Top 5 NHL Rookie Seasons of All Time

The National Hockey League has become an important part of sports culture worldwide, especially within North America. Hockey has seen a boom in popularity around the country with the introduction of more indoor ice rinks. Warmer states can now compete in the NHL, along with places where the sport is considered native. College campuses have played a big role in making hockey more popular in the U.S., not to mention the influence of modern media and TV coverage. It’s no wonder why more are invested in NHL money lines and spreads than ever before. Follow the link for more information and accurate predictions.

Meanwhile, these are the five most impressive and monumental rookie seasons in NHL history, at least from this view: 

Teemu Selanne 1992-93

Teemu Selanne played for the Winnipeg Jets and earned the nickname “Finnish Flash” during his 1992-93 rookie season. Scoring 76 goals that season, it is definitely one of the reasons why Selanne went on to become a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

If only that one year with the Avs had gone better…

Terry Sawchuk 1950-51

Another momentous rookie performance comes from Terry Sawchuk, who earned his title as one of the greatest goaltenders ever. Playing with the Detroit Red Wings, Sawchuk has been recognized in the Hall of Fame and is known as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” that made hockey what it is today. 

Sawchuk’s record his rookie season with the Wings: 43-13-13.

Mike Bossy 1977-78

Mike Bossy was used as a secret weapon by the New York Islanders during his rookie season, as he scored an amazing 53 goals. The “sniper” player had already broken several hockey records during his early career as a junior. It was his impressive performance as a rookie that entered him into the New York Islanders dynasty team, as he kept several hockey records until 1993. 

Alexander Ovechkin 2005-06

Alexander Ovechkin scored a mammoth 52 goals for the Washington Capitals as a rookie. Ovechkin is still considered one of the most electric players that the NHL has ever seen. Currently at 740 goals, Ovechkin has a real shot at breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 892.

Ken Dryden 1971-72

Known as a member of the “underdog Original Six”, Dryden set records for the Montreal Canadiens, with a 39-8-15 record, and .930 saves percentage. The Calder Trophy was earned at the end of his rookie season, and Dryden remains the last Canadien to have that title. Challenging opponents and setting the record straight for the Canadiens, Dryden was an impressive gain within the NHL and saw several leaderboard improvements that season for the Canadiens.