Shea Theodore played six Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Anaheim Ducks before he was returned to San Diego, when he immediately solidified their defense corps. He has five points (one goal, four assists) in five games, tied for fourth among defensemen. Theodore is joined by fellow rookie Brandon Montour, who had 12 goals and 57 points in 68 regular-season games. Montour, 22, is tied for seventh in defensive playoff scoring with four points in seven games. San Diego trails 2-1 in its second-round series against Ontario.
Rookie AHL goaltenders also have excelled. Lake Erie's Joonas Korpisalo has a .930 save percentage. Casey DeSmith of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who had played six regular-season AHL games before the playoffs, took over the No. 1 job before ceding it to fellow rookie Tristan Jarry. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey are tied 2-2 in their playoff series.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie forward Jake Guentzel is tied for the league scoring lead with 10 points. He had six points in 11 regular-season games after leaving the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Guentzel's teammate, Daniel Sprong, is tied for the league lead with five goals and tied for 10th with six points. Sprong, 19, was a second-round pick (No. 46) of the Penguins in the 2015 NHL Draft and had two goals in 18 NHL games.