This NHL season was supposed to be one of a weak rookie class, but boy those predictions could not have been more wrong. The NHL is full of rookies that are looking like they will be starts of the NHL’s future. This year’s Rookie class currently has over 10 players that are poised to hit the 20 goal mark, and also 10 rookies that have a real legitimate chance at getting to 50 points for the season, both feats are pretty nice accomplishments for young men in the world’s best hockey league.
Lets narrow down this years rookies class and see who is the best of the best, the top 5 rookies.
5. Will Butcher, New Jersey Devils
The 22 year old Rookie Defensemen from Wisconsin has been on of the integral parts to the hockey Renaissance in New Jersey right now. After five years or so at the bottom of the Eastern Confrence, Will and co. has helped lead the Devils to one of the best records in the NHL so far this season. Will this season so far as 2 goals and 19 assists for a grand total of 21 points through 33 games from the blue line, along with a plus 5 plus minus rating. Will currently sits in second place among NHL rookie denfensemen in points, and is the first player in Devils history to score three points in his NHL debut. Will will and the rest of the Devils young core, they looked poised to bring back quality hockey to Downtown Newark, and rekindle some of the glory of the great Devils teams from the 1990’s.
4. Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning
It seems like every season the Lightning have a new young stud on their roster, and this year that trend has continued. Mikhail is a 19 year old boy from Russia, and is defiantly doing his part to help Tampa try to capture the Stanley Cup this season. Mikhail currently has 8 goals, 15 assists, with a real strong plus 15 plus minus rating on the season for the Lightning. He is currently tied for forth among rookie points leaders, first in points among rookie defensemen, and second in defenseman goals. There is no question that Mikhail will be a stud in the NHL for years to come, and he is a big part in helping lead Tampa to currently owning the best record in the NHL.
3. Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes
Barely anything has gone right for Arizona this season, but the one bright sport for the 2017-2018 Coyotes is the outstanding performance so far this season of rookie Clayton Keller. The 19 year old from Missouri currently has 12 goals and 14 assists so far this NHL campaign, giving him a total of 26 points so far this year through 36 career games. Although Clayton does have an abysmal -20 plus minus rating, that is large part to the fact that he is currently playing on the NHL’s worst team, so don’t let his poor plus minus rating fool you, this kid is gonna be good. Clayton also currently holds sole possession for 3rd place for rookie points. Although not much looks good in the desert right now, the Coyotes defiantly have a real good young player to continue their roster rebuild around.
2. Matt Barzal, New York Islanders
I am a huge Islanders fan, so I will try not to be to biased here, but Barzal is AN OUTSTANDING HOCKEY PLAYER. If you have watched him at all this season, you can see that his skating and passing ability is as good as some of the NHL’s elite players currently in their primes. Matt is a 20 year old kid from British Colombia, he has 8 goals, 22 assists, and a plus 3 plus minus rating on the season for New York through 33 games. Barzal currently is first in rookie assists, as well as second in rookie points. With a blossoming star on their roster, the highest scoring offense in the NHL this season, and the recent report that the Isles will officially be moving back to Long Island from Brooklyn in a few years, Islanders fans currently have a lot to happy and excited about.
1. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
If you are looking for the definition of what a future hockey stud is, look no further then Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. Brock is a 20 year old from the “State of Hockey”, A.K.A. the state of Minnesota. This season Brock currently has 18 goals, 14 assists, which is good for 32 points through 32 games played. Despite his minus 1 plus minus rating, just like Clayton Keller, it is in large part to the fact that Boeser plays for one of the NHL’s worst teams. His 18 goals for the year along with his 32 points have him sitting in first place in both categories among NHL rookies. Boeser at this point in time is probably the favorite to win the NHL’s rookie of the year for 2018, and has answered the question as to who will be the first big piece of the Cancuks rebuild to help bring Vancouver’s hockey team back to NHL relevance.
