Macklin Celebrini, the first overall draft choice in 2024, had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut with San Jose.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Chris Tanouye
It’s a young season so far, of course, but already the NHL has seen the arrival of several prominent rookies who are trying to make their mark in the game. Herewith is a look at the most noteworthy of those NHL debuts to date.
Macklin Celebrini, the Canadian who was drafted first overall by San Jose just four months ago, has already done a bit of everything. First, the 18-year-old forward made his Sharks debut on 10 October and registered two points in a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis, including his first career goal. Although he is skilled, fast, and exciting, that first one was a bit flukey. Coming down the right side, he made a spin-o-rama pass in front that ricocheted off the skate of St. Louis defenceman Matt Kessel and past goalie Joel Hofer. Celebrini didn’t realize it was his goal at first.
The North Vancouver native added an assist but also suffered a lower-body injury later in the game, and is now on the injury list week to week. He is the NHL's youngest player. He dominated at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship for Canada. In 2024, he also became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award.
Celebrini’s teammate, American Will Smith, also started his NHL career in the same game. Drafted fourth overall in 2023, Smith has been held pointless through three games so far, but he arrives in the NHL at age 19 with a wealth of IIHF success under his belt. He won a silver medal at the 2022 U18 Worlds, and a year later led the U.S. to gold and was named tournament MVP. This past season he was also a big part of the American gold at the World Juniors, and he finished his 2023-24 season by playing in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Czechia.
Jett Luchanko, drafted 13th overall this year, has also played his first two games, with Philadelphia on 11 and 15 October. He was part of Canada’s gold-medal-winning U18 team this past season. He played 14:36 in his first game for the Flyers against Vancouver and 17:00 against Edmonton.
Lane Hutson has also been whipping up a storm since joining Montreal out of training camp. The 20-year-old blueliner from Chicago has four assists in his first four games after a junior career with the U.S. that rivals any compatriot of recent times. He played two games for Montreal last season and already has five IIHF tournaments under his belt (two U18, two World Juniors, one Worlds). His puck skills have enthralled Habs fans so far.
Oliver Kapanen, a 21-year-old Finn born in Sweden, has also made his NHL debut with Montreal. Drafted in 2021, he has spent the last three years developing with KalPa in Finland, but looks ready to make the leap and stay up. The centre has one assist in three games, averaging about 12 minutes of ice time.
Czech centre Ivan Ivan has made Colorado out of training camp after four years in the QMJHL and one in the AHL. He also played at the 2022 World Juniors. Never drafted, he is one of the early feel-good stories of the season, and he is now the only player in NHL history with the same first and last name.
Winger Samuel Honzek has also played his first career NHL games this season with the red-hot Calgary Flames. He played in three consecutive World Juniors (2022-24) as well as two seasons in the WHL, getting drafted 16th overall last year. The Slovakian left winger is big but still has room to fill out.
The only two rookie goalies to enter the NHL so far this year are both European. Sweden's Dennis Hildeby suited up for Toronto against New Jersey on 10 October, winning the game 4-2 with 21 saves on 23 shots. He was selected 122nd overall in 2022. Finn Joel Blomqvist, meanwhile, also won his debut with Pittsburgh, a 6-3 win over Detroit.
Lastly, 19-year-old Matvei Michkov scored the first two goals of his promising career on 15 October, both on the power play in the first period for Philadelphia, who drafted him seventh overall in 2023. On the first, the Perm-born winger jammed the puck under the glove of goalie Stuart Skinner, prompting a video review. When the goal counted, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch then challenged the play and was proved wrong, incurring a bench penalty. The goals came in Michkov’s third career game.
Macklin Celebrini, the Canadian who was drafted first overall by San Jose just four months ago, has already done a bit of everything. First, the 18-year-old forward made his Sharks debut on 10 October and registered two points in a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis, including his first career goal. Although he is skilled, fast, and exciting, that first one was a bit flukey. Coming down the right side, he made a spin-o-rama pass in front that ricocheted off the skate of St. Louis defenceman Matt Kessel and past goalie Joel Hofer. Celebrini didn’t realize it was his goal at first.
The North Vancouver native added an assist but also suffered a lower-body injury later in the game, and is now on the injury list week to week. He is the NHL's youngest player. He dominated at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship for Canada. In 2024, he also became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award.
Celebrini’s teammate, American Will Smith, also started his NHL career in the same game. Drafted fourth overall in 2023, Smith has been held pointless through three games so far, but he arrives in the NHL at age 19 with a wealth of IIHF success under his belt. He won a silver medal at the 2022 U18 Worlds, and a year later led the U.S. to gold and was named tournament MVP. This past season he was also a big part of the American gold at the World Juniors, and he finished his 2023-24 season by playing in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Czechia.
Jett Luchanko, drafted 13th overall this year, has also played his first two games, with Philadelphia on 11 and 15 October. He was part of Canada’s gold-medal-winning U18 team this past season. He played 14:36 in his first game for the Flyers against Vancouver and 17:00 against Edmonton.
Lane Hutson has also been whipping up a storm since joining Montreal out of training camp. The 20-year-old blueliner from Chicago has four assists in his first four games after a junior career with the U.S. that rivals any compatriot of recent times. He played two games for Montreal last season and already has five IIHF tournaments under his belt (two U18, two World Juniors, one Worlds). His puck skills have enthralled Habs fans so far.
Oliver Kapanen, a 21-year-old Finn born in Sweden, has also made his NHL debut with Montreal. Drafted in 2021, he has spent the last three years developing with KalPa in Finland, but looks ready to make the leap and stay up. The centre has one assist in three games, averaging about 12 minutes of ice time.
Czech centre Ivan Ivan has made Colorado out of training camp after four years in the QMJHL and one in the AHL. He also played at the 2022 World Juniors. Never drafted, he is one of the early feel-good stories of the season, and he is now the only player in NHL history with the same first and last name.
Winger Samuel Honzek has also played his first career NHL games this season with the red-hot Calgary Flames. He played in three consecutive World Juniors (2022-24) as well as two seasons in the WHL, getting drafted 16th overall last year. The Slovakian left winger is big but still has room to fill out.
The only two rookie goalies to enter the NHL so far this year are both European. Sweden's Dennis Hildeby suited up for Toronto against New Jersey on 10 October, winning the game 4-2 with 21 saves on 23 shots. He was selected 122nd overall in 2022. Finn Joel Blomqvist, meanwhile, also won his debut with Pittsburgh, a 6-3 win over Detroit.
Lastly, 19-year-old Matvei Michkov scored the first two goals of his promising career on 15 October, both on the power play in the first period for Philadelphia, who drafted him seventh overall in 2023. On the first, the Perm-born winger jammed the puck under the glove of goalie Stuart Skinner, prompting a video review. When the goal counted, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch then challenged the play and was proved wrong, incurring a bench penalty. The goals came in Michkov’s third career game.