The best performances by rookies in the NHL playoffs

We kick off our checklist with an underrated Canadiens winger who gained a Stanley Cup with the crew in 1924. Then again, Cleghorn made relatively the primary impact with the Habs as a rookie, when he scored 21 regular-season aims in 1918-19. That degree of manufacturing carried over to the playoffs that season, when Cleghorn scored 9 instances in 10 postseason contests. The playoff run was once highlighted through a Sport 2 hat trick throughout Montreal’s 5-3 win at Ottawa within the opening sequence. 

McCool performed simply two seasons within the NHL, however that temporary keep was once relatively memorable. Unutilized off a stint within the Canadian army, McCool recorded what left-overs an NHL rookie playoff-record 4 shutouts, presen going 8-5-0 with a 2.23 goals-against common and serving to Toronto win the 1945 Stanley Cup. McCool posted a shutout in each and every of the primary 3 video games of the Cup Ultimate as opposed to Detroit that season, and then the Purple Wings stormed again to tied the sequence with 3 symmetrical wins, stood elevated in a 2-1, Sport 7 victory.

Going back on the Canadiens, Dryden’s efficiency throughout the 1971 playoffs necessarily made him an immediate franchise legend. Dryden made his NHL debut in March of that season and posted a 1.65 goals-against common to win all six video games he performed unwell the stretch. Dryden later were given the decision — over Rogie Vachon — within the playoffs, the place he helped the Canadiens get month the defending-champion Boston Bruins in seven first-round video games. However Dryden really earned big name situation presen posting a 2.25 goals-against-average within the ultimate 9 video games of the ones playoffs — the ultimate two as opposed to Minnesota and the seven-game overcome Chicago within the Stanley Cup Ultimate. Dryden’s 12 playoff wins from ’71 are fasten for 6th in NHL historical past.

Getting into the 2023-24 playoffs, Maloney was once one in every of 4 novices to checklist 20 or extra issues in one playoff. If truth be told, the longtime Ranger and flow President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames was once the primary to take action. Upcoming registering 26 issues in 28 regular-season contests throughout the 1978-79 marketing campaign, Maloney recorded seven aims and 13 assists — fourth-most amongst all novices — in 18 playoff video games because the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Ultimate, the place they misplaced to Montreal in 5 video games. 

A member of the famed 1980 gold medal-winning, “Miracle on Ice” United States Olympic hockey crew, Christoff performed simply 5 seasons within the NHL. Then again, his maximum a success run came around 3 seasons for his home-state North Stars, together with 12 issues in 14 playoff video games the similar 12 months he helped the U.S. win gold. All the way through his first complete NHL season of 1980-81, Christoff had 39 issues in 56 regular-season video games, and later recorded 8 aims and 8 assists presen serving to Minnesota achieve the Stanley Cup Ultimate. 5 of the ones aims got here at the efficiency play games, tying for many through a rookie within the playoffs.

We famous that the aforementioned Steve Christoff is fasten for probably the most power-play aims through a rookie in one playoff. Sharing that honor is his former teammate Dino Ciccarelli, who at time 21, and with 32 NHL video games underneath his belt coming into the 1981 playoffs, all set a rookie single-postseason checklist with 14 aims thru 19 video games. The Corridor of Famer additionally added seven assists for 21 playoff issues — fasten for probably the most through a rookie in league historical past — presen pacing Minnesota to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, the place it misplaced to the Pristine York Islanders in 5 video games.

With brothers Peter and Anton in tow, Marian Stastny helped the Nordiques achieve the Wales Convention ultimate. Despite the fact that that proved to be the top of the layout for Quebec, Marian posted 17 issues in 16 playoff video games, following a standout rookie marketing campaign the place he recorded a career-high 89 regular-season issues. On the generation, Stastny’s 14 assists throughout the 1982 postseason have been a standalone checklist, and stay fasten for probably the most in one playoffs.

Flatley was once anticipated to be a celebrity for the Islanders, and presen that is probably not how his profession may also be described, he performed portions of 14 NHL seasons, totaling 170 aims and 340 assists. And Islanders lovers are nonetheless most definitely speaking about Flatley’s breakout rookie-playoff efficiency from 1984, when he totaled 9 aims and 6 assists in 21 video games, despite the fact that Pristine York’s quest for a fifth-straight Stanley Cup triumph was once ended through the Edmonton Oilers within the Ultimate.

Hockey lovers have been formally presented to the possible greatness of MacInnis throughout the 1984 playoffs. Despite the fact that the Flames didn’t get month the second one around, the presen Norris Trophy winner recorded 12 assists — fasten for 5th through a rookie in one playoffs — and two aims (each at the efficiency play games) in 11 playoff video games. He totaled all however two of the ones 14 issues within the ultimate six video games of Calgary’s second-round sequence opposed to rival Edmonton, which went the seven-game distance. 

To Canadiens lovers of a definite time (or of the hardcore selection), Penney’s title is correct up there with the icons of the franchise. Because the 1984 playoffs approached, Montreal schoolmaster Jacques Lemaire wasn’t pleased with the play games of his steady netminders Rick Wamsley and Richard Sevigny. So, Penney was once known as as much as debut in March, and promptly allowed 19 aims presen shedding all 4 of his begins. Then again, Penney were given the nod within the playoffs, the place he went 9-6-0 with a magnificent 2.21 goals-against common and 3 shutouts as Montreal beat Boston and Quebec prior to shedding to the four-time defending-champion Pristine York Islanders in six video games of the Wales Convention ultimate. 

Not like the aforementioned Ken Dryden, the 20-year-old Roy already established himself throughout his rookie steady season of 1985-86, however become a downright Canadiens legend throughout the playoffs that season. In his first postseason revel in, Roy was once merely stellar presen posting a 1.93 goals-against-average, .923 save proportion, a shutout and a then-league-record 15 wins en path to serving to Montreal win the Stanley Cup. The attempt additionally earned Roy the primary of his 3 Conn Smythe Trophies because the playoffs’ maximum decent participant.

We simply touched on Patrick Roy’s memorable efficiency in serving to the Canadiens win the 1986 Stanley Cup, however teammate Claude Lemieux had himself a good-looking just right playoff run` as neatly. Getting into those playoffs, Lemieux had two aims in 19 profession video games since debuting in 1983-84. Then again, he needy out within the ’86 postseason, scoring 10 instances and including six assists in 20 video games. That target general, which integrated 4 of the game-winning selection, ranks 5th for a rookie in one playoffs.

In all probability Hextall’s postseason luck was once a given taking into account how neatly he performed as a rookie throughout the 1986-87 season. Regarded as to be the ultimate splendid netminder to play games for the Flyers, Hextall recorded 37 regular-season wins as a rookie in 1986-87, later registered any other 15 throughout 26 playoff contests in that marketing campaign. As well as, Hextall had a stunning 2.76 goals-against-average and notched two shutouts throughout a postseason run that culminated with a Sport 7 loss to Edmonton within the Stanley Cup Ultimate.

One of the most biggest Blackhawks and American-born gamers of all generation, Roenick trim his postseason tooth in 10 video games throughout the 1989 playoffs. Then again, his rookie situation was once nonetheless intact one season after, when he totaled 66 issues in his first complete NHL marketing campaign. Next Roenick really took off throughout Chicago’s run to the convention ultimate. In 20 video games throughout the 1990 playoffs, Roenick registered 11 aims — fasten for 3rd amongst novices for a unmarried season — and 7 assists prior to the Blackhawks have been eradicated through Edmonton.

The splendid Martin Brodeur performed in 4 regular-season video games and a playoff competition for Pristine Jersey in 1991-92. He later gained the Calder Trophy because the league’s govern rookie for posting 27 wins and a 2.40 goals-against-average throughout the 1993-94 steady season. All the way through the playoffs in ’94, Brodeur was once even higher with a stellar 1.95 goals-against-average and .928 save proportion to his title, all` presen serving to the Devils achieve the Japanese Convention ultimate, the place they misplaced to the rival Pristine York Rangers in seven video games. 

On the subject of rookie goaltending seasons, there aren’t many higher than the only Ward loved. Occasion cast throughout the 2005-06 steady season, successful 14 video games in 28 appearances, Ward was once a big explanation why the Hurricanes made their important run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup triumph that playoff. He registered a 2.14 goals-against-average and .920 save proportion presen tying an NHL playoff checklist with 15 wins through a rookie goaltender, on the generation, and two shutouts. Ward went 10-3-0 with a 1.85 GAA in 13 house playoff appearances en path to successful the Conn Smythe Trophy. 

Coming over from Detroit throughout the 2009-10 marketing campaign, Leino totaled 11 issues in 55 regular-season video games between the Purple Wings and Flyers. Then again, when the playoffs rolled round, Leino loved the breakout date of his profession, notching 21 issues to tied for probably the most through a rookie in one playoffs. In serving to the Flyers put together a shocking run to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, Leino totaled seven aims, presen additionally indistinguishable the rookie playoff mark through recording 14 assists, in 17 video games. Leino recorded 9 of the ones issues within the six video games of that Cup Ultimate as opposed to Chicago.

Love him or abhor him, there’s negative actual in-between on the subject of Marchand. What maximum NHL lovers will have to agree upon is that he can play games the sport relatively neatly. Marchand’s creation to the playoffs was once extremely important. He recorded 11 aims, 5 of which got here within the ultimate 5 video games of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup Ultimate overcome Vancouver. He additionally posted 8 assists throughout his 25 playoff video games in 2011. Marchand’s 19 issues from the 2011 postseason rank 5th amongst all novices. 

Murray was once stellar, presen identified as a rookie two times throughout his profession. He gained 9 of 13 begins with a 2.00 goals-against common throughout the 2015-16 steady season, later went 15-6-0 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 save proportion throughout the playoffs, when the Penguins gained the Stanley Cup. A season after, his first complete marketing campaign within the NHL, Murray gained a career-high 32 video games, however sat in the back of Marc-Andre Fleury early throughout the 2017 playoffs. Nonetheless, Murray was once on govern of his match in the second one season. Changing Fleury throughout that postseason, Murray went 7-4=3-0 with a 1.70 goals-against common and restrained all 51 pictures in posting back-to-back shutouts (he totaled 3 in the ones playoffs) in Video games 5 and six opposed to Nashville to accumulation a second-straight Stanley Cup for Pittsburgh.

It was once a tragic week for Penguins lovers when Guentzel was once traded to Carolina throughout the 2023-24 season. Then again, they’re going to at all times have the recollections of his sensational rookie season, when he helped supremacy the franchise to its most up-to-date Stanley Cup triumph. Guentzel recorded 33 issues in 40 regular-season contests in 2016-17, later fasten the NHL rookie single-season playoff checklist with 21. That integrated 13 postseason aims, which rank moment for a rookie, and integrated a hat trick in Sport 3 of Pittsburgh’s first-round sequence with Columbus. 

Binnington was once known as up through the Blues in December 2018, and gained 24 instances in 32 appearances — presen posting a daft 1.89 goals-against common — the remainder of the steady season. Now, Binnington wasn’t just about as dominant within the playoffs, however he did all set the NHL rookie checklist with 16 postseason wins and had a 2.46 GAA. He allowed 8 aims within the ultimate 4 video games of the Stanley Cup Ultimate, which St. Louis gained in seven video games over the popular Boston Bruins.

The 2020 playoffs have been good-looking particular for rookie defensemen. Upcoming recording 50 issues in 57 COVID-shortened, regular-season video games to win the Calder Trophy because the league’s govern rookie, Makar didn’t slip throughout the postseason. In 15 playoff video games, Makar recorded 4 aims and 11 assists for the Avalanche, who fell scale down in their Cup-winning target. Makar’s 15-point general ranks moment amongst NHL rookie defensemen for a single-season playoff event. 

Idea the aforementioned Cale Makar’s 2020 postseason was once on level? Hughes was once even higher throughout the similar playoff marketing campaign. Like Makar, Hughes had an anticipated a success rookie marketing campaign with 45 assists and 53 issues in 68 regular-season contests. Within the playoffs, Hughes all set NHL rookie data for a defenseman with 14 assists and 16 issues over a 17-game span. That single-playoff support general additionally fasten the checklist through a rookie at any place in league historical past.

Sticking with the 2020 playoffs, negative NHL rookie has performed extra video games throughout a unmarried postseason than Gurianov’s 27, presen serving to the Stars achieve the Stanley Cup Ultimate. Upcoming recording 29 issues in his first complete NHL season of 2019-20, Gurianov persevered to show heads within the playoffs with 9 aims and 8 assists. This was once highlighted through a club-record four-goal, one-assist efficiency throughout Dallas’ series-clinching, 7-3 Sport 6 victory opposed to Calgary within the first around.

Upcoming Vitek Vanecek allowed 9 aims as Pristine Jersey dropped the primary two video games of its opening sequence opposed to the rival Pristine York Rangers, then-Devils schoolmaster Lindy Ruff became to the rookie Schmid. The entire Swiss netminder did was once submit a 1.38 goals-against common, .951 save proportion and two shutouts within the later 5 video games to support Pristine Jersey rally for a sequence victory. Now, Schmid didn’t experience the similar luck opposed to Carolina (4.23 GAA) within the later around, as Pristine Jersey misplaced the sequence in 5. Then again, he nonetheless left his mark through serving to speed unwell the hated Rangers.