Rookie Watch: Top performers since All-Star Game

The play of several high-profile rookies, including forwards Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers, the No. 1 and No. 2 picks of the 2019 NHL Draft, respectively, is one of the major storylines of the 2019-20 season. Each Monday, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.

With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to concerns about the coronavirus, here's a look at the top seven rookie point scorers since the Honda NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 25:

1. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks: The 20-year-old leads all NHL rookies in assists (16) and points (19) and was second in average ice time (22:33) in 20 games since the NHL All-Star break. Hughes had a 50.0 on-ice goals-for percentage in that span and is the only player on this list to participate in the All-Star Game. He even scored one of the nicest goals that day, deking St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington before tucking the puck into the net one-handed. Even Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who wore a microphone on the bench in conversation with the Sportsnet broadcast, couldn't help himself. "Wow," Gretzky said of the goal. "That young lad's a defenseman? That's better hands than I had. That's pretty good."

2. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers: The 22-year-old ranks second among NHL rookies with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) and 35 blocked shots, and is first with 14 even-strength points (two goals, 12 assists) and 18 takeaways and in 22 games since the break. He's considered by many to be the third-best rookie defenseman in the NHL this season, leading all first-year players since the break in on-ice even-strength goals for (28) with a 65.1 even-strength goals-for percentage when on the ice. He's averaging 20:54 in ice time since Jan. 25.

3. Dominik Kubalik, F, Chicago Blackhawks: The 24-year-old is tied for first in goals (nine) with Dallas Stars forward Denis Gurianov and tied for second in points (14) with Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki among first-year forwards since the break. Kubalik has 11 even-strength points (seven goals, four assists) and a 20.4 shooting percentage, averaging 16:39 in ice time in those past 19 games.

4. Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens: The 20-year-old has proven his consistency this season in a top-six role. He has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and five power-play points (two goals, three assists) and leads all NHL rookies with 52 shots on goal since the All-Star break. The Canadiens control 56.1 percent of all shots attempted with Suzuki on the ice.

5. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche: The 21-year-old ranks third among NHL rookie defensemen with 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and third in average ice time (22:01) since the break. He has a 62.5 on-ice goals-for percentage at even strength in 16 games since Jan. 25 and Colorado controls 54.3 percent of all shots attempted with Makar on the ice.

6. Denis Gurianov, F, Dallas Stars: The 22-year-old is tied for first in goals (nine) with Kubalik and is sixth with 12 points among NHL rookies since the break. Gurianov also has proven effective at even strength (seven goals) and on the power play (five points; two goals, three assists) in those 21 games, averaging 13:37 in ice time. His 22.5 shooting percentage is second among rookies who have played at least 10 games since the break.

7. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, F, Philadelphia Flyers: The 23-year-old is finally getting a shot to prove his ability after being selected in the second round (No. 48) of the 2014 NHL Draft and spending five seasons with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. Aube-Kubel ranks seventh among NHL rookies with 11 points (five goals, six assists) and third with 40 hits since the break. Most notable is the fact he is first in shooting percentage (22.7) among rookies having played 10 games since the break despite starting 59 percent of his shifts outside the offensive zone.

Head to Head comparison

Several rookie goalies have made huge contributions following All-Star Weekend in St. Louis. The two first-year goalies with the most wins since the break are Mackenzie Blackwood of the New Jersey Devils and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers.

Here's a breakdown of their numbers since Jan. 25:

Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils

Games (Starts): 12 (12)

Record: 8-2-2

GAA: 2.28

Save percentage: .936

Shutouts: 2

Telling stat: In 12 games since the break, Blackwood has a .941 save percentage at even strength.

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

Games (Starts): 9 (9)

Record: 8-1-0

GAA: 2.46

Save percentage: .933

Shutouts: 0

Telling stat: In 12 games since the break, Shesterkin has a .938 save percentage at even strength.

Morreale's Calder Trophy frontrunners

1. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche: Makar is first among NHL rookies in points per game (0.88) with at least five games played, and all rookie defensemen in goals (12), power-play goals (four) and even-strength goals (eight) in 57 games.

2. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks: Hughes leads all NHL rookies with 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) and 25 power-play points (three goals, 22 assists) in 68 games.

3. Dominik Kubalik, F, Chicago Blackhawks: Kubalik is first among NHL rookies with 30 goals, 38 even-strength points (26 goals, 12 assists) and 157 shots on goal and is third with 46 points in 68 games.