Ilya Mikheyev, F TOR – Mikheyev is a 24-year-old winger coming over from the KHL in Russia to make his NHL debut. The Leafs have a lot of star-level players that eat up a large chunk of their salary cap, so they have to try and fill out the roster with cheap production. They’re hoping Mikheyev can give them that with a cap hit under one million dollars. Justin Bourne wrote a nice piece for the Athletic detailing Mikheyev’s offensive game this offseason, and that piece referenced Toronto coach Mike Babcock liking Mikheyev. That means Mikheyev could be penciled into a top-nine role with a deep Leafs team.
Alexandre Texier, F CBJ – The Blue Jackets have lost their top scorer from last season with Artemi Panarin leaving for New York. To attempt to replace his production they’ve brought in Gustav Nyquist, and Texier could be an additional source of replacement production. Texier made his NHL debut during the playoffs last year and scored two goals and recorded one assist in eight games. He should have at least a top-nine role this season if not a spot in the top six.
Jack Hughes, F NJD – Hughes was the #1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Devils. He played on the U.S. National U18 Team last season and recorded a whopping 112 points in 50 games. Hughes is New Jersey’s second top-six center drafted first overall in the last three years as they got Nico Hischier back in 2017. Hughes will immediately slot into the lineup right behind Hischier, and he figures to be 1C in the not-too-distant future. Joining Hughes on the second line will be the newly acquired Nikita Gusev. Gusev isn’t technically a rookie per the NHL guidelines as he’s already 27-years-old. But Gusev will be coming to New Jersey from the KHL after recording 215 points in 173 games in the last three seasons.
Morgan Frost, F PHI – The Flyers have a deep forward group, so it may be tough for Frost to make the team out of training camp. The Athletic’s projection of Philly’s opening night lineup doesn’t have Frost making the team. As a scoring winger, Frost would have to make the team in a top-nine role, and there may only be fourth line spots legitimately up for grabs. When we say scoring winger, we mean it. In his last two seasons in the OHL, Frost has 112 and 109 points, respectively. Even if he doesn’t make the team initially, he’s a name to know to monitor for a potential call-up.
Kaapo Kakko, F NYR – Kakko was the second overall pick after Hughes and will be a big part of a new-look Rangers roster that also includes Panarin and defenseman Jacob Trouba. Kakko should have a top-nine role and potentially a top-six role as well. However, Kakko might not be ready to immediately produce in a big way as he’s extremely young with a 19th birthday that won’t come until February. He played in the Finnish Elite League last season and finished with 38 points in 45 games. He has excellent offensive upside, but it may take a few years to get to it given his youth.
Cale Makar, D COL – Makar is the only rookie defenseman profiled here, but he’s a damn good one. Makar recorded 49 points in 41 games at UMass last season, and the night after his college team was eliminated in the Frozen Four, he was playing for the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Makar scored a goal in his first NHL game and recorded five assists in 10 playoff games. He’s going to play top four defenseman minutes, and he could be the D-man on a lethal top power play unit as the former defenseman in that spot, Tyson Barrie, now plays for the Maple Leafs.
Dominik Kubalik, F CHI – Kubalik was originally drafted in the seventh round in 2013 by the Kings and was traded to Chicago last season. The 24-year-old spent the last two seasons playing in Switzerland, recording 84 points in 75 games. Chicago GM Stan Bowman has been quoted as saying he expects Kubalik to be on the team this season. He should have at least a top-nine role and could be a 40-point producer over a full season.