Puckstopshere Kukla's Korner
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Top Rookie At The Quarter Pole
There is a solid crop of rookies this season. They are doing a good job of creating a competitive race for the Calder Trophy. About two and a half weeks ago I reported that Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets had taken the lead as at that time he was the NHL goal scoring leader. He had taken the lead from Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Laine has cooled recently. He has one goal in the last two and a half weeks and is dropping in the overall scoring race. Thus Zach Werenski has taken the rookie lead this season. Werenski has 16 points which makes him the fourth highest scoring defenceman in the NHL. He is only two points behind Laine despite being a defenceman. Werenski leads his Blue Jacket team in total ice time and is a big part of the reason that Columbus would make the playoffs if the season ended right now. In a year where top draft picks Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are getting much of the rookie press, I think a relatively unheralded Columbus defenceman has been the best rookie so far.