Each new 12 months brings about a number of notable rookies making their NHL debut. This 12 months shall be no completely different, as there are fairly just a few extremely touted rookies anticipated to affix the league. Listed below are 4 of essentially the most distinguished NHL rookies to look at for within the 2024-25 season.
Macklin Celebrini: San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini, the primary general choose from this summer time’s draft, shall be a should watch participant this season. The 18-year-old middle is a dominant offensive participant coming off an amazing 2023-24 12 months. He led Boston College in each offensive class, along with his 32 targets rating second within the NCAA and his 64 factors rating third. Celebrini additionally led the Canadian U20 workforce in targets, assists and whole factors within the World Juniors.Â
He’s additionally receiving reward as an entire two-way participant, exhibiting a accountable defensive recreation to go together with his offensive prowess. These qualities helped lead him to be the youngest Hobey Baker Award winner in NCAA historical past at 17-years-old. With all of those accolades, it’s simple to see why Celebrini is being projected because the one league’s subsequent superstars. He’ll be bringing his elite abilities to a San Jose Sharks workforce that desperately wants a participant like him. Anticipate Celebrini to be a number one contender within the Calder Trophy race this season.
Cutter Gauthier: Anaheim Geese
Celebrini received’t be the one Boston-based NCAA rookie becoming a member of the NHL ranks this season. The fifth general choose in 2022, Cutter Gauthier, can be set to play in his first full NHL season with the Anaheim Geese. Gauthier already made NHL headlines final season by requesting a commerce from the Philadelphia Flyers for private causes. With that request being granted, the main target will now shift to what he’ll be doing on the ice.Â
As a participant, the 20-year-old Gauthier is simply as proficient a scorer because the aforementioned Celebrini. He led the whole NCAA in targets with 38 and completed second in whole factors with 65 whereas at Boston School. Gauthier additionally loved a productive run with the USA U20 workforce, getting a team-high 10 assists and 12 factors. He’ll be becoming a member of a roster that already has a handful of thrilling, younger abilities in Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. That might result in a extremely productive rookie season for Gauthier, who could discover himself in Calder competition.
Matvei Michkov: Philadelphia Flyers
After dropping Gauthier, the Flyers shall be pinning their hopes on a unique top-10 chosen rookie to make an influence. That participant is 19-year-old Russian winger Matvei Michkov. The seventh general draft choose in 2023 shall be leaving the KHL sooner than most had anticipated to affix the Flyers this season. Michkov has garnered a number of pleasure as many imagine his skillset could lead on him to be a premiere goalscorer. On prime of that, he’s coming off of his finest season within the KHL, scoring 41 factors in 47 video games.Â
His profession thus far has earned him comparisons to the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko, Kirill Kaprizov and Artemi Panarin. Now he’ll be part of a Flyers roster that missed the playoffs by a mere 4 factors and have a high quality mentor in John Tortorella. Michkov seems to have every little thing he wants to search out speedy success as a goalscorer within the NHL.
Yaroslav Askarov: San Jose Sharks
The Sharks made a giant splash by buying goaltender Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators. Askarov was the eleventh general choose within the 2020 draft and is taken into account to be one of many prime goaltending prospects within the NHL. After dominating play as a younger participant in Russia, he continued to take action upon becoming a member of the AHL. Askarov has compiled a profession 2.55 GAA and a .911 save share throughout 92 video games performed. He additionally received in three video games of NHL motion, compiling very related totals throughout these video games.Â
With no clear street to constant NHL enjoying time in Nashville, Askarov requested and acquired a commerce this summer time. Now in San Jose, he’ll virtually definitely be getting an prolonged quantity of enjoying time through the 2024-25 season. Solely time will inform if he can impress the workforce sufficient to win the beginning job from the get go or if he’ll should work his means up. However come what may, we’ll be getting our first actual have a look at a goalie that would develop into one of many subsequent greats.Â
Featured picture courtesy of NHL.com
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