Every year, there is a new batch of rookies looking to make their mark on the National Hockey League. NHL rookies are someone that has not played in more than 25 games in any preceding seasons, nor six or more games in any preceding seasons. Any player that is 26-years-old or older is also not considered a rookie.<\/p>\n
This is a look at the Pacific Division’s best rookies.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Kings <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Michael Amadio<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Age: 21 Position: Center Height: 6\u20191\u201d Nation: CAN<\/p>\n Amadio was drafted 90th<\/sup> overall by the Kings in 2014, and has boasted strong statistics in the OHL and AHL since. In the 2015-16 season, Amadio captained the North Bay Battalion of the OHL, for which he played 68 games, scoring 50 goals and tallying 48 assists.<\/p>\n He followed this up with his first season in the AHL for the Kings affiliate the Ontario Reign. He appeared in 68 games for the Reign, scoring 16 goals and 25 assists for a total of 41 points.<\/p>\n He has began his rookie campaign this season for the Kings appearing in eight games so far, scoring once against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Amadio is still adjusting to the highest level of hockey, but shows promise. His effort on the ice is clear, he is just struggling to find his niche in the Kings lineup.<\/p>\n Las Vegas Golden Knights<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Alex Tuch<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Age: 21 Position: Right Wing Height: 6\u20194\u201d Nation: USA<\/p>\n Tuch started the 2017-18 season with only six NHL games under his belt. He appeared in these games for the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him in the first round, 18th<\/sup> overall, in the 2014 draft.<\/p>\n Tuch played two seasons for the Boston College Eagles through 2014-2016. He played 77 games for the Eagles and posted 64 points. He followed these two seasons by moving on to the AHL, where he played for the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s affiliate. Tuch appeared in 57 AHL games in the 2016-17 season, scoring 18 times and posting 19 assists for a total of 37 points. He appeared in six games for Minnesota and did not tally a single point.<\/p>\n He has appeared in 13 games for the Golden Knights, scoring four times and assisting on three. His strong offensive play has allowed him to become a regular on the roster. Tuch has a strong wrist shot and shows strong puck awareness on the ice. Tuch\u2019s rookie season is definitely entertaining to keep up with.<\/p>\n San Jose Sharks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Joakim Ryan<\/a> –\u00a0<\/strong>Age: 24 Position: Defense Height: 5’11” Nation: USA\/SWE<\/p>\n The Sharks do not have any stand out rookies this year, however there is one rookie that shows a lot of promise.<\/p>\n Joakim Ryan was drafted by the Sharks in the 2012 in the 7th round, 198th overall. He was drafted following his freshman season for Cornell University, in which he scored seven goals and tallied ten assists. Ryan completed four years at Cornell; he played in a total of 123 games for the Big Red, in which he scored 19 times and assisted on 59. Ryan has since played two complete seasons for the Sharks AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.<\/p>\n In his first season in the AHL, Ryan scored twice and assisted on 26 goals. He followed this up in his sophomore season (2016-17) with 10 goals and 39 assists in 65 games. This attracted the attention of the Sharks, and he has seen a fair amount of NHL action.<\/p>\n Ryan has played in 14 game for the Sharks, in which he as tallied two assists. He tends to play with Brent Burns<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Ryan has not shown his play making abilities that were clearly visible in college and the AHL. Burns has also not had his best start to the season, if he can pick up his game, maybe Ryan will too.<\/p>\n Calgary Flames <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Mark Jankowski<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Age: 23 Position: Center Height: 6\u20194\u201d Nation: CAN<\/p>\n Mark Jankowski was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2012 draft, 21st<\/sup> overall. After being drafted, Jankowski played four seasons of NCAA hockey for Providence College. He played in 148 games for Providence where he tallied 110 points. In his senior year he served as an alternate captain, scoring 15 goals and 25 assists.<\/p>\n After graduating he moved on the play for Calgary\u2019s AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat. During the Heat\u2019s 2016-17 campaign, Jankowski appeared in 64 games. He posted 56 points during this campaign.<\/p>\n Since being called up to the NHL Jankowski has played in 10 games for the Flames, scoring three times and tallying a single assist. After a slow start, he has gradually been developing more and more, scoring three times in his last three games. Jankowski\u2019s rookie season continues to progress in a positive way.<\/p>\n Vancouver Canucks <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Age: 20 Position: Right Wing Height: 6\u20191\u201d Nation: USA<\/p>\n Brock Boeser has been a real rookie standout this season. He was drafted 23rd<\/sup> overall by the Canucks in 2015, prior to him leading the University of North Dakota to a NCAA championship in the 2015-16 season. He played two seasons for North Dakota. In his freshman campaign he played in 42 games, scoring 27 times and totaling 60 points. He followed this by being named an alternate captain his sophomore year, in which he played in 32 games tallying 34 points.<\/p>\n He appeared in nine games for Vancouver during his sophomore year, in which he scored four goals for a total of five points at the end of the 2016-17 season.<\/p>\n Boeser has made the jump to the NHL without anything holding him back. In 15 games played this season he has scored five goals and assisted on 10. He recorded his first NHL hat trick on November 4th against Pittsburgh for a total of four points on the night. Boeser is exactly what the ‘Nucks need this season and he will most definitely stay a regular player on their roster.<\/p>\n Anaheim Ducks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Kevin Roy<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Age: 24 Position: Left Wing Height: 5\u20199\u201d Nation: CAN<\/p>\n The Ducks are not boasting a ton of rookie talent this season. This could change with Kevin Roy\u2019s recent call up.<\/p>\n Roy was drafted by Anaheim in 2012 in the 4th<\/sup> round \u2013 97th<\/sup> overall. Roy played four seasons of NCAA hockey for Northeastern University from 2012-16. During his senior year (2015-16) he was named captain. He played in 130 games for Northeastern and recorded 150 points in his college career. Following this he moved out west to play for Anaheim\u2019s AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. In the 2016-17, Roy played in 67 games for San Diego, scoring 16 goals and 30 assists.<\/p>\n He has only appeared in three games for the Ducks this season and has recorded only a single goal. Anaheim should be optimistic about Roy, as he shows a lot of promise and could definitely be a starter if he can make a better adjustment to the NHL. Roy has also played in 10 games for the Gulls this season in which he has recorded 11 points.<\/p>\n Edmonton Oilers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Kailer Yamamato<\/strong> – Age: 19 Position: Right Wing Height: 5\u20198\u201d Nation: USA<\/p>\n Edmonton, like the Ducks, is another team that does not currently have an incredibly large rookie presence.<\/p>\n Kailer Yamamato was drafted 22nd<\/sup> overall by the Oilers in 2017. This came after two break out seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Yamamato has played the last two seasons with the Spokane Chiefs in Washington. In his first season (2015-16), he appeared in 57 games and tallied 71 points. He followed this up with an even stronger sophomore campaign in which he scored 42 times and assisted on 57 goals for a total of 99 points.<\/p>\n Yamamato has played in nine games for Edmonton this season, assisting on three goals. He shows a lot of promise, he just needs to make the adjustment to the NHL. He has since been assigned to the WHL. In two games with the Chiefs this season he has one goal and three assists.<\/p>\n Arizona Coyotes <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nBefore the Kings<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Kings<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Knights\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Knights\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Sharks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Sharks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Flames<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Flames<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Canucks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Canucks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Ducks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Ducks<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Before the Oilers<\/strong><\/h4>\n
With the Oilers<\/strong><\/h4>\n