Stanley Cup Playoffs preview: Kaprizov of Wild among rookies to watch

The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday and NHL.com is taking a look at different types of players who can have a big impact on the postseason. Today, we look at rookies who could play a big role.

Kirill Kaprizov joined a prestigious group when the Minnesota Wild forward became the fourth rookie in 27 seasons to lead his team in points during the regular season and helped the Wild qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 24-year-old leads all NHL rookies with 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) in 55 games. Three rookies since 1993-94 have led a team in points during the regular season and also helped it qualify for the playoffs: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs, 2016-17), Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators, 2014-15) and Trent Hunter (New York Islanders, 2003-04).
The next hurdle for Kaprizov is the postseason. He hopes to join rookies in recent years who have played a significant role in a championship season, including forward Brad Marchand (19 points; 11 goals, eight assists in 25 playoff games) for the Boston Bruins in 2011, forward Tyler Toffoli (14 points; seven goals, seven assists in 26 games) for the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, forward Jake Guentzel (21 points; 13 goals, eight assists in 25 games) for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 and goalie Jordan Binnington (16-10, 2.46 goals-against average, .914 save percentage, one shutout in 26 games) for the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
But Kaprizov has some company among elite rookies looking to sparkle on the postseason stage. Here are six first-year players who could garner headlines in the playoffs (listed alphabetically):

Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens

The forward has performed well, mostly on a line with veterans Eric Staal and Corey Perry in his 10 NHL games. He has scored four goals, two in overtime, and taken 30 shots on goal averaging 13:58 of time on ice per game. The 20-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the player voted the best in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, in his second season at the University of Wisconsin. He was selected by the Canadiens with the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Montreal on March 27. Caufield led the NCAA in goals (30), points (52), power-play goals (11) and shots on goal (165).

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild

Kaprizov has been dominant from the first game of the season, when he scored a goal and two assists in his NHL debut at the Kings on Jan. 14. He hasn't slowed down since, dominating the rookie race in a rout until a second-half charge by Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. Kaprizov leads all rookies in goals (10 more than Robertson and Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris, who are tied for second), even-strength goals (19) and power-play goals (eight). He also leads NHL rookies in shots (157) and first-year forwards in average time on ice per game (18:18). Kaprizov also has extensive playoff experience in the Kontinental Hockey League, where he played for the past six seasons before coming to the NHL. He scored 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 47 KHL playoff games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa and CSKA Moskva.

Alex Nedeljkovic, Carolina Hurricanes

Since March 1, the 25-year-old goalie is 13-3-2 with a 1.76 GAA, .937 save percentage and two shutouts in 18 starts. For the season, Nedeljkovic is 15-5-3 with a 1.90 GAA, .932 save percentage and three shutouts in 23 starts. A second-round pick (No. 37) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Nedeljkovic has received his most extensive NHL work this season after playing most of the past four seasons in the American Hockey League. He won the Calder Cup with Charlotte in 2019.

Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders

Selected in the third round (No. 78) of the 2014 draft, the 25-year-old goalie is 13-6-3 with a 2.17 GAA, .918 save percentage and three shutouts in 22 games (21 starts). He has formed an effective tandem with Semyon Varlamov and is 11-4-2 with a 2.16 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout in 17 games (16 starts) since March 1. He is 9-1-0 with a 2.06 GAA, .916 save percentage and one shutout in 10 home games.

Eeli Tolvanen, Nashville Predators

Among all NHL rookies, his four game-winning goals are tied for first and his 11 goals rank 10th. Tolvanen is second among Finland-born NHL rookies with 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 40 games, behind New Jersey Devils forward Janne Kuokkanen (25 points; eight goals, 17 assists) in 50 games. The 22-year-old's average of 0.55 points per game is tied for fifth among rookies who have played least 35 games. Tolvanen was selected with the No. 30 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, but had played seven NHL games prior to this season.

Zach Whitecloud, Vegas Golden Knights

The 24-year-old defenseman has scored 12 points (two goals, 10 assists), is sixth on the Golden Knights with 85 hits and fourth with 75 blocked shots in 51 games. He has averaged 17:49 of ice time per game and plays a big role on the penalty kill, averaging 1:56 in shorthanded situations. The right-hand shot scored three points (two goals, one assist) in 20 postseason games last season.