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 six rookies in the Atlantic Division (in alphabetical order):
Kaiden GuhleD, Montreal Canadiens: The 20-year-old (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) ranks fourth among NHL rookie defensemen with seven points (one goal, six assists) and first in even-strength points (seven) while averaging 20:39 of ice time. in 18 games. Often paired with David Savard, the No. The 16 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft ranks tied for first among NHL rookie defensemen in takeaways (10), is second in blocked shots (31) and third in hits (37).
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis has given Guhle many tough assignments against some of the League’s top lines that include Austin Matthews and Mitchell Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs), Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings). Guhle’s rapid development made it possible for the Canadiens to trade Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders in order to acquire center Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks on July 7.
“Guys are telling me to keep playing, keep skating, and coaches have been in my corner helping me out whenever they can,” Guhle said. “And when you’re on the ice, you just go play, and don’t try to think too much out there. It’s nice to get the support from teammates and coaches for sure.”
Nick PerbixD, Tampa Bay Lightning: Perbix is fourth among Atlantic rookie defensemen with six points (three goals, three assists) and is first with a plus-7 rating while averaging 15:25 in ice time in a second-pair role. Mikhail Sergachev. Perbix, a sixth-round pick (No. 169) in the 2017 NHL Draft, had a solid training camp, but wasn’t on the opening-night roster. He made his debut in the fourth game of the season on Oct. 18 and has remained in the lineup ever since. The 24-year-old is seventh in blocked shots (17), fourth in takeaways (five) and ninth in hits (14) among NHL rookie defensemen in 14 games.
“He showed well in training camp,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “You can tell he had NHL tools. I think a little bit of a difference with Perbix is he’s older, he played the college game (at St. Cloud State) for some time. So, it’s not like he was 19, and he’s a more mature kid in so many different ways, so hence why he’s here.”
Video: BUF@TBL: Perbix takes lead with 1st career goal
JJ PeterkaF, Buffalo Sabres: The 20-year-old forward, chosen in the second round (No. 34) of the 2020 NHL Draft, ranks second among Atlantic Division rookie forwards with eight points (three goals, five assists) while averaging 14:05 of ice time ( 14:05) in 18 games. He had 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) and was named to the American Hockey League’s All-Rookie Team in his first season with Rochester last season.
“For him, the more comfortable he gets and chemistry with linemates, and team, and team systems, and the League itself, familiarity level itself, the scoring is just going to be … it’s there,” Sabers coach Don Granato said. “It wouldn’t surprise me tomorrow if he goes out and scores a big goal or more, because he just is an offensively gifted player.”
Shane PintoF, Ottawa Senators: The second-round pick (No. 32) in the 2019 NHL Draft is first among NHL rookies with eight goals and tied for third with nine points. The 22-year-old right-shot center is first among NHL rookies with 37 shots on goal, tied for first with Dylan Guenther (Arizona Coyotes) with three power-play goals, and is sixth with nine takeaways while averaging 15:09 of ice time in 17 games.
“I don’t care about [the Calder Trophy]. I really only care about winning,” Pinto said. “I know it sounds cliche but if you don’t win, it really doesn’t matter what you do statistically. I really care about the team result so I really hope we start winning.”
Video: DAL@OTT: Pinto notches a goal in fifth straight game
Owen PowerD, Buffalo Sabres: Injuries to Rasmus Dahlin, Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson and Ilya Lyubushkin at various points during the season gave Power more responsibility and the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft persevered. Power has eight points (all assists) and leads all NHL rookies in average ice time (23:45) in 18 games. Power is fourth among Atlantic Division rookie skaters with 23 blocked shots and Buffalo controls 54.4 percent of the 5-on-5 shot attempts when he’s on the ice. Power, usually paired with Dahlin, turns 20 years old on Tuesday.
“I’ve been, I think, better with my gaps and stuff,” Power said. “A lot of my game comes from how well my gap is. I thought at the beginning of the year it was pretty bad, and it’s trending in the right direction right now.”
Jake SandersonD, Ottawa Senators: Leads Atlantic Division rookie defensemen with nine points (all assists) and is first with five power-play points. The 20-year-old left-hand shot, selected No. 5 in the 2020 NHL Draft, is third among Atlantic defensemen in blocked shots (26), fourth in hits (17) and third among all NHL rookies in average ice time (20:38) in a top-pair role with Travis Hamonic. Senators coach DJ Smith has had to rely on Sanderson even more in recent weeks due to injuries to defensemen Artem Zub (upper body) and Thomas Chabot (concussion).
“This is a star in the making,” TSN hockey analyst Dave Poulin told NHL Network Radio. “He can run a power play, his lateral movement is terrific, and he skates like his father (Geoff), but from a defensive position. Jake’s a heavy player, a smart player, and he’s everything that was advertised.
“He’s the next great young defenseman in the National Hockey League.”
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