Cole Perfetti, F, Winnipeg Jets:Perfetti is third among rookies with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 26 games, and second with 15 even-strength points (six goals). The No. 10 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, who is good at reading and reacting to how an opponent plays him, is seventh among NHL rookies with 13 takeaways on a line with center Mark Scheifele and right wing Blake Wheeler while averaging 15:05 of ice time. He will turn 21 on Jan. 1.
JJ Peterka, F, Buffalo Sabres:The left wing, chosen in the second round (No. 34) of the 2020 Draft, is tied for sixth with Mason McTavish among rookies with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) while averaging 14:32 of ice time in 28 games. Peterka, who will turn 21 on Jan 14, has been playing on a line with center Dylan Cozens and 21-year-old rookie right wing Jack Quinn. He had 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 70 games and was named to the American Hockey League's All-Rookie Team in his first season with Rochester last season. The Sabres control 53.5 percent of 5-on-5 shot attempts when Peterka is on the ice, which ranks sixth among rookies (minimum 10 games).
Mason McTavish, F, Anaheim Ducks:The 19-year-old, selected No. 3 in the 2021 Draft, is tied for sixth among rookies with Peterka with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 28 games. McTavish is second among rookies 20 or younger in hits (26) and sixth in takeaways (nine). He has earned 14:09 of ice time on the team's second line with center Ryan Strome and right wing Frank Vatrano, and is tied for third among rookies with six power-play points (two goals).
Kent Johnson, F, Columbus Blue Jackets:Johnson, selected No. 5 in the 2021 Draft, has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) to rank tied for sixth among rookies. The 20-year-old averages 12:54 of ice time in 24 games, and has most recently been skating on a line with center Jack Roslovic and left wing Gustav Nyquist. He had 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 58 games in two seasons at the University of Michigan from 2020-22.
"A very skilled player who's played in all roles so far; power plays and you see him working on the kills," Columbus forward Cole Sillinger said. "It's exciting to see. Great dude. Great attitude."
Wyatt Johnston, F, Dallas Stars:Johnston is third among rookies in goals (seven) and tied for 11th in points (12) in 28 games. He is second among all rookies with 19 takeaways while averaging 14:16 of ice time centering left wing Jamie Benn and right wing Ty Dellandrea. Johnston, 19, is the fourth teenager to play for general manager Jim Nill since he arrived in Dallas in 2013, joining Miro Heiskanen, Denis Gurianov and Valeri Nichushkin. The Stars control 53.6 percent of the 5-on-5 shot attempts when Johnston is on the ice, which ranks fifth among rookies (minimum 10 games). The No. 23 pick in the 2021 Draft led all skaters in the Ontario Hockey League with 124 points (46 goals, 78 assists) in 68 games with Windsor in 2021-22.
Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators:The 20-year-old ranks second among rookie defensemen in assists (11), points (12) and power-play points (six) while averaging 21:03 of ice time in 27 games. Sanderson, the No. 5 pick in the 2020 Draft, is second among rookies in blocked shots (41), and has 22 hits and 10 takeaways playing on a top-two pair with 32-year-old Travis Hamonic.
