they have in the system. That’s why Grebenkin will be interesting to watch. He had a solid preseason, which included a fight in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. Grebenkin loves having the puck on his stick. He can be creative in 1-on-1 situations, doing his best to deke guys out and create a chance. He’s better as a setup guy, especially when paired with a speedy, skilled shooter. Grebenkin does an excellent job of cycling the puck. He’s able to shrug off shoves from bigger players, keep the play alive and then generate a scoring chance. For now, the Leafs need him to get adjusted to life in North America before giving him a shot with the big club, but there’s many who think he could thrive if called upon.

Utah Hockey Club: Josh Doan, RW

Doan is expected to earn plenty of ice time with Utah after a great 11-game NHL stretch last year. It came after Doan put up 26 goals and 46 points in 62 AHL games – good numbers for a rookie. But with Utah seeking some secondary scoring help, Doan could be what they really need. There’s an argument to be made that he tops off as a second-liner at best, especially with Utah’s depth on the right side. But I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him during the preseason and am looking forward to seeing him contribute when the games start to matter.

Vancouver Canucks: Artūrs Šilovs, G

This is shaping up to be a massive year for Šilovs. With an injury keeping Thatcher Demko out of action to start the year, we’ll see if Šilovs can establish himself as a reliable option. The Latvian keeper had his ups and downs during the regular season, but he was much better than his stats would suggest in Abbotsford. Šilovs was a big reason why the Canucks stayed alive in the playoffs, showing serious promise after his incredible play led his country to its first IIHF World Championship medal the previous spring. If Šilovs can play anywhere like he did in the playoffs, the Canucks should feel comfortable giving him plenty of starts while allowing Demko to get extra rest.

Vegas Golden Knights: Brendan Brisson, LW

The time for Brisson to cement himself as a legitimate NHLer is now. The 22-year-old forward had eight points in 15 games with Vegas last year, which was a promising start after another solid run with Henderson. The smart, creative, goal-scoring winger has had issues with consistency in the AHL, and he can get too fancy sometimes, but nobody can claim he doesn’t have a pro shot or isn’t good on the man advantage. I know scouts like it when he slows the game down and thinks through his plays. At some point, though, Brisson is going to need to figure things out, because he’s nearing half a decade since the Golden Knights took a shot on him, and he already has two years of pro hockey to his credit. Look for him to start on Vegas’ third line this year.

Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko, RW 

Miroshnichenko will start the season in the AHL, but look for him to get some more NHL action after a good first year in North America last year. He put up a modest six points in 21 NHL games with the Caps, but he also helped Hershey win its second consecutive Calder Cup championship with a solid 12 points in 20 postseason games. The fact he played so well down the stretch helped and should do a lot to boost his confidence heading into his second season in the United States. Washington really believes in him, and, hopefully, he’ll get another chance in the NHL sooner rather than later.

Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert, RW

The Jets’ lineup looks nearly untouched to how it was to kick off the 2023-24 season, which means no first-time NHLers. But Lambert is one guy the Jets will look to integrate at some point if injuries arrive up front. He had an assist in his NHL debut and also scored 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games with Manitoba. It wasn’t his first pro year, having played two full seasons in the Finnish Liiga, but it helped establish himself as a legit high-end prospect again. There’s an argument that he’s the best prospect the Jets have right now, but he needs to show a level of intensity every night that’s been lacking at points.