Ducks’ Trevor Zegras & Other Western Conference Rookies Turning Heads

It is nearly the end of the November, and many clubs have passed the decision point on whether or not to keep their rookies with the team. For newly signed rookies, this is what decides whether or not their Entry-Level Contract (ELC) will begin.

For those who don’t know, the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for nine games at the start of the regular season when a player on his entry-level contract can be evaluated. A prospect who plays for any Canadian Hockey League team (Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Western Hockey League (WHL) ) can be returned to his junior team prior to dressing for his 10th NHL game without his ELC contract kicking in. The tenth game begins the ELC contract and starts the countdown towards free agency. This player is will not be eligible to go to the American Hockey League due to an agreement with the CHL that prohibits 18-and-19-year-old prospects from playing in the AHL. 

To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.

Several teams in the Western Conference have rookies on their roster who made their case to stay in the NHL this season and are already proving themselves worthy.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have two rookies who have made the roster this season, those being forward Trevor Zegras and defensemen Jamie Drysdale.

Trevor Zegras

Even though most eyes are on Troy Terry, forward Trevor Zegras is showing he is fully capable of staying with the team. At the time of writing he ranks 2nd among rookies in points with 14, 3rd among rookies with six goals, and 3rd among rookies with eight assists, tied with teammate Jamie Drysdale.

In his first 17 games with the Sharks, he has 7 goals and 2 assists. The rookie centre has managed to play on the same line as Logan Couture and Timo Meier. Since being drafted he has been a member of the Senators and Devils organizations, so third time could be the charm for this Swede.

Jasper Weatherby

Instead of choosing to play in the minor leagues, the Portland, Oregon native opted to go to university instead. Since getting drafted by the San Jose Sharks 102nd overall in 2018, he has spent the last three years at the University of North Dakota. While Weatherby may not have come out as strong as Dahlén, he is still no slouch. In his 21 games with the Sharks, he has scored two goals and three assists. The Sharks seem to be in the process of rebuilding as they had several rookies who made the opening night roster and Jasper Weatherby is a great addition to their lineup.

Vancouver Canucks

The defensemen that other teams overlooked is proving himself with the Canucks.

Vasily Podkolzin

Podkolzin’s draft experienced echoed that of Anaheim Defensemen Cam Fowler’s nine years prior. Both were expected to go in the top five but dropped significantly when push came to shove. Both were sat in their future home arena when the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks respectively ended their draft day wait.

The Ducks and the Canucks each got a top-tier player that were welcomed by future fans who were in attendance for the draft. Unlike Fowler, Podkolzin didn’t immediately jump into the NHL. After his draft, he went back to his home team in Russia to play for an extra two seasons. In 2021, the twenty-year-old Moscow native made the Canucks roster this season and has played in 20 games so far. In those games he has four goals and one assist. He is showing that he deserves to stay in Canada and that the international experience he achieved in Russia helped in that development.

Vegas Golden Knights

Another player who got their start in a southern state is showing hockey has a home everywhere.

Jake Leschyshyn

When Jake Leschyshyn took the ice in his first game on October 14th, he became only the fourth player from North Carolina to play in the NHL. Even though he was born in Raleigh while his father, Curtis, was playing with the Carolina Hurricanes, he spent most of his life in Saskatchewan where his family moved to after his father’s retirement. He was selected 67th overall in the 2017 Entry-Draft by the Golden Knights in their first ever draft. The next year he returned to the Regina Pats where he served as team captain. Post-junior, the forward spent two seasons in the NHL, but cracked his way into the NHL this season. In 18 games with the Knights, he has one goal and three assists.

We are still early in the season, and the tides could change at any point for these young players. Are there any rookies that I missed or any that should they be called up by the AHL could make a point to stay in the big leagues?