Islanders’ Barzal Named NHL Rookie of the Month for January

NEW YORK – New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who led all rookies with 12 assists and 15 points in 13 games (3-12—15), has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January.

Barzal edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (6-2—8 in 12 GP), Islanders teammate Ryan Pulock (2-6—8 in 13 GP), Pittsburgh Penguins center Dominik Simon (4-3—7 in 11 GP) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (4-3—7 in 12 GP) for the honor.

Barzal registered at least one point in eight of his 13 January appearances, highlighted by 2-3—5 Jan. 13 at NYR – his second five-point performance of the season (also Nov. 5 vs. COL: 0-5—5). Only four other rookies have posted multiple five-point games within a single season during the League’s expansion era (since 1967-68); Barzal became the first to do so since 1981-82 (Marian Stastny).

The 16th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Barzal paces all rookies with 35 assists and 51 points through 52 contests this season. The 20-year-old Coquitlam, B.C., native joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (November and December) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.

Canucks’ Boeser Named NHL Rookie of the Month for November

NEW YORK – Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser, who led all NHL players with 11 goals in 15 games (11-5—16), has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November.

Boeser edged New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (3-14—17 in 12 GP), Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (10-4—14 in 13 GP), Colorado Avalanche center Alexander Kerfoot (5-6—11 in 12 GP) and New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (3-8—11 in 14 GP) for the honor.

Boeser became the second rookie in Canucks history to register double-digits in goals in one calendar month, joining Pavel Bure (12 in March 1992). The 20-year-old Burnsville, Minn., native also became the first rookie to score 11 goals for any NHL team in one calendar month since Nail Yakupov posted an equal number with the Edmonton Oilers in April 2013.

Boeser established career highs with 3-1—4 Nov. 4 vs. PIT, becoming the first Canucks rookie to record a four-point game since March 24, 2000 (Peter Schaefer). At 20 years, 252 days, he also became the third-youngest player in franchise history to notch a hat trick (behind Trevor Linden and Tony Tanti).

Boeser, the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, added goals in four straight games from Nov. 16-22 (6-0—6) and now paces all rookies with 13 goals and 25 points in 23 total appearances this season. He joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.

Boeser in November

Date, Opponent, G, A, PTS, Result

Nov. 1, NEW JERSEY, 0, 0, 0, 2-0 L

Nov. 4, PITTSBURGH, 3, 1, 4, 4-2 W

Nov. 6, DETROIT, 0, 0, 0, 3-2 L

Nov. 7, at Calgary, 0, 1, 1, 5-3 W

Nov. 9, at Anaheim, 0, 0, 0, 4-1 L

Nov. 11, at San Jose, 0, 0, 0, 5-0 L

Nov. 14, at Los Angeles, 0, 1, 1, 3-2 W

Nov. 16, VEGAS, 1, 0, 1, 5-2 L

Nov. 18, ST. LOUIS, 1, 0, 1, 4-3 OT L

Nov. 21 at Philadelphia, 2, 0, 2, 5-2 W

Nov. 22, at Pittsburgh, 2, 0, 2, 5-2 W

Nov. 24, at New Jersey, 0, 1, 1, 3-2 L

Nov. 26, at New York Rangers, 0, 0, 0, 4-3 SO L

Nov. 28, at New York Islanders, 0, 0, 0, 5-2 L

Nov. 30, at Nashville, 2, 1, 3, 5-3 W

Totals, 11, 5, 16, 6-7-2

Patrik Laine named NHL Rookie of the Month

NEW YORK -- Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine, who recorded 8-7-15 in 11 games, has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for February.

Laine edged Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Auston Matthews (8-8-16 in 14 GP) and William Nylander (7-6-13 in 14 GP) as well as Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (5-2-2, 1.97 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO) for the honor.

Laine, who tied for the rookie lead in goals, collected at least one point in eight of his 11 appearances, highlighted by a six-game streak to close the month (8-4-12). He also registered his third career hat trick (including the GWG) Feb. 14 vs. DAL, becoming the first player in NHL history to post three hat tricks prior to his 19th birthday as well as the first rookie to notch three hat tricks in one season since 1992-93.

Laine, the second overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft, shares the rookie lead and is tied for second place in the entire NHL with 31 goals in 56 games this season. The 18-year-old Tampere, Finland, native also ranks in the top five among rookies in points (1st; 56), shooting percentage (1st; 20.0%), power-play goals (t-1st; 8), game-winning goals (2nd; 5), shots on goal (3rd; 155) and power-play points (5th; 12).

Laine joins Maple Leafs teammates Nylander (October), Matthews (December) and Mitchell Marner (January), as well as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (November), as Rookie of the Month winners this season.

Patrik Laine in February

Date, Opponent, G, A, PTS, Result
Feb. 2, at Dallas, 0, 2, 2, 4-3 W
Feb. 4, at Colorado, 0, 0, 0, 5-2 L
Feb. 7, MINNESOTA, 0, 0, 0, 4-2 L
Feb. 10, CHICAGO, 0, 1, 1, 5-2 L
Feb. 11, TAMPA BAY, 0, 0, 0, 4-1 L
Feb. 14, DALLAS, 3, 0, 3, 5-2 W
Feb. 16, at Pittsburgh, 1, 0, 1, 4-3 OT L
Feb. 18, at Montreal, 1, 1, 2, 3-1 W
Feb. 19, at Ottawa, 0, 2, 2, 3-2 W
Feb. 21, at Toronto, 2, 0, 2, 5-4 OT L
Feb. 28, MINNESOTA, 1, 1, 2, 4-0 W

Totals: 8, 7, 15, 4-5-2

Mitchell Marner named NHL Rookie of the Month

NEW YORK - Toronto Maple Leafs center Mitchell Marner, who led all rookies with 11 assists and 15 points in 13 games, has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January.

Marner edged Carolina Hurricanes right wing Sebastian Aho (8-2-10 in 13 GP), Detroit Red Wings right wing Anthony Mantha (4-6-10 in 14 GP) and Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (4-6-10 in 6 GP) for the honor.

Marner, who also paced all rookies with eight power-play points (0-8-8), registered at least one point in nine of his 13 January appearances, highlighted by five multi-point efforts. That included three assists/points Jan. 7 vs. MTL, matching career highs in both categories.

The fourth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner ranks in the top five among rookies in assists (1st; 29), points (2nd; 41) and goals (t-4th; 12) in 48 games this season. The 19-year-old Markham, Ont., native also places among the rookie leaders in power-play assists (t-1st; 13), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 4), shots on goal (t-2nd; 122) and power-play points (3rd; 14).

Marner joins teammates William Nylander (October) and Auston Matthews (December) as Rookie of the Month winners this season, making the Maple Leafs the first NHL team with three different Rookie of the Month honorees in one campaign.


Mitchell Marner in January

Date, Opponent, G, A, PTS, Result

Jan. 1, DETROIT, 1, 0, 1, 5-4 OT W
Jan. 3, at Washington, 1, 1, 2, 6-5 OT L
Jan. 6, at New Jersey, 0, 0, 0, 4-2 W
Jan. 7, MONTREAL, 0, 3, 3, 5-3 L
Jan. 13, at NY Rangers, 0, 2, 2, 4-2 W
Jan. 14, at Ottawa, 0, 1, 1, 4-2 W
Jan. 17, BUFFALO, 0, 1, 1, 4-3 W
Jan. 19, NY RANGERS, 0, 1, 1, 5-2 L
Jan. 21, OTTAWA, 0, 0, 0, 3-2 SO L
Jan. 23, CALGARY, 1, 1, 2, 4-0 W
Jan. 25, at Detroit, 0, 0, 0, 4-0 W
Jan. 26, at Philadelphia, 0, 0, 0, 2-1 L
Jan. 31, at Dallas, 1, 1, 2, 6-3 L

Totals: 4, 11, 15, 7-4-2

- NHL Public Relations