Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes: A third-round pick (No. 69) in the 2020 draft, Nikishin (6-3, 218) ranks fourth among rookies in average ice time (19:03), including fifth in average time at even strength (16:32) and seventh in average time on the penalty kill (1:33) in 36 games. He is first among first-year defensemen in hits (72), third in blocked shots (46), and fifth in assists (nine) and points (13).
Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders: The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer ranks first in average ice time among rookies (23:47), including first in average even-strength ice time (19:05) and power play ice time (3:32). The 18-year-old leads all first-year defensemen with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists), blocked shots (57), takeaways (20), and penalties drawn (22) in 39 games. Schaefer became the first Islanders teenager to reach 27 minutes of ice time in a single game, logging 27:40 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 25, since that statistic was first tracked in 1997-98. He’s played at least 27 minutes five times since, including 27:03 in a 2-0 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks: The 19-year-old, selected No. 3 in the 2024 NHL Draft, has been a workhorse since making his debut this season, ranking second among first-year forwards in average ice time (16:41) in 38 games, including 1:44 per game on the power play. Sennecke is second among all rookies with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) and first with 23 even-strength points (nine goals, 14 assists). He’s tied for first with Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) among first-year forwards in penalties drawn (16). Sennecke was a finalist for Rookie of the Month for November, when he led all first-year forwards in average ice time (16:16) and had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 15 games. “I think he’s got a really good demeanor,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said of Sennecke. “He’s brash in the way he plays, because he’s not afraid to try things. We’ve got to find that balance, knowing that some of that stuff is effective in major-junior, but you’re against men now. He’s very coachable and [I] think he has pretty good understanding of the game and where to be. I think he might be deceiving because his instincts are on the right track.”
