The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2022-23 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season’s class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, the top five rookies in the Metropolitan Division (in alphabetical order):
Wade AllisonF, Philadelphia Flyers: The right-hand shot, a second-round pick (No. 52) in the 2016 NHL Draft, missed a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday with an undisclosed injury sustained against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Allison has three goals and four points with 24 shots on goal while averaging 12:31 of ice time in 14 games. He leads all division skaters in hits (42) and is second in blocked shots (14) playing right wing with center. Scott Laughton and Joel Farabee. Allison had 97 points (45 goals, 52 assists) in four seasons at Western Michigan University (2016-20) and 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in two seasons for Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League (2020-22).
Injuries prevented Allison from earning significant NHL time the past two seasons. He started last season on injured reserve after having ankle surgery before dealing with a high ankle sprain, an elbow injury and an MCL sprain.
“I have never had a problem with his effort,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “I just want him to understand his strength and that’s playing north, holding onto the pucks down below the hash. The only way he’s going to stay in the lineup, is if he plays north. When he starts playing east-west, he’s going to be east-west right out of the lineup. I just want him to know thyself. That’s all I want, is to know thyself, and things will fall into place.”
Noah CatesF, Flyers: The 23-year-old left wing has played a top-nine role with four points (two goals, two assists) and 14 shots on goal in 15 games. The fifth-round pick (No. 137) in the 2017 NHL Draft is first among rookie forwards in the division with 10 takeaways and 18 blocked shots and second behind Allison with 20 hits. He averages 17:09 of ice time and despite some offensive struggles, has earned playing time because of his work ethic and determination on pucks.
Tortorella had plenty of praise for Cates out of training camp and likes how he can play center or wing. Cates’ older brother, Jackson, plays for Lehigh Valley.
“[Cates] has struggled a little bit, offensively, but he’s a guy, and he’s going to be a good enough player and a hard enough player, that’s going to have to manufacture offense,” Tortorella said.
Kent JohnsonF, Columbus Blue Jackets: Johnson, selected no. 5 in the 2021 NHL Draft, is tied with Fabian Zetterlund of the New Jersey Devils among division rookies with six points (three goals, three assists) while averaging 12:33 of ice time in 11 games. The 20-year-old, who can play wing or center, had five points (one goal, four assists) in five games for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 games at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, and nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games to help Canada win the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in August. Johnson, skating on a line with center Jack Roslovic and left wing Gustav Nyquisthad 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 58 games in two seasons at the University of Michigan.
“He started strong, and I think tapered down like probably our team,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “It’s a hard league for a young guy and he’s got a tremendous skill set and a confidence with the puck that you’d like to see. It’s doing things at pace. It’s all those things that we talked about with younger guys.
“We’ve got a lot of youth in our lineup. They’re trying to pull the rope too, so he’s not alone. He’s learning on the fly against some really good teams and sometimes the learning curve is a little bit bigger but that’s it.” OK.”
Pierre-Olivier JosephD, Pittsburgh Penguins: Joseph, acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on June 29, 2019, seems to have earned his place in the lineup after getting a taste of NHL life in each of the past two seasons (20 games). The 23-year-old left-hand shot leads all division defensemen in assists (four), points (four), shots on goal (18) and hits (18) in 12 games. In a third-pair role with Jan RuttaJoseph isn’t physical but is a strong, skilled skater capable of transporting the puck.
Joseph sustained a lower-body injury in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 9 and has missed two games.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself,” Joseph told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in October. “I think sometimes I shoot myself in the foot because of it. I’m slowly learning not to put too much pressure on myself, trust my confidence and just play.”
Fabian Zetterlund, F, Devils: The third-round pick (No. 63) in the 2017 NHL Draft has made the most of his opportunity in a top-six role following the injury to Ondrej Palat, who had groin surgery on Nov. 1. Zetterlund is tied for second Shane Pinto (Ottawa Senators) in shots on goal (27) in 10 games. The 23-year-old right-hand shot, who averages 13:28 of ice time, scored twice, including the game winner at 2:38 of overtime in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Nov. 5.
Zetterlund had 90 points (39 goals, 51 assists) in 138 AHL games the past three seasons. He earned time on New Jersey’s top line late last season, and coach Lindy Ruff praised his north-south type of game, ability to control pucks and generate plays in small areas.
“Every shift he’s involved in some way, whether it’s physical or whether it’s tracking back, getting in between the dots and getting that shot away,” Ruff said. “But there’s not much inside of a shift where you’ll see that he takes time off.”
NHL.com correspondent Craig Merz contributed to this report
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