We are just over a month into the 2021-22 NHL season, and we have already seen our fair share of rookie players in the league, whether it be due to injuries or they earned a roster spot out of training camp. Below, I will rank the six best prospects this season, not in any specific order.
Lucas Raymond, RW/LW Detroit Red Wings
Lucas Raymond was selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft. The 19-year-old Swede currently has seven goals and 17 points in 17 games during the 2021-22 season. He is presently the top-scoring rookie in the NHL, having a three-point lead on teammate Mortiz Seider who has 12 points. In Raymond’s draft year, he put up four goals and 10 points in 33 games with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League.
Moritz Seider, D Detroit Red Wings
Mortiz Seider was selected with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft. The 20-year-old German has two goals and 12 points in 17 games during the 2021-22 season. He is now in second place in rookie scoring as a defenseman, only three points behind the league leader in teammate Lucas Raymond. Seider’s draft year had two goals and six points in 29 games with Adler Mannheim of the DEL. Seider’s first North American season had two goals and 22 points in 49 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
Dawson Mercer C/RW New Jersey Devils
Dawson Mercer was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft. The 20 year old Canadian currently has five goals and 11 points in 13 games during the 2021-22 season. He is now in third place in rookie scoring this season, four points behind the league leader. In Mercer’s draft year, he had 24 goals and 60 points in 42 games played with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Jeremy Swayman, G Boston Bruins
Jeremy Swayman was selected in the 4th round of the 2017 NHL entry draft. The 22-year-old American currently has anSV% of .914 and a GAA of 2.16 in seven games played during the 2021-22 season with a record of 5-2-0. In Swaymans draft year, he had a SV% of .914 and a GAA of 2.90 in 32 games played with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, post-draft he played three seasons at the University Of Maine, his best NCAA season was the 2019-20 season posting a SV% of .939 and a GAA of 2.06 in 34 games played.
Cole Sillinger, C Columbus Blue Jackets
Cole Sillinger was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft. The 18-year-old American currently has four goals and seven points in 12 games during the 2021-22 season. He is now fifth in rookie scoring, eight points behind the league leader. In Sillingers draft year, he had 24 goals and 46 points in 31 games played with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL.
Spencer Knight, G Florida Panthers
Spencer Knight was drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft. The 20-year-old American currently has a SV% of .887 and a GAA of 3.27. In 7 games played, he has a record of 4-2-1. In Knight’s draft year, he had a SV% of .913 and a GAA of 2.36 in 33 games played with the U.S National U18 Team. Knight has played two NCAA seasons with Boston College, with his best season being the 2020-21 season, where he posted a SV% of .932 and a GAA of 2.18 in 21 games played.
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