Top five under-the-radar NHL rookies who deserve more love

Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 Calder Trophy is essentially down to Connor Bedard and Brock Faber – and it’s been that way from nearly the get-go.

They’ll both go on to become NHL stars, as will some other top rookies like Leo Carlsson, Luke Hughes and Adam Fantilli. Those are new names to many now, but they’ll be household talent in the very near future, if they’re not already.

But what about the guys who are going under the radar? The players who aren’t going to receive Calder love, but are still making impacts with their respective teams? That’s what we’re looking at today – five players who deserve a bit more attention than they’re getting as first-year NHLers:

Cayden Primeau, G (Montreal Canadiens)

Serving as the third goalie in a three-goalie rotation couldn’t have been easy for Primeau this season. Once seen as the Canadiens’ goalie of the future, Primeau made his NHL debut during the 2019-20 season, but he didn’t become a full-time NHLer until this season. At 24, it was easy to write him off, but the 6-foot-3 keeper is 8-7-2 with two shutouts and a solid .913 save percentage through 18 games this year. Primeau earned Molson Cup honors as Montreal’s top player in March, registering a 3-1-1 record with a tremendous .939 save percentage. Samuel Montembeault has been Montreal’s top dog this year, but moving on from Jake Allen has allowed Primeau to relax and get comfortable with more consistent starts. Among the 66 goalies with at least 18 games played this year, Primeau’s .923 save percentage at 5-on-5 is 16th in the NHL, sitting just ahead of Montembeault at .922. Not too shabby. Hey, maybe it’s not too late for Primeau to become the goalie many were hoping he would when he was dominating the NCAA with Northeastern more than half a decade ago.

Hendrix Lapierre, C (Washington Capitals)

Many were intrigued when Lapierre started the 2021-22 season with the Capitals, playing six games before getting loaned back out to the QMJHL. Now in his second full year of pro hockey, Lapierre has been an integral piece for the Caps as of late, registering eight goals and 19 points in 43 games. Since March 1, Lapierre has had nine points in 16 games, good for fourth among all rookies, and ahead of the likes of Logan Stankoven, Zach Benson, and Matthew Knies, among other notable forwards. Lapierre is currently centering Washington’s third line with Michael Sgarbossa and Aliaksei Protas, but he’s been the driving force for the team’s bottom-six scoring. His puck skills are impressive, allowing him to be effective as a shooter and a passer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a more regular top-six player next season.

Michael Kesselring, D (Arizona Coyotes)

For all the Coyotes’ disappointments this year, Kesselring hasn’t been one of them. According to Evolving-Hockey, Kesselring’s 6.1 goals above replacement and 1.0 wins above replacement are good for 11th among all rookies while trailing some of the game’s top young talents. Drafted in the sixth round by the Edmonton Oilers in 2018, the 6-foot-5 defender was part of the Nick Bjugstad trade last year, with most just overlooking Kesselring’s inclusion. He impressed in a nine-game NHL stint down the stretch last year before becoming a full-time NHLer this year, in which he has 17 points and 62 penalty minutes in 57 games. He blocks a ton of shots, gets difficult assignments, plays a strong defensive game and has the odd offensive flashes. It’s always fun to see a late-round pick get a good opportunity to show what he’s capable of. Fun fact: he’s the only NHLer to come from Florence, South Carolina.

Pavel Dorofeyev, LW (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Coyotes are a deep team, made even deeper by the acquisition of Anthony Mantha ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. So, getting good opportunities can be difficult, but just like last year, Dorofeyev is looking mighty good. He has five goals in his 11 games and 19 points in 40 total outings, putting him at just under half a point per game in his first full NHL season. At 23, Dorofeyev was getting into put-up-or-shut-up territory heading into the campaign, especially as a pending RFA. But the 2019 third-rounder battled through an upper-body injury earlier this season to remain a solid bottom-six scoring threat for the Golden Knights.

Justus Annunen, G (Colorado Avalanche)

The Avalanche have needed a reliable backup option for a while, and it turns out the best option has been ready to go since 2021. Annunen has a 6-4-1 record with two shutouts and a .927 save percentage in 11 games this year, while, for the most part, getting starts against non-playoff teams. Still, whether it be at the end of a back to back, or stealing points away from teams like Detroit and St. Louis, Annunen is doing everything you’d expect from a backup. At 24, it took for a while for the Avalanche to show confidence in their 6-foot-4 goaltender, but Annunen has played some of his best hockey in North America since getting called up back in February, and it’s paying off for the Avs.

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