Beyond the Calder Race: Rookies Making Their Mark Across the NHL
- Karinna Leonard
- Mar 16
- 6 min read
Every year, a new class of rookies takes the NHL by storm. Last season saw players like Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson grab the spotlight, while this year’s conversation has centered around newcomers such as Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Demidov. But beyond the biggest names, several rookies have quietly been putting together impressive seasons of their own. While the Calder Trophy race often dominates the headlines, plenty of standout performances are unfolding just outside the award conversation. Here’s a closer look at a few rookie campaigns that deserve more recognition.
Linus Karlsson
Not every rookie enters the NHL as a teenager. At 26 years old, Linus Karlsson is making his mark in his first full NHL season. Amid a difficult year for the Vancouver Canucks, Karlsson has quietly been one of the team’s bright spots.
Originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2018, the Swedish forward has spent all four years of his professional career in North America within the Canucks' organization. After spending most of the past few seasons in Abbotsford, Karlsson has appeared in 63 of Vancouver's 66 games so far this year.
One of Linus Karlsson's 12 goals this year. Courtesy of Sportsnet/X
His physical style and strong play on both sides of the puck make him a valuable presence down low in the offensive zone. Though he may lack elite foot speed, Karlsson makes up for it by keeping his game simple, making smart decisions with the puck, and consistently winning battles along the boards. Despite averaging just 9:46 of five-on-five ice time per game, he leads the team with 23 even-strength points. Karlsson has also moved into the top five in team scoring this season with 12 goals and 16 assists. While he makes his living in front of the net, scoring gritty goals off rebounds, he also possesses a quick, heavy wrist shot and is rarely outworked.
Tom Willander
Alongside Karlsson's offensive production, Tom Willander has been demonstrating why he’s one of Vancouver’s most promising defensive prospects. After starting the year down in Abbotsford, the Swedish blueliner has impressed with his smooth skating, smart positioning, and ability to drive play from the back end. He’s quickly become a key piece of Vancouver’s young defensive core. In his first year turned pro, Willander has averaged 15:55 of ice time per game and recorded 17 points in 54 games. As the team improves in the coming years and his production increases, the two-way defenseman is sure to be a nightmare to play against.
Ben Kindel
While Vancouver currently sits at the bottom of the standings, Ben Kindel has been a key part of the team, helping change the trajectory of Pittsburgh's short-term future. At the start of the year, most expected the 18-year-old to get only a brief look before returning to the Western Hockey League. Under the "nine-game rookie rule," teams can play 18 or 19-year-old drafted rookies in up to nine regular-season games without triggering the first year of their entry-level contract.
Instead, Kindel has become a regular in the lineup, recording 16 goals and 15 assists in 63 games while routinely anchoring his own line as the third-line center. He has also been a staple on the second power-play unit and, at times, one of Pittsburgh's most reliable forwards while Sidney Crosby has been sidelined with an injury. Like any young player, he has had some growing pains, but overall, his rookie season has been remarkable. Players at that age and position rarely step into the NHL unless they are a top-three pick. Drafted 11th overall, many teams may already be wishing they had taken a chance on Kindel earlier. He consistently drives possession and plays a strong defensive game, averaging 0:37 of shorthanded time per game on the second-best penalty kill in the league.
Kindel plays a very high-IQ, skilled, and defensively responsible game, generating much of his offensive chances by creating turnovers. His patience with the puck and strong playmaking ability will make him an elite two-way center in the years to come. He has injected some much-needed youth into the lineup and is a major reason the Penguins are still in the playoff conversation this late in the season.
You can't talk about the Penguins' rookie class without highlighting a few other names. General manager Kyle Dubas has done an excellent job of getting the team younger while still keeping it competitive. Despite appearing in parts of four seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Artūrs Šilovs is still considered a rookie as he earns his first full-time stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After leading the Abbotsford Canucks to an AHL Calder Cup championship and winning playoff MVP, Silovs was traded to Pittsburgh in the offseason to give him room to grow—and grow he has. He's gone 14-9-8 in 31 starts this season with an .894 save percentage.
Another rookie grabbed the spotlight on February 5th when Avery Hayes made his NHL debut, scoring two goals in the first period, with his first NHL goal coming on his first shot. With that game coming just before the Olympic break, Hayes returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a few weeks. In his first game back in the AHL, he recorded a hat trick, including the overtime winner, and followed it up with another hat trick a little over a week later before being called back up to the NHL. In the meantime, he has also shown off the physical side of his game, getting into a few scraps—including his first NHL fight on March 1st against the much larger Cole Reinhardt of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Justin Sourdif
Similar stories are unfolding all around the league. In D.C., Justin Sourdif has quietly emerged as an important piece for the Washington Capitals. While much of the hype has surrounded Ryan Leonard, the Capitals have another promising young forward in Sourdif.
After beginning his career with the Florida Panthers organization and spending most of his time in the AHL, Sourdif was traded to Washington over the summer. The move was a dream come true, as the Capitals were his childhood team. He arrived ready to work, saying, "Playing with tenacity and pace, wearing out the other teams' top lines and really making it hard on them (are my biggest strengths). If they're going to try and score, it's going to be a grueling shift, shift after shift. I think when we're out there, we'll be able to contribute ourselves and help the team out in all three zones."
Sourdif has taken hold of the opportunity he was given and is currently centering a line of Alexander Ovechkin and Anthony Beauvillier. He has recorded 13 goals and 16 assists in 64 games, while averaging 14:34 of ice time per game. Known for his athleticism, Sourdif's versatility and offensive prowess have made him a natural fit in Washington's lineup.
Emmitt Finnie
Another rookie making his mark this season is Emmitt Finnie with the Detroit Red Wings. The 6'1" left-shot forward has bounced around the wing in the top six, producing far more than the team originally expected from the rookie in his first NHL campaign. Drafted 201st overall in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL draft, Finnie has contributed 25 points to help propel Detroit into the playoff hunt. Captain Dylan Larkin was emphatic about the rookie's impact, explaining, "It's unbelievable, I’ve talked about him a lot, and I could talk about him all day if you guys allowed me...He's such a great kid, and playing with him the majority of the (year) up until Christmas, he's such a good linemate."
Emmitt Finnie scoring his first NHL goal. Courtesy of spittinchiclets/X
Alexander Nikishin
On the blue line, Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes has begun showing why he was so highly regarded overseas in the KHL. At 6'3" and 218 pounds, his size gives him a clear advantage, alongside his confidence and willingness to shoot the puck. He is the first rookie defenseman in Canes/Whalers franchise history to score nine goals in a season, and he has added 16 assists for 25 points. As he continues adjusting to the NHL, Nikishin's size and offensive prowess could make him an important part of Carolina's defensive core for years to come.
While the Calder Trophy race gets the most attention, the NHL is filled with rookies carving out important roles for their teams. From mid-round steals to overlooked prospects and players earning their first real opportunity, this year's rookie class has made its mark far beyond the headline names. As the season continues, these players are proving that impact doesn't always come with immediate hype, but soon many of these rookies will find themselves impossible to overlook.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette
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