The rookie class for the NHL this year was very interesting indeed. Obviously, all eyes were on Connor Bedard, but he was far from the only rookie who was attracting attention. With all eyes on the young ones, everyone was dying to see which ones would shine brightly and which ones would crack under the pressure. Which were NHL-ready and which ones still needed some time to cook. Today we’re going to take a look at ten rookies in this year’s class and decide whether or not they look like stars already, or whether or not they look like busts.
Star: Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils)
Luke Hughes is the younger brother of Devils’ star Jack Hughes. The twenty-year-old was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 Entry draft. He technically made his debut last season, but given that he only played two games he still technically qualifies as a rookie this season. And man has he made it a season to remember. Not only is he in the running for New Jersey’s strongest blue liner, but his offensive production has been quite good. It helps that he’s playing with his brother as well, given that their chemistry is unmatched.
Bust: Devon Levi (Buffalo Sabres)
It was entirely unfair to hinge all of Buffalo’s goaltending hopes on Levi. The odds were stacked against him from the start with that amount of hype. Unfortunately, he just can’t live up to it. With a save percentage that’s just barely above .890 and a GAA of almost 3.30, it’s very likely Levi never will live up to the prospect of being Buffalo’s saving grace. It’s not that he isn’t a good prospect either, it’s just that he has the misfortune of being thrown into the fire with absolutely no way to cool it off. He’s got no help defensively and yet he’s expected to figure out when the team around him can’t even figure it out.
Star: Logan Cooley (Arizona Coyotes)
Coyotes fans have been hyped about this young man since he was drafted and with very good reason. The 19-year-old was drafted third overall in the 2022 entry draft, and finally made his long-awaited debut this season. He didn’t disappoint either. Cooley exploded for fourteen points in his first nineteen games. He cooled off exponentially since then but has still shown that he’s NHL-ready while still developing. The excitement around him is well-placed because he very much looks like a rookie with a high ceiling that’s only going to get better every year.
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Bust: David Jiricek (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Columbus was really excited about Jiricek. He was expected to earn his playing time against guys like Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov. Looking back, that may have been too much praise. He ended up only getting to play 36 games, in which he tallied a goal and eight assists with a -1 rating, and was then subsequently sent to the AHL, much to his anger. Jiricek vocally voiced his frustration about being sent down as well. While he still has plenty of time to grow and become the defenseman Columbus wants him to be, his rookie season did not start things off the best way.
Star: Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets)
On the flip side for Columbus, Adam Fantilli has very much lived up to his hype. Well, at least he was before a calf injury sidelined him in January. He’s not expected to return in time for the season, but in the 49 games he did play, he scored twelve goals and tallied 15 assists for 27 points. That’s pretty respectable for a rookie. His plus/minus certainly could’ve been a lot better, but he’s also playing in Columbus so he can’t be totally blamed there. It’s a shame that an injury cut his rookie campaign short because he could’ve been a serious contender for the Calder trophy.
Bust: Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks)
Maybe I’m being too harsh here, but man it just feels like bad voodoo is surrounding Leo Carlsson. Despite the fact that he was second overall behind Connor Bedard, which already means he has a shadow cast over him, he just can’t seem to stay healthy. He’s been injured a couple of times this season already which has caused him to miss some decent gaps of time. When he has been able to play he has shown glimpses of the talent he was believed to have, but it’s been relatively inconsistent. He has the misfortune of playing on the Ducks as well, so not a whole lot going for this poor kid.
Star: Joel Hofer (St Louis Blues)
Man, did Joel Hofer come out of nowhere? Drafted in 2018 by the Blues, Hofer had only played a few NHL games in the seasons prior. This was the first season where he was consistently on the roster and was considered a true rookie. And man has he shown up in the biggest way. When Ville Husso left for greener pastures (funny how badly that turned out) St Louis’ goaltending was in a precarious spot. Binnington had yet to recapture the form that won them the Cup and they had no backup. Enter Hofer, who has been nothing short of spectacular on this struggling team. If that wasn’t good enough, his play has forced Binnington to elevate his own play as well.
Bust: Matt Coronato (Calgary Flames)
Calgary’s prospect pool in general has been pretty bare bones, but it’s safe to say Coronato had some of the most hype surrounding him. After a terrific season with Harvard and then finishing as a top player in the IIHF for the USA team, he seemed primed and ready to make waves in the NHL. The issue is… he just hasn’t. He’s been fairly inconsistent and when he does play he seems to rarely make any sort of splash or really bring any sort of attention to himself. He’s split time between the NHL and the AHL this year and has yet to really live up to any of the hype surrounding him. Here’s hoping he just needs more time to develop.
Star: Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks)
Let’s be real. You knew he was going to be on this list. He had to be. The 2023 number-one overall pick has probably the most hype surrounding him of any draft pick since Connor McDavid. And he deserves it. At just 18 years old the kid is an absolute hockey wizard. He made his impact known immediately as well. Even after breaking his jaw and being sidelined for over a month, he couldn’t be slowed down. He came back and continued to be Chicago’s top producer and despite all that time missed he’s on track to being their leading scorer this year. Now imagine if he got to play on an actually good team.
Bust: Kaedan Korczak (Vegas Golden Knights)
Maybe this isn’t entirely Kaden’s fault, as finding a roster spot in Vegas is no easy feat. That being said, Vegas was pretty excited about this young defenseman. So far, he hasn’t really given them a reason to stay excited. Getting injured early on this season was forgivable, but he’s failed to make a splash since returning and has found himself sent back to the AHL once again. For a defenseman who was once believed to be a solid addition to the roster, Korczak hasn’t done anything to stand out or solidify a roster spot. He may just need more time to develop and find his footing, but for now he simply just isn’t making it.
