Peters: Raymond, Seider lead December Rookie Rankings

Chris Peters
Chris Peters
Dec 7, 2021, 17:38 EST
Peters: Raymond, Seider lead December Rookie Rankings

The 2021-22 rookie class has basically been about one team at this point – the Detroit Red Wings. With three legitimate candidates for top rookie honors, the Wings have been appointment television once again.

Lucas Raymond has surpassed expectations for this season, and I think that’s fair to say he’s surpassed expectations even within the Red Wings organization. There was a real possibility he was not going to be on the roster to start the season, but Raymond forced the team’s hand with a brilliant training camp and now has become their leading scorer, as well as a player you could not imagine them without at this point.

The Red Wings took the slow and steady approach with defenseman Moritz Seider, allowing him a year in the AHL and then a year in Sweden when the pandemic left North America’s season in doubt — now they’re reaping the benefits. Seider has not-so-slowly morphed into the team’s top defenseman and a player Jeff Blashill can throw out in any situation.

After that, you still have Alex Nedeljkovic, who is Calder eligible by a hair, but eligible nonetheless. He’s been as good or better than advertised after his breakout season with Carolina in 2020-21. He’s been the top rookie goalie in the NHL and is really starting to get into a good solid rhythm.

Outside of the Detroit trio there are certainly other contenders, but the odds of the Calder going to Detroit are pretty high. Now that we’re through October and November, I wanted to take a quick look at the rookie class once again and rank them in terms of team impact.

*all stats through December 5

1. Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings

It’s hard to deny Raymond’s value. As the only rookie currently leading his team in scoring, Raymond has been an offensive driver for the Red Wings. With 22 points in 25 games, Raymond has also already topped his career-best in points as a pro. He had 18 points in 34 games last season in Sweden with Frölunda, which was one of the reasons I thought we might see him go back for one more year in Sweden, so he could dominate that league. Raymond had his own idea.

Watching Red Wings games are more entertaining because of the 19-year-old Swede. The team is possessing the puck better with him on the ice and he’s already gained the coaching staff’s trust to be out in key situations when his team needs offense. He’s shown his skill level is more than enough to challenge NHL defenders and his release has befuddled NHL goalies with regularity.

What we don’t know yet is how Raymond ultimately handled the NHL grind as the season progresses. It’s something you have to be mindful of for any rookie, but especially one coming off of a season where he played just 39 total games. What we do know is that he’s answered every challenge he’s faced so far this season with a spectacular effort that has him leading the Calder race.

2. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings

It’s difficult to play defense in the NHL. It can take years to master it. It seems like it’s taken Seider a matter of weeks. You have to give credit to the Red Wings for taking the patient approach with him and not throwing him to the wolves immediately. He’s gradually taken steps forward to the point now that he’s not just a good rookie defenseman but a good NHL defenseman.

Seider is playing over 22 minutes per game, leading all rookies in average time on ice. He also has 14 assists and three goals, including an absolute laser beam one-timer that he scored to beat the New York Islanders in overtime last weekend. Offensively, he looks as confident as anyone, moving pucks decisively and putting his teammates in good positions to be a threat with the puck. On top of that, the Red Wings are possessing the puck at a higher rate with Seider on the ice. He hasn’t been sheltered much, either.

He leads all rookies in total power-play ice time, but also sees time on Detroit’s penalty kill. Seider is an all-situations player 25 games into his NHL career. He’s well on his way to being a very special player in this league for a long time.

3. Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks

My preseason pick for the Calder, Zegras is still very much in the mix and is starting to surge a bit. The 20-year-old American has 19 points in 23 games, sitting just behind Raymond in the rookie scoring list. Zegras has played a central role for a Ducks squad that expectations were especially low for this season. He is currently third on the Ducks in scoring, behind only Troy Terry and Ryan Getzlaf.

With Getzlaf now injured, Zegras is essentially Anaheim’s No. 1 center. He’s going to have to shoulder a heavier load and if he succeeds, he’s going to make a better case for himself to be right alongside Raymond in the Calder hunt. You look at the spark that Zegras provides game-by-game and there are few rookies more entertaining than he has been.

4. Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Detroit Red Wings

He leads rookie netminders in appearances, starts, wins, saves, and save percentage. He’s also giving the Red Wings a chance in just about every game he plays. Nedeljkovic is 8-3-3 with a .920 save percentage in 14 starts so far this season. He has been in a platoon role with Thomas Greiss, but has definitely started getting the key starts and the extra ice time. For the first time in his career, the net really looks like it’s his for now and the foreseeable future. From game-saving stops to making the position look easy at times, Nedeljkovic has been a steadying presence for Detroit.

5. Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers

Lundell’s maturity has always been one of his biggest strengths. He’s always played beyond his years and this season, he’s doing it again. With just 11 points, he doesn’t have the big time numbers of some of his peers, but he impacts the game positively in so many ways and has been relied upon as much defensively as he has been offensively.

Lundell can’t get in the mix on Florida’s loaded power play, which is part of what will keep his numbers down this year, but he’s the top rookie forward in terms of shorthanded time on ice. Meanwhile, he’s a top-six center on one of the league’s best teams. He’s not going to impact the games the same way some of his rookie peers will, but there’s something to be said for filling a need and making a good team better, which Lundell is doing.

6. Michael Bunting, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The oldest rookie in the NHL is still a rookie nonetheless. Bunting has been a key offensive contributor for one of the league’s better clubs. Bunting has been able to move up and down the Leafs lineup and contribute.

He’s really kicked it into high gear while playing alongside Auston Matthews. It’s not always easy to transition to one of the league’s best offensive performers, but Bunting has managed well. His 18 points rank third among all rookies, with 12 of those points coming in the last month. He also has 14 primary points so far this season, which is tied with Dawson Mercer and second among rookies behind Raymond, who has 16 primary points.

7. Jamie Drysdale, D, Anaheim Ducks

Averaging 20 minutes a game, spending time on Anaheim’s top power-play unit and producing at a relatively high clip, Drysdale has taken another step forward this year. He’s an excellent puck mover and has given Anaheim a quality two-way player. While Drysdale’s defending still needs work as he has some strength to build up, he does a lot of the things that help a team, including solid work getting pucks out of his zone and up ice and having some creativity to escape pressure. Drysdale has 13 points so far this season, which ranks sixth among all rookies.

8. Dawson Mercer, C, New Jersey Devils

Mercer has been a little under-the-radar for being the fifth leading scorer among rookies, but he has carved out an effective niche for himself on a young Devils squad. Mercer has been a valuable middle-six center for the Devils, largely anchoring the team’s third line and playing on the second power play.

Mercer’s 14 points put him fourth on the Devils roster – even with Nico Hischier, presently. All of those points have come off of goals or primary assists, too. He’s versatile, quick and has a good amount of grit to go with his skill. He will always find a way to make an impact even if it isn’t on the score sheet.

9. Bowen Byram, D, Colorado Avalanche

Byram would be a lot higher if not for the health concerns he’s been dealing with this year. Byram has been in and out of the lineup and detailed to The Athletic some post-concussion symptoms that have lingered. It’s a real shame because he started the year on fire. First and foremost, you have to hope Byram is healthy and can get back to full strength here in the near future.

When it comes to hockey, he’s been excellent when active. His 0.69 points per game is fourth among all rookies, but he’s played in just 13 games. Over those games, he had nine points and averaged nearly 20 minutes per game, making one of the league’s most mobile blue lines even better. It’s hard to stand out on a team that has Cale Makar on the same blue line, but Byram showed he was ready for more this year. Now we just have to hope he can return to full health and reach his lofty potential.

10. Alexandre Carrier, D, Nashville Predators

The Preds have two quality rookies making positive contributions on their lineup, Tanner Jeannot being the other. Carrier, however, has become a staple in Nashville’s top four. He’s averaged over 20 minutes per game, plays on the PK and is getting a lot of tough matchups alongside Mattias Ekholm. The 25-year-old is handling it well and fitting in to an organization that has long had a strong history of developing defensemen.

Honorable Mention: Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins; Tanner Jeannot, Nashville Predators; Jonathan Dahlén, San Jose Sharks; Cole Sillinger, Columbus Blue Jackets.

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