Rookie Watch: Bunting, Mercer among Canada-born scoring leaders

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2021-22 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, a look at the top five scorers among Canada-born rookies:

Michael Bunting, F, Toronto Maple Leafs: The 26-year-old left wing is first among Canada-born NHL rookies in goals (19), assists (24) and points (43) in 55 games. Bunting, born in Scarborough, Ontario, is tied for the lead among all first-year players in points with Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond. He has averaged 15:34 of ice time per game while playing on Toronto's top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and is first among NHL rookies in penalties drawn (32) and sixth in takeaways (24). Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round (No. 117) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Bunting played 26 games (five in 2018-19, 21 last season) with the Coyotes before signing a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 28.
"The big thing with Bunting is that he's an absolute competitor," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He gives everything that he has on every single shift and he's not going to let anyone get a leg up on him. He's going to compete. And if you do happen to win one shift on him, he's going to go out and look to win the next one. He's in everything. He's involved in everything."
Dawson Mercer, F, New Jersey Devils:Mercer is second among Canada-born rookies with 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 56 games, including eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past seven games. He was the seventh player born in Newfoundland (Carbonear) to go in the first round of the NHL Draft. The 19-year-old began the season playing center in the absence of Jack Hughes (shoulder) and had success with Andreas Johnsson and Jesper Bratt, but he's since been playing right wing on a line with Hughes. The No. 18 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft is sixth among NHL rookies in goals, seventh in points, second in takeaways (41) and ninth in shots (93) while averaging 15:59 of ice time.
"I think he understands that sometimes it's not about scoring goals, but just playing the game the right way and, a lot of time, the goals will come your way," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "But his attitude and coachability has been great. He wants to play the game the right way, he wants to work as hard as he possibly can, and he wants to listen to the advice he's been given in order to keep getting better."
Tanner Jeannot, F, Nashville Predators: The 24-year-old is third among Canada-born rookies with 18 goals and 32 points, and third in shooting percentage (20.5; minimum five games played) in 55 games. Born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Jeannot is averaging 15:43 of ice time playing on a line with center Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin. Jeannot wasn't chosen in the NHL Draft and played 15 games for the Predators last season, scoring seven points (five goals, two assists). He scored 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 107 AHL games with Milwaukee and Chicago, catching the attention of scouts during his fourth season with Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League when he scored 80 points (40 goals, 40 assists) in 72 games as an alternate captain in 2017-18. Nashville signed him as a free agent April 2, 2018, and to a two-year contract July 30.
"My expectations were to just get better every day and keep on improving," Jeannot said. "I don't like to set a ceiling on myself because I just want to continue to improve every day and always be getting better. So it's been going really well and I'm really happy with what the team and myself have accomplished so far, but, like I said, I just want to continue to grow on that and not stop there."
Jamie Drysdale, D, Anaheim Ducks: Drysdale is fourth among Canada-born players with 24 points (three goals, 21 assists) in 58 games. The 19-year-old is averaging 20:02 of ice time playing on the top pair with Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim has controlled 48.0 percent of all shots attempted at 5-on-5 when Drysdale is on the ice. Born in Toronto and chosen by the Ducks with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Drysdale played in 24 NHL games with Anaheim last season, scoring eight points (three goals, five assists). His skating and puck-moving ability are going to keep him in the NHL for the next decade.
Alex Newhook, F, Colorado Avalanche: Chosen No. 16 in the 2019 NHL Draft, Newhook is fifth among Canada-born rookies with 22 points (11 goals 11 assists) in 46 games. The 21-year-old of St. John's, Newfoundland, was the first from the province to be chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft since Daniel Cleary went No. 13 to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997. He's averaging 13:36 of ice time in a top-9 role, playing both left wing and center, and is tied with Nashville Predators forward Philip Tomasino for the most power-play goals (three) among Canada-born NHL rookies.
"I think I'm skating well, trusting my instincts, trusting myself and I think that's a big part of it," Newhook said. "Now that I'm a little more comfortable, I want the puck on my stick, I want to be making plays and I want to be a difference-maker. I think that's got to be my mindset moving forward."