2023-07-30 04:00:00
The race for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year in the NHL, was already shaping up to be epic and now the signing of Logan Cooley has just added to this class of exceptional rookies.
Against all odds, the third pick in the 2022 draft decided to line up with the Arizona Coyotes next season last Thursday, even though a few weeks ago he announced that he would return to play one last season. in the NCAA.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a competitive-looking cohort of first-year players. Here are the recruits who are likely to be talked regarding in 2023-2024.
Connor Bedard
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Give honour where honour is due. The craze for Connor Bedard is very real and many expect the young Canadian center player to have a huge impact with the Chicago Blackhawks in his first season.
It’s hard not to believe it when you see how Bedard dominated – and the word is weak – junior hockey last year, and not only in Canada. In addition to his 143 points in 57 games with the Regina Pats in the WHL, he also broke a host of records at the last World Junior Hockey Championship.
It now remains to be seen whether he will be well enough surrounded in Chicago for the numbers to be there.
Adam Fantilli
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Considered the logical choice to be drafted second overall, just behind Connor Bedard, for the entire past season, Fantilli eventually fell to third when the Anaheim Ducks preferred Swedish great center Leo Carlsson to second. rung.
Once they drafted him, the Columbus Blue Jackets were quick to sign him to make his NHL debut next season. Fantilli has just had an exceptional season in the NCAA (65 points in 36 games) which allowed him to win the Hobey-Baker trophy awarded to the most valuable player on the American university circuit.
Logan Cooley
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Cooley’s signing with the Arizona Coyotes is a real boon for André Tourigny’s roster. Cooley is a dynamic player who, like Fantilli, made the transition to the NCAA with great success. His 60 points in 39 games allowed him to be one of the finalists for the Hobey-Baker, ultimately awarded to Fantilli.
In Cooley, the Arizona Coyotes have a potential first-line forward capable of producing elite offensive numbers. And considering the look of the team’s roster, he should get some interesting opportunities on his first outings.
Luke Hughes
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The youngest of the Hughes family made a brilliant NHL debut late in the season last year by scoring this magnificent goal in only his second game in the NHL.
A highly offensive defenseman, Hughes has the potential to become an elite point producer within the Devils’ dynamic young squad. If he managed to get his hands on the Calder, he would become the fourth defender to achieve the feat in the last 11 seasons, following Moritz Seider (2022), Cale Makar (2020) and Aaron Ekblad (2015).
Devon Levi
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The Montreal goaltender is only 21 years old, but might already establish himself as the starting goaltender for the Buffalo Sabers. In his first seven NHL games last season, following completing his college internship with the Northeastern Huskies of the NCAA, Levi had five wins, a 2.94 goals- once morest average and a 0.905.
Levi will have a lot to do, however, if he wants to get his hands on the rookie of the year trophy since it is not an honor that often goes to goaltenders. The last to win it? Steve Mason in 2009.
Matthew Knies
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Matthew Knies seemed destined for a role on one of the Maple Leafs’ top two lines at the end of last season, following he was able to make his impact with the team felt from his first outings. However, the Leafs have added two left wingers to their roster through the free agent market in Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, which might relegate Knies to a third-line role.
Obviously, if he manages to carve out a place for himself in the unit of Auston Matthews or John Tavares, he will be considered very seriously among the recruits of the year.
Brandt Clarke
AFP
The eighth overall pick in the 2022 draft started the NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings, playing just nine games there in the first half of the season before being returned to Junior Team Canada for the Mondial, then to the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Junior League, where he simply dominated with 61 points in 31 games.
The right-handed defender has above-average offensive skills.
Jakob Pelletier
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Two points work in the favor of Jakob Pelletier in view of the 2023-2024 season: he gained invaluable experience by finishing the year in the NHL last season and… Darryl Sutter is no longer the coach Calgary Flames!
Despite the unfavorable context, Pelletier managed to register 7 points in his first 24 games in the NHL. A place to the left of a trio completed by Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau is not to be ruled out, which would allow the Quebecer to assert himself.
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