Four 2023-24 Season Rookies To Look Out For In 2024-25
There are many skilled and extraordinary rookies from the past 2023-24 NHL season. However, some definitely made sure to stand out from others and truly show how amazing they can be. Of course, other rookies are great or even just as great, but here are four rookies I believe should be players to look out for in the 2024-25 season.
Yes, Connor Bedard. I'd have to say, Bedard was the best of the season.
Connor Bedard was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, making his NHL debut that year in the 2023-24 season. This had been the Blackhawks' second first overall selection in team history after former Chicago star, Patrick Kane, who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
Bedard signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Hawks on July 17th, which also had been his 18th birthday. Making his NHL debut on October 10th, the first game of the 2023-24 season. He played against his favorite player, Sidney Crosby, and recorded his first career assist in a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. On October 12th, he scored his first NHL goal against the Boston Bruins.
A month later, Bedard became the third-youngest player in NHL history to record a four-point game, the youngest rookie to achieve this since 1944, and the youngest in Hawks franchise history to record a multi-goal game.
The young Chicago star made history when he was chosen to represent the Blackhawks as a 2024 All-Star, which he would've been the youngest All-Star in NHL history... However, before this, he had suffered a fractured jaw during a game against the New Jersey Devils after taking a hit by Brendan Smith. Even though Bedard missed some time to play for the Hawks and was unable to be in the 2024 All-Star Game, he managed to appear in the skills competition to serve pucks in the "One-Timers" competition with Sidney Crosby.
Bedard served pucks to Mathew Barzal, Nathan MacKinnon, and David Pastrnak.
Although he missed out on some games and the All-Star Game, Connor still stayed as the top rookie with the most points and goals!
Making the exciting return on February 15th, he recorded an assist in Chicago's 4-1 loss against the Penguins.
Bedard put up a career-high of five points on March 12th when they played the Anaheim Ducks, defeating them with a 7-2 final. He recorded a goal and four assists in the Hawks' victory. Before this game, on March 10th, the Blackhawks had a remarkable 7-4 victory against the Arizona Coyotes... Bedard came close to recording his first NHL career hat trick when he scored twice, however, Colin Blackwell recorded his first career hat trick when he went for an empty netter to wrap it up.
After shining the brightest this past NHL season, Connor Bedard finished with a total of 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists).
Now, you could be thinking, "Why are you including this guy?" - Just because he didn't score much, does not mean he's a useless player!
Matt Rempe made his NHL debut on February 18th, making his first appearance in the New York Rangers 2024 Stadium Series against the New York Islanders. Due to playing his first NHL game outdoors, he became the first player to begin his NHL career outside.
Only four seconds into his first shift, he already got involved in a fight! In his first seven games, he had five fights... He's definitely a crazy guy, but that's what the NHL needs - more fighters, especially ones like him.
Rempe scored his first NHL goal in a 2-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, this being his only goal in the regular season. However, on April 21st in his first NHL playoff game, he scored another! This made him the tenth Rangers rookie to score in his first career playoff game since Matt Gilroy, who accomplished this feat in 2011.
Matt Rempe has fought quite often for New York, making him seen as an enforcer, which hasn't been common in the NHL recently.
He may not have recorded many points, but he shows he is truly a Ranger. Rempe finished the season with only two points, a goal and an assist, but that was only in 17 games... so, as the title says, he is someone to look out for next season.
Though his season took an unfortunate turn and had been cut short, Matt Poitras is a star.
Matt Poitras had been drafted 54th overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, going on to sign a three-year entry-level contract on May 5th, 2023. He began his NHL career that year after impressing the Bruins during the preseason and earned a spot on the roster.
Poitras recorded his first NHL point in his first NHL career game when he assisted on a goal by Trent Frederic. On October 22nd, he scored both his first and second NHL goals against the Anaheim Ducks in a 3-1 victory. Only nine days later, the Bruins announced that Matt Poitras was remaining on the roster rather than being sent back to the OHL.
After returning from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for Team Canada, where Poitras recorded two goals and two assists in only five games - Poitras' season took an unfortunate turn three days later during a game against the Arizona Coyotes. Late in the game, he left and didn't make a return to the lineup until January 20th... however, he only played for Boston three more times before it was announced that he would be out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury and that he'd undergo surgery.
The 19-year-old Bruins rookie and future star (because he will totally shine bright next season) finished his rookie year with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists).
Luke Hughes, probably the second best or up with Bedard as a rookie this past NHL season.
He first made an appearance on April 11th, 2023 after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Devils just a few days later. In his first game, which had been a 6-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, he blocked two shots and made one hit and one takeaway. He had a total of 11:15 of ice time.
In his next game, Hughes recorded his first NHL goal, which had been the overtime winner, and he registered an assist in the 5-4 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals.
On May 7th, he made his NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, where he played at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. He recorded two assists in an 8-3 win, which had been Game 3, for New Jersey.
Luke Hughes had his rookie season in the 2023-24 season, setting a franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman. He also played in every single game of the season, a total of 82 games, and he led all rookie defensemen in power-play points (25)... as well as power-play goals (four), goals (nine), and takeaways (42). Hughes had been second in shots (135) and ice time per game, 21:28. His final points overall had been tied with another star rookie, Brock Faber, for second most points among rookies (47).
Following the 2023-24 season, Luke was named a finalist with both Connor Bedard and Brock Faber for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
Luke Hughes showed how excellent of a defenseman he is in his rookie season and for sure is a strong defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. He will show it even more next season.
He finished his rookie season with a total of 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists).
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