Rookie watch: Merzlikins best among first-year goalies, Weekes says

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.
This week, NHL Network analyst and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes helps determine the third of four installments of the top five NHL rookie goalies (minimum 10 games played):

1. Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets:The NHL rookie leader with five shutouts is out indefinitely because of an undisclosed injury sustained after colliding with Ottawa Senators forward Anthony Duclair in the second period of a 4-3 overtime win Feb. 24. Merzlikins is a big reason the Blue Jackets remain in contention to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs after Joonas Korpisalo injured his knee Dec. 29. He's 11-5-4 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and five shutouts in 21 games (all starts) since Jan. 1.
"Merzlikins has played a lot of games by the way of the injury to Joonas Korpisalo and now he is out, but he's been lightning in a bottle for them on a team that is still somewhat in contention," Weekes said. "Especially considering the fact that Korpisalo was selected to the All-Star Game this year (but didn't play because of injury). Merlikins has taken the League by storm and is my No. 1 on this list."

2. Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils:He's 21-12-8 with a 2.71 GAA, three shutouts, and .916 save percentage in 44 games (40 starts), and 7-0-2 with a 1.85 GAA and .949 save percentage in 10 games (nine starts) since Jan. 13.
"Just in terms of games played and what he has been able to do on a young team and a team that's really on the front-end of a rebuild," Weekes said. "That's very hard to do. I've done it myself and can tell you that's when you can sink or swim and you can tell if goalies can play in the League when they're on teams like that and get exposed to that many chances against, that many shots, that quality, high-danger of shots."

3. Ilya Samsonov, Washington Capitals: He's 16-6-1 with a 2.40 GAA, one shutout and .917 save percentage in 25 games (21 starts). Samsonov is projected to be the No. 1 goalie in Washington with Braden Holtby potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1.
"He's played as well as Braden Holtby for the most part except for his last couple of starts," Weekes said. "And we all know what kind of goalie Holtby is when he's on his game. He's a Stanley Cup champ."

4. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks:The 24-year-old earned a greater role after starter Jacob Markstrom had a procedure for a lower-body injury and will be reassessed in one week. Demko is 11-8-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .903 save percentage in 23 games (21 starts). He won three straight games with a 2.95 GAA and .905 save percentage from Dec. 3-29.
"He's going to be expected to play more but has played exceptionally well from the start this year," Weekes said.
5. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers:The 24-year-old has the lowest GAA (2.23) and highest save percentage (.940) among rookie goalies having played at least 10 games. Shesterkin was involved in a car accident Feb. 23 and is out indefinitely with a nondisplaced rib fracture. He will be reassessed in approximately one week.
"The only reason I have him this low (No. 5) is because of games played (10), but he's done everything that he did in the Kontinental Hockey League, the American Hockey League so far in the NHL this season," Weekes said.
Head to Head comparison
(Games through March 1)
Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks leads all NHL rookies with 51 points. He joined Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) as the second defenseman in NHL history to be the first rookie to 50 points in a season. Hughes accomplished the feat in 61 games; Lidstrom scored his 50th point in his 59th game Feb. 17, 1992. Hughes is also the 16th rookie NHL defenseman with 50 points in one season.
Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
Games:64
G-A-Pts: 8-43-51
Shots on goal:122
Avg. ice time:21:48
Telling stat:He has 27 even-strength points (five goals, 22 assists).
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Games:56
G-A-Pts:12-35-47
Shots on goal:119
Avg. ice time:21:00
Telling stat:He has 30 even-strength points (eight goals, 22 assists).
Morreale's Calder Trophy frontrunners
1. Cale Makar, D, Avalanche: He leads NHL rookies in points per game (0.84) and rookie defensemen in goals (12), power-play goals (four) and game-winning goals (four).
2. Quinn Hughes, D, Canucks:Named NHL Rookie of the Month for February, Hughes set a Canucks record for most assists (43) by a first-year player, passing the previous mark of 42 set by defenseman Dale Tallon (42 assists in 1970-71). He also owns the ninth-highest assist total in a season by any rookie defenseman in NHL history. Phil Housley (Buffalo Sabres) is eighth with 47 assists in 1982-83.
3. Dominik Kubalik, F, Chicago Blackhawks: He became the third rookie in Blackhawks history (George Hay on Feb. 19, 1927 and Ryan Hartman on Jan. 8, 2017) with a hat trick in one period in a 5-2 win at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 27. Kubalik leads NHL rookies with 29 goals and 36 even-strength points (25 goals, 11 assists) and is third with 44 points in 63 games.
NHL.com staff writer David Satriano contributed to this report.