5 NHL rookies with one thing to show in 2023-24

The 2023-24 NHL rookie class duties to be completely loaded. With the likes of Connor Bedard, Logan Cooley, Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes, and a substantial amount of additional rookies anticipated to have large first years, I assumed it’s liable to be gratifying to strive 5 rookies who’ve one challenge to level to their golf gear. Which freshmen is liable to be beneath the microscope?

Matthew Knies, 20, Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies obtained a sample of the Nationwide Hockey League remaining season when he appeared in three regular-season video video video video games and seven playoff contests, accumulating one purpose and three assists. Knies will now battle for a full-time roster spot amongst totally completely totally different youngsters all by way of the Leafs system, like 22-year-old, injury-plagued Nick Robertson. With Knies healthful and eager to make the leap to a full-time place, that’s his likelihood to take motion. 

The 20-year-old collected 21 targets and 21 assists for the College of Minnesota; he was named the NCAA B1G Participant of the Yr, named to the NCAA West First All-Star Workforce and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. After his effectivity by the use of the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which observed Knies take widespread shifts all through further time intervals, it just about seems optimistic he’s liable to be a roster lock. 

Knies actually distinguished himself alongside alongside alongside along with his measurement and was repeatedly able to create turnovers on the forecheck; a crew can in no way have ample avid avid players who can create time and home down low. With that, Knies might should proceed to earn the assumption of head coach Sheldon Keefe and new elementary supervisor Brad Treliving. The Phoenix, Arizona product has been skating on a line all by the use of educating camp with John Tavares and Sam Lafferty, an impressive indication of the long term.

Brandt Clarke, 20, Los Angeles Kings

The L.A. Kings’ youthful blueline prodigy Brandt Clarke seems to be wish to have a vast impactful season down in California. Clarke was chosen No. 8 common all by way of the 2021 NHL Draft. He appeared in 9 video video video video games remaining season with the Kings, the place he tallied two assists. The Kings returned Clarke to the Barrie Colts of the OHL, the place he massacred the league and notched 61 elements in 31 video video video video games. He achieved fourth amongst OHL defensemen in targets and fifth in elements no matter collaborating in solely half a season. 

It truly is barely a matter of time previous to Clarke is maneuvering spherical like a highlight-reel machine on the ice. He moreover appeared in 5 video video video video games with the Ontario Reign of the AHL on a conditioning course of, the place he collected one purpose and one assist. The Kings made some modifications to their blueline this offseason, buying for and promoting Sean Walker and Sean Druzi. Their departures open up room for the 20-year-old to slot in and put together himself as a youthful elite defender. With Drew Doughty ageing, Clarke is the correct substitute to develop to be the Kings’ new powerplay service supplier.

“He’s a sort of children who loves collaborating in hockey, every second of it,” talked about Kings director of beginner scouting Mark Yannetti. “Every time he goes on the ice, in its place of pouting, he’s like, ‘I’m going to grasp.’ I’ve in no way seen a baby come as quickly as additional to junior when he arguably has an actual case to be on the NHL crew and do what he has achieved.”

Shane Wright, 19, Seattle Kraken

After falling out of the simplest three all by way of the 2022 NHL Draft, Seattle Kraken prospect Shane Wright should present he’s the true deal and ready for the NHL. Wright spent the 2022-23 selling promoting advertising and marketing marketing campaign break up between the Kraken, the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL and the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. The Burlington, Ontario product appeared in eight video video video video games, with the Kraken registering two elements. He was scratched for five straight video video video video games previous to being re-assigned to the Firebirds, the place he registered 4 elements in 5 AHL video video video video games; then, all by way of the rollercoaster of a yr it was, he rejoined the Kraken for one sport previous to being re-assigned to Canada’s World Junior squad.

Following the World Juniors, Wright was then despatched as quickly as additional to the OHL, the place the Windsor Spitfires acquired his rights. He notched 37 elements in 20 video video video video games and three elements in eight OHL Playoff contests. Wright then re-joined the Firebirds for his or her 2023 Calder Cup run, the place he tallied 9 elements in 24 video video video video games. Now, the NHL and CHL made an settlement on Wright, indicating if he doesn’t make the Kraken’s opening night roster, he doesn’t ought to return to juniors and, subsequently, can play a full season with Coachella Valley. It’s an infinite yr for Wright, who was at one stage thought-about the bonafide No. 1 common select on the 2022 Draft; that’s his revenge yr.

Marco Rossi, 22, Minnesota Wild

Marco Rossi was chosen by the Minnesota Wild No. 9 common all by way of the 2020 NHL Draft. The two-way phenom dominated the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in his draft yr, registering 39 targets and 81 assists for 120 elements in 56 video video video video games. He moreover added an extra 22 elements by the use of the Ottawa 67’s playoff run. Rossi was awarded the OHL’s Purple Tilson Trophy due to the OHL’s Most Unbelievable Participant, along with the OHL Prime Scorer award and the Eddie Vitality Trophy for OHL’s Most Parts. Rossi’s principal junior dominance earned him an entry-level contract in October of 2020.

Nonetheless since then, Rossi has struggled in his progress path, and that primarily has to do with a medical battle with Myocarditis that sidelined him for almost your complete 2020-21 season. Rossi has continued to bounce up and down between the Wild and their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. Throughout the midst of the 2022-23 selling promoting advertising and marketing marketing campaign, he appeared in 19 video video video video games with Minnesota, accumulating just one assist previous to being healthful scratched for 4 straight video video video video games and re-assigned to Iowa. Whereas down in Iowa, he notched 16 targets and 35 assists for 51 elements in 53 video video video video games, he was second amongst Wild leaders.  In two seasons with Iowa, Rossi amassed 34 targets and 70 elements in 116 video video video video games. There’s pretty a variety of hope among the many many many many Wild workers that Rossi can crack the opening night roster and play out a full season all by way of the NHL this yr. If he can defend healthful, that’s his yr to level he belongs all by way of the NHL.

Dustin Wolf, 22, Calgary Flames

22-year-old Calgary Flames goaltending prospect Dustin Wolf has established himself as one amongst many prime elite youthful goalies arising. Throughout the midst of the 2022-23 season with the Flames AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, Wolf put collectively a 42-10-2 report and .932 save share in 55 appearances. His stellar effectivity earned him the AHL Most interesting Goaltender Award for a second consecutive season, along with the AHL Most Helpful Participant Award. Wolf led all AHL goalies in wins, save share, goals-against widespread and seven shutouts. With back-to-back seasons dominating the AHL, it’s about time Wolf will get the callup to backstop Flames starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

Wolf’s dominant reign isn’t new each; it has been happening for years. Whereas he was with the Everett Silvertips all by way of the WHL, he captured the CHL Goaltender of the Yr Award and the WHL Prime Goaltender Award in 2019-20 after posting a .935 save share. The subsequent season, he as quickly as as rapidly as additional was named the WHL Prime Goaltender and helped Workforce USA seize a gold medal on the World Juniors. Nonetheless with Dan Vladar presently holding the backup place, Wolf has wished to battle all by the use of educating camp and preseason to secure a spot. He appeared in a single sport with the Flames remaining season, incomes a victory and allowing just one purpose. The rising star is ready for a full-time gig. When he does get his likelihood, he’ll be on a mission to find out himself as Calgary’s future No. 1. Nonetheless for now: he’s blocked. Flames GM Craig Conroy indicated this week that Wolf ought to start the season all by way of the AHL till they uncover a commerce avenue for Vladar. It’s sturdy to ponder Wolf spending one completely totally different full season all by way of the minors, though. His time is coming.