Rookie Watch: Beniers, Skinner among best in Pacific 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 five rookies in the Pacific Division (in alphabetical order):

Matty Beniers, F, Seattle Kraken: The left-shot center continues to lead all NHL rookies in points (49) in 67 games. He's second in face-offs taken (814) and wins (344). Beniers, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, leads Pacific Division rookie forwards with 44 blocked shots and is third with 71 hits while averaging 17:05 of ice time centering left wing Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle. He scored his first NHL game-winning goal with 6:34 remaining in the third period of a 5-4 win at the Calgary Flames on Nov. 1 and ranks tied for second with Kent Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets) among all first-year players with three game-winners this season.
"Playing center in this league, as a young guy, is a little bit like throwing as a young guy as a quarterback," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "I would probably compare it to a young player in the end in the NFL because there's a lot coming at you. There's a lot of responsibility and there's leadership with it. Matty's able to handle all of those things. He has those natural leadership qualities about him."

Paul Cotter, F, Vegas Golden Knights: After earning a role out of training camp, the 23-year-old has performed well, at times even on the first line with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault. Cotter, who currently plays with center Teddy Blueger and right wing Phil Kessel, is tied for seventh among rookies with 13 goals, all at even strength, and has 18 points in 51 games. He is considered a solid two-way player capable of using his size (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) for an advantage in the offensive end. The fourth-round pick (No. 115) in the 2018 NHL Draft is third in hits (156) among first-year players and averaging 12:50 in ice time.
"He brings a lot of energy, and everyone in the room loves him, right?" Vegas goalie Logan Thompson said. "And every time he scores a goal, it's either a pretty breakaway or a great shot. He's got a lot of expression when he scores, right? The guys build off that, and that's just how tight this group is this year."
Mason McTavish, F, Anaheim Ducks: Since Dec. 1, McTavish leads rookies in points (30) and shots on goal (100) in 46 games. The 20-year-old, selected No. 3 in the 2021 NHL Draft, ranks second overall among rookies with 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists) in 69 games. He's first in power-play points (13) and third in even-strength points (28) among rookie forwards, and second among Pacific rookies in takeaways (23). McTavish is the center on Anaheim's second line with left wing Max Jones and Troy Terry, averaging 15:31 in ice time.
"His improvement has been excellent this year," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. "The plan going into this year was we're just going to play him on the wing. But because of his improvement, because of his investment in his game, we were able to move him to center because he was ready for it. And he's getting better and better there. It's interesting with these kids. I often forget that he could still be playing junior right now."

Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers: Skinner is one of two rookie goalies to reach 20 wins this season (22-14-4). He has a 2.90 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 42 games (40 starts) and is 7-1-0 with a 2.89 GAA and .910 save percentage in eight starts since March 1. His presence was needed after Mike Smith was placed on long-term injured reserve Sept. 21, and Mikko Koskinen opted in June to sign with Lugano in Switzerland. The third-round pick (No. 78) in the 2017 NHL Draft won a Western Hockey League championship with Swift Current in 2017-18 and worked his way up the Oilers pipeline before spending time in the American Hockey League and playing 13 NHL games last season (6-6-0, 2.62 GAA, .913 save percentage).
"He's one of the stories of our young season when you look at people who maybe are outperforming expectations," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said in November. "I still think there's a way to go for us as a team. But in terms of individuals, Stuart would be right at the top of that list."
Logan Thompson, G, Vegas Golden Knights: He's second behind Skinner for most wins by a rookie goalie (20) but hasn't played in over a month because of a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 9. He's got a 2.66 GAA, .914 save percentage and two shutouts in 36 games (35 starts). The 26-year-old, who catches with his right hand, went undrafted following four seasons with Brandon of the Western Hockey League and attended Brock University to play in a Canadian university league, U Sports, which provides opportunities to Canadian Hockey League and Canadian Junior Hockey League graduates. He finished 18-6-0 with a 2.22 GAA and .934 save percentage in 24 games and was named U Sports rookie of the year and goalie of the year in 2018-19. After two seasons in the ECHL, he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Vegas on July 13, 2020, and then a three-year contract Jan. 30, 2022.
Thompson remains week to week and is expected to return this season.