One rookie to watch on all 32 NHL teams in 2023-24

Buffalo Sabres: Devon Levi, G

Levi got his first taste of NHL action with the Sabres down the stretch last year, going 5-2-0. Buffalo just missed the playoffs, but Levi gave the fanbase a lot to cheer about. Levi finished off one of the best college careers we’ve ever seen from a goalie, going 38-22-6 with 16 shutouts and a .942 save percentage en route to winning the NCAA’s top goaltender award in 2023. Now, he’s ready for big-time NHL duty. While he’s the team’s goalie of the future, the fanbase needs to be patient. The six-foot goaltender has some adjusting to do, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be the No. 1 out of the gate. There are also very, very few instances of a goalie going straight from the NCAA to playing significant minutes in the NHL. Still, the net’s his to secure.

Calgary Flames: Matt Coronato, RW

We’ve written about Coronato quite a bit already at Daily Faceoff this fall, but for good reason. Not only was he the best rookie during the preseason, but he was one of the best players, period. The Harvard product has an unbelievable shot, and he’s not afraid to show everybody. In fact, he might have earned himself a top-six starting spot based on his exhibition play, which would be huge for a team looking to crack the playoffs again. Smaller players might have a chance to shine in Calgary, with Coronato leading the way. Don’t be surprised if he’s a serious Calder Trophy contender.

Carolina Hurricanes: Pyotr Kochetkov, G

The 24-year-old already has 27 NHL games to his credit, serving as a valuable backup for the Hurricanes whenever called upon. After giving him a four-year deal last year, it felt like Kochetkov was bound to get a full-time job with the Hurricanes heading into 2023-24. Instead, they brought back Freddy Andersen and Antti Raanta, meaning the team will have a three-headed crease monster this year. Given the injury history of the two veterans, it likely won’t be long until Kochetkov gets a chance. At the very least, they have some decent trade chips available in net.

Chicago Blackhawks: Wyatt Kaiser, D

What more is there to say about Bedard that hasn’t already been said before? The real interesting prospect is Kaiser, who could potentially see top-pairing minutes thanks to Chicago’s inexperienced and lowly blueline crop. A speedy defender, Kaiser finished his three-year run at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the spring before turning pro. Kaiser had a career-high five goals and 23 points in 35 games, finishing college with 52 points over three years. Those are respectable numbers for a defender for whom offense isn’t the main selling point, with his footwork, passing and hockey IQ being standout qualities. He showed promise in a nine-game run to close out the NHL season, and hopefully he can build upon that.

Colorado Avalanche: Justus Annunen, G

With Pavel Francouz out for the time being, it’s Annunen time. A stout AHL goaltender, Annunen has impressed the Avalanche enough to stand pat on the goalie front and not acquire a short-term rental to work with Alexandar Georgiev. Annunen, 23, made two starts with the Avalanche last year, going 1-1-0. Annunen has a 2-1-1 record through four games with the Avalanche, filling in when injuries have arisen in the team’s crease. Even if it’s just in the short term, this is the best chance Annunen has had to prove himself.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli, C

Between the Traverse City Rookie Tournament and the subsequent preseason action, Fantilli has been a standout for the Blue Jackets early in his pro career. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as the top NCAA men’s hockey player looks comfortable against men, something he showed signs of during parts of the IIHF World Hockey Championship in May. Fantilli is smart, aggressive and plays a strong two-way game with very few flaws. Columbus, get excited. Really, really excited.

Dallas Stars: Mavrik Bourque, C

After a strong rookie campaign with Texas where he seemed to only get better throughout the year, Bourque established himself as a pro-caliber player. Preseason reports have been positive, and now Bourque looks ready to give Dallas some depth scoring soon. The team already has Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Tyler Seguin and Radek Faksa down the middle, but Bourque could find a way to slot in on the right side if he can beat out Craig Smith. Some more AHL time won’t hurt, and that’s where he’s headed for now, but he’ll hopefully get a chance for some NHL action this year.

Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, D

Edvinsson already looks better than most of the veteran blueliners on the Red Wings’ D-core, but he’ll start the year in Grand Rapids. Paired alongside Jeff Petry, Edvinsson has shown standout gap control and two-way play, and he can clearly keep up with the pace. As a 6-foot-6 defender, Edvinsson does an excellent job of taking space away. He’ll be ready for the NHL soon.

Edmonton Oilers: Raphael Lavoie, RW

This could be short-lived, given the Oilers put him on waivers on Sunday. But the 22-year-old is coming off his best season to date, scoring 25 goals and 45 points in 61 games. Will that be enough for him to get a more extended look at camp? At 6-foot-4, Lavoie has the size needed to be a bottom-six power forward, but his scoring touch from junior is starting to show through. As a depth scorer, there’s a future for Lavoie, but it’s up to him to make it happen. That begins this season.

Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich, RW

Samoskevich turned pro after a strong sophomore campaign with the University of Michigan, with the Panthers clearly thinking he had a legitimate chance of cracking the NHL roster for 2023-24. After a great preseason, that’s looking like the case. Samoskevich is a deceptive forward who manages space well and puts some significant power behind his shot. I’m not sure where he’ll land in Florida’s lineup down the line, but he’s one of the few prospects worth following there.

Los Angeles Kings: Jordan Spence, D

Spence has played more than most on the list with 30 games over two years, but now’s his time to finally bloom into the player many think he can be. The Australian-born Canadian knows how to produce, but concerns about his 5-foot-10 frame were exposed during his time with the Kings. Still, there’s undeniable talent here, and Spence does have NHL potential.

Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi, C

Hopefully, we finally see Rossi break through and show why so many were deep believers in Rossi’s game when he was drafted in 2020. The Austrian center has put up great numbers in Iowa, but hasn’t had much to show for in the NHL. Rossi has the skill to be a great playmaker and be a dynamo in the faceoff dot, but consistency has been an issue since turning pro. I think Rossi should start the esason on the second line, but I want to see him really push up further.

Montreal Canadiens: Sean Farrell, C

Realistically, the Canadiens are looking at an opening-night roster without a freshman. Jesse Ylonen is a notable name getting his first full-time gig, but doesn’t really count as a rookie. That’s a big change from a year ago when nearly half the blueline were starting their pro careers. Farrell is intriguing because he got into six games with the Canadiens after leaving Harvard, where he was easily one of the better college forwards. He’s undersized, and some time in Laval this year will be good for him, but I hope he gets a couple of games to prove himself again with the big club.

Nashville Predators: Luke Evangelista, RW

Evangelista is ready for a top-six role after impressing in his first taste of NHL action last year. The Predators have a weaker squad than the one that missed the playoffs, and Evangelista could be a benefactor. He’s not a great skater, but he can produce, as he has done at a high rate at every level.

New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D

An easy one here. Hughes is one of the best prospects in the NHL, and he showed so much promise in his short NHL stint last year. The Devils already have a strong blueline, even after moving Damon Severson, but Hughes gives the team some extra scoring flexibility below the top pairing. He’ll be especially strong on the power play, where he can slow the game down and take control. New Jersey’s defensive depth could limit Hughes’ chances at being a true Calder Trophy contender, but they’re thinking long-term. Hughes will be a difference-maker.

New York Islanders: Simon Holmstrom, RW

Like Montreal, it’s unlikely the Islanders have a full-time NHL rookie this year. But Holmstrom was with the Islanders throughout training camp, and now the 2019 first-rounder looks like a potential early season call up option. Holmstrom has middle-six potential, but the big winger needs some extra seasoning before getting a real crack at the lineup in a meaningful way.

New York Rangers: Will Cuylle, LW

Rangers fans loved Cuylle’s preseason, and for good reason. Cuylle showed he could score. He could hit. He brought the energy. Everything you’re looking for out of a bottom-six forward, Cuylle brought to the table. The hard-nosed winger had 25 goals and 45 points in 69 games with Hartford, and even saw four games of NHL action. Cuylle was one of the OHLers who got to spend the 2020-21 COVID-affected season in the AHL, with mixed results. But ever since, he’s been impressive.

Ottawa Senators: Ridly Greig, C

Perhaps one of the first players to ever get suspended for their first NHL game, Greig is known to play with an edge. He used that to his advantage to make himself noticed last year, putting up 29 points in 39 AHL games and another nine points in 20 NHL games. Those are solid numbers for a 21-year-old first-year pro forward. I’m really excited to see how the Sens fit him in the lineup.

Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster, RW

Foerster has one of the best shots in the Flyers’ system, and it was on full display last year. He had seven points in eight games in the NHL, helping the team go 4-0-1 in his final five contests before closing the season back with the Phantoms. He just missed the 50-point mark with Lehigh Valley, but would have easily done so had he not received the call-up. Coach John Tortorella seems to like him, which is huge.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Valtteri Puustinen, RW

Puustinen has already been sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but he’s still the most notable “rookie” candidate. He had a breakthrough AHL campaign last year, scoring 24 goals and 59 points in 72 games. Puustinen even has an NHL game to his credit, registering an assist in his lone game in 2021-22. At this point, time is running out for the 24-year-old, 5-foot-9 winger to make his mark, but a strong start back with WBS could change that.

San Jose Sharks: William Eklund, LW

With San Jose destined for the bottom of the standings, now’s a perfect chance for Eklund to see some significant ice time. It was a big first AHL season for Eklund, who had 17 goals and 41 points in 54 games with the San Jose Barracuda. He also had an eight-game run with the Sharks, scoring twice and adding an assist. Eklund has the work ethic to play him just about anywhere, but assuming he plays on the wing, he’ll have a good chance at top-six minutes out of the gate.

Seattle Kraken: Tye Kartye, RW

Ryker Evans is the name many are keeping a close eye on, and we know Shane Wright’s a top prospect. But Kartye might have the easiest chance at being a full-time NHLer this year. Kartye’s rookie season was outstanding, with the undrafted free agent scoring 28 goals and 57 points in 72 games. He then stepped into Seattle’s top six during the playoffs before finishing off the AHL season by playing in the Calder Cup final. He had just one point in seven games in the eventual loss to Hershey, but Kartye’s season-long work gives you a reason to think he is ready to take the next step.

St. Louis Blues: Joel Hofer, G

If there’s any goalie with an outside chance of winning the Calder Trophy, I’m banking on Hofer. A workhorse at the AHL level the past two years, Hofer has impressed every time he’s been called upon by St. Louis. So much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a serious challenger for the starting role by Christmas. Hofer has ideal size at 6-foot-5, and a bad goal against never seems to faze him. I have high hopes for the 23-year-old.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Hugo Alnefelt, G

Well, someone has to tend the goal, right? With Andrei Vasilevskiy injured, and Jonas Johansson projected to be the team’s No. 1 for now, Alnefelt has a realistic opportunity to take over the No. 1 spot here before long. He’s had a decent, yet unspectacular run in the AHL, and even saw some relief NHL action two years ago. The 6-foot-3 goaltender will need to really stand out if he wants to become the team’s long-term No. 2.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthew Knies, LW

Knies has established himself as a top-six forward in his short time with Toronto, giving the team a nice mix of size and skill on the wing. One of the top talents in the NCAA last year, the University of Minnesota star was as energized as anyone during Toronto’s playoff run in the spring. He ended the season with a concussion, but he’s clearly not feeling any ill effects after playing at a point-per-game pace throughout most of the preseason.

Vancouver Canucks: Cole McWard, D

After a strong preseason, it’ll be interesting to see how the Canucks utilize McWard. I like him, and the Canucks fanbase seems to, too. His skating has improved since his USHL days, and he controlled the puck much more often than he did as a freshman. It paid off with nine goals and 21 points with Ohio, showing a new confidence missing from his game. He’s physical, looks good in his zone and has some excellent footwork.

Vegas Golden Knights: Pavel Dorofeyev, LW

For a little bit last season, Dorofeyev looked unstoppable for the Golden Knights. He had seven goals and nine points in 18 games, including four goals in his first five games. He quieted down with just two points in his final eight games, and he didn’t participate in the playoffs. But after some difficult stretches with Henderson, it was good to see him produce like he did. He’s flashy and works hard, but when he’s not scoring, he’s not effective enough away from the puck for my liking. We’ll see if he ends up splitting time between the NHL and AHL.

Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW

I’ll be honest: I didn’t think Miroshnichenko would be anywhere close to ready this quickly after his cancer diagnosis. While he struggled for opportunities in the KHL, he absolutely dominated at points when at the top of his game in the MHL, Russia’s top junior league. He’ll adjust to life in the AHL this year, which will be a significant step up. But he’s a gifted goal-scorer who never stops competing, and that’ll give him chances to shine in North America. It helps that Alex Ovechkin is acting as his mentor, too.

Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert, C

He’s not ready for full-time duty, but I hope Lambert progresses well enough to earn a call-up or two. Lambert started the season with Manitoba before getting loaned out to the world juniors. He struggled with Finland and ultimately landed with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. He was a huge contributor en route to the team’s WHL championship and a spot in the Memorial Cup. Lambert was one of Winnipeg’s better players during the 2022 pre-season, earning him an entry-level contract, but consistency proved to be a problem in the AHL. He has all the skill in the world, but he needs to put it together.