Rookie Watch: Teams relying on veterans

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 surrounding the coronavirus, here is a look at the six NHL teams with the fewest games played by rookies:

1. Washington Capitals

Total games played by rookies: 41 (four players):

Players: Forward Beck Malenstyn; defensemen Martin Fehervary, Tyler Lewington; goalie Ilya Samsonov

Rookie on the rise: Samsonov is 16-6-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and one shutout in 26 games (22 starts). The 23-year-old is projected to be the Capitals No. 1 goalie with Braden Holtby eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Holtby is in the final season of a five-year contract he signed July 24, 2015, one month after the Capitals selected Samsonov with the No. 22 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. It was the highest Washington selected a goalie since Olie Kolzig (No. 19) in 1989.

2. Arizona Coyotes

Total games played by rookies: 44 (four players):

Players: Forward Barrett Hayton; defensemen Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic; goalie Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic

Rookie on the rise: Hayton, 21, was named to the Media All-Star Team after helping Canada finish first at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in seven games. The No. 5 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, he has four points (one goal, three assists) in 20 games for the Coyotes.

3. St. Louis Blues

Total games played by rookies: 44 (six players):

Players: Forwards: Jordan Kyrou, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic; defensemen Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic

Rookie on the rise: Kostin is doing everything to prove to management he's ready for a full-time role as early as next season. The Russian has scored 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 48 games with San Antonio of the American Hockey League this season and 82 points (29 goals, 53 assists) in 181 AHL games over three seasons. The No. 31 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Kostin (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) has scored one goal in four games for the Blues this season.

4. Calgary Flames

Total games played by rookies: 49 (two players):

Players: Forward Dillon Dube; defenseman Alexander Yelesin

Rookie on the rise: Dube, a second-round pick (No. 56) in the 2016 NHL Draft, has elite hockey sense and ability to get to areas of the ice to make things happen. The Flames are going to give the 21-year-old every chance to succeed. Dube has scored 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) with 59 hits and 60 shots on goal while averaging 12:41 in ice time in 45 games in a top-nine role with center Derek Ryan and left wing Milan Lucic. He begins 52.1 percent of his shifts outside the offensive zone but has a 51.1 on-ice goals-for percentage at 5-on-5.

5. New York Islanders

Total games played by rookies: 63 (four players):

Players:Forwards Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic, Otto Koivula, Video: WSH@WPG: Samsonov uses his skate to stone Roslovic; defenseman Noah Dobson

Rookie on the rise: Bellows, the No. 19 pick in the 2016 draft, could earn a bigger opportunity next season. The 21-year-old has scored three points (two goals, one assist) with 11 shots on goal in eight games for the Islanders and offered a glimpse of his ability in a top-six role. The son of former NHL forward Brian Bellows scored 31 points (22 goals, nine assists) in 52 games for Bridgeport in his second AHL season. He plays a power-forward game and has an NHL-caliber shot.

6. Florida Panthers

Total games played by rookies: 69 (four players):

Players: Forward Aleksi Saarela; defenseman Riley Stillman; goalies Chris Driedger, Sam Montembeault

Rookie on the rise:Driedger is 7-2-1 with a 2.05 GAA, .938 save percentage and one shutout in 12 games (11 starts) for the Panthers. The 25-year-old, a third-round pick (No. 76) in the 2012 NHL Draft, filled in admirably when starter Sergei Bobrovsky was out with a lower-body injury; Florida trails the Toronto Maple Leafs by three points for third place in the Atlantic Division, and the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets for the wild cards into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Head to Head comparison

The three top United States-born NHL rookie point scorers are defensemen: Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Adam Fox (New York Rangers) and John Marino (Pittsburgh Penguins). Let's look at the top two in this week's comparison.

Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

Games: 68

G-A-Pts: 8-45-53

Shots on goal: 126

Average ice time: 21:53

Telling stat: He's scored 28 even-strength points (five goals, 23 assists) and has a 6.3 shooting percentage.

Adam Fox, New York Rangers

Games: 70

G-A-Pts:8-34-42

Shots on goal:125

Average ice time: 18:54

Telling stat: He's scored 29 even-strength points (seven goals, 22 assists) and has a 6.4 shooting percentage.

Morreale's Calder Trophy frontrunners

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

2. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks: Ranks first among 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: Leads 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.