Rookie Watch: Johnson, Kochetkov among best in Metropolitan Division

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2022-23 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, the top six rookies in the Metropolitan Division (in alphabetical order):

Noah Cates, F, Philadelphia Flyers:The 23-year-old is second among division rookies with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) and first with two short-handed points (one goal, one assist) while averaging 17:36 of ice time in 66 games. The fifth-round pick (No. 137) in the 2017 NHL Draft, is first among NHL rookies with 47 takeaways, eighth with 55 blocked shots and tied for ninth with 76 hits. He's also first in face-offs taken (794) and third in wins (313). Cates is the center on a line with left wing Scott Laughton and Tyson Foerster. He's a big part of Philadelphia's penalty kill, averaging 1:53 of shorthanded ice time per game.
"I didn't know anybody when I came here, I didn't know who Noah Cates was, but he has grown into the position, deservedly so," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "We try to be as fair as possible with our assessments of players and give them ice time accordingly. Everything he's getting, he deserves."
Kent Johnson, F, Columbus Blue Jackets:Johnson, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, leads all rookies in the division with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) and eight power-play points (three goals) while averaging 14:00 of ice time in 62 games. The 20-year-old, who can play wing or center, had five points (one goal, four assists) in five games for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 games at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, and nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games to help Canada win the 2022 World Juniors in August. Johnson, currently on a line with center Jack Roslovic and right wing Patrik Laine, had 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 58 games (two seasons) at the University of Michigan.
"I look a lot (at rookie scoring leaders) just because a couple are my friends and buddies," said Johnson, referring to Seattle Kraken forward and former Michigan teammate Matty Beniers. "Just for competitive reasons, I like to see how they're doing, so I keep up pretty good with it. At the same time, I'd love to be right there with them or get more points than them. It's not my main focus, but it'd be cool to be up there for the award at the end of the year."

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Pittsburgh Penguins:Joseph, who was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on June 29, 2019, is first among rookie defensemen in the division with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 59 games. He ranks second behind Johnson in shots on goal (84) among division rookies and first with a plus-11 rating. The 23-year-old is second among division rookies with 27 takeaways and fourth with 72 hits. Playing a third-pair role when in the lineup, Joseph is a strong, skilled skater capable of transporting the puck.
"The guys are making me feel a little bit more at home," Joseph said in December. "And that gives me more confidence to want to play hard every single day and to have more confidence in my game. But the goal is still the same, to improve every day. I want to show them and myself that I deserve to be here."
Pyotr Kochetkov, G, Carolina Hurricanes:The 23-year-old was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on March 8 and made 19 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, a 1-0 win against the Flyers, one day later. It was Kochetkov's first game back in the NHL after going 11-3-1 for Chicago of the American Hockey League. Selected in the second round (No. 36) of the 2019 NHL Draft, he's 11-5-5 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 21 games (20 starts) this season. He could be in line for plenty of work down the stretch after Antti Raanta sustained a groin injury March 7.
"We love him around here. He's a great kid," Carolina defenseman Brett Pesce said. "He competes his tail off, which we love. I'm just glad he came up and found his rhythm."

Kirill Marchenko, F, Columbus Blue Jackets:The second-round pick (No. 49) in the 2018 NHL Draft is tied for third (Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars) among NHL rookies with 16 goals and ranks third among division rookies with 18 points in 42 games. The 22-year-old averages 15:02 of ice time on a line with center Boone Jenner and left wing Johnny Gaudreau. Marchenko is tied for 12th among NHL rookies with 22 takeaways and tied with Johnson for most even-strength goals (10) in the division among first-year players. Marchenko started the season with Cleveland of the AHL, scoring 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 16 games.
"I try not to think or look at the Calder Trophy (race) because I want to focus on the game," Marchenko said. "If I think about (the) Calder, I don't score goals. If I just think about having a good game, forechecking, winning battles, it's better. But it is interesting. I know (the) first guy is Beniers. (He's) a good guy, a good player."
Akira Schmid, G, New Jersey Devils:Schmid has played well since being recalled from Utica of the AHL after Mackenzie Blackwood sustained a lower-body injury Feb. 21. The 22-year-old has the highest save percentage (.927) and lowest goals-against average (1.91) of any rookie in the division (minimum 10 games). The fifth-round pick (No. 136) in the 2018 NHL Draft is 8-4-1 in 14 games (11 starts) with one shutout, and 3-0-1 with a 1.34 GAA and .944 save percentage in five games (four starts) since Blackwood's injury. Schmid's .936 even-strength save percentage ranks first among NHL rookies who have played at least five games.
"As an organization, we're very comfortable with our goaltenders," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "Blackwood is progressing well. We're very comfortable if Schmid goes in and plays games and we're very confident that Viteck Vanecek and what he's done thus far, will continue."