NHL announces 2013-2014 All-Rookie Team

The National Hockey League today announced the 2013-14 NHL All-Rookie Team, which included two members of the Anaheim Ducks in goaltender Frederik Andersen and defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

Also among the rookies were the three players named as finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s top rookie: forwards Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

Completing the team was Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug.

Voting was conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season. Following is a summary of each NHL All-Rookie Team member’s outstanding season:

GOALTENDER

Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks

Andersen posted a 20-5-0 record with a 2.29 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 28 appearances, leading all rookie goaltenders in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage -- the best numbers in those categories by any rookie at the position since 2010-11. He began his career with a 9-1-0 record in his first 10 appearances, becoming the third goaltender in NHL history to earn nine or more victories in his first 10 games (also, Frank Brimsek: 9-1-0 and Bob Froese: 9-0-1).

DEFENSEMEN (in alphabetical order)

Torey Krug, Boston Bruins

Krug led all rookie defensemen with 14 goals, 26 assists, and 40 points in 79 games. He became just the fifth blueliner in Bruins history to record at least 10 goals in his debut season, finishing third on the franchise list behind Ray Bourque (17) and Greg Hawgood (16). Krug also led all rookie defensemen in power-play goals (6), power-play assists (13), and power-play points (19), and ranked third in plus/minus (+18).

Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks

Lindholm registered 6-24—30 in 78 games, ranking second among rookie defensemen in points, third in assists, and tied for fifth in goals. He also paced first-year blueliners -- and ranked fourth among all defensemen -- with a +29 rating, a franchise record and the fifth-highest plus/minus rating by any rookie defenseman since 1989-90. He and Andersen are the third and fourth players in Ducks history to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, joining Paul Kariya (1994-95) and Bobby Ryan (2008-09).

FORWARDS (in alphabetical order)

Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning

Johnson scored 24 goals to set a Lightning rookie record and tie MacKinnon for the lead among first-year players. He tied for the overall League lead in shorthanded goals (5) and also tallied five power-play goals, becoming the second rookie in NHL history to record five of each in one season (Dennis Maruk, 1975-76). Johnson also led all rookies in face-offs (1,275) and total ice time (1,540:20) while placing third in plus/minus (+23). Signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay in March 2011, Johnson became the first undrafted Calder Trophy finalist since Chicago goaltender Ed Belfour took top honors in 1991.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon topped all first-year players in points (63), goals (24-tied), assists (39), power-play goals (8), game-winning goals (5-tied) and shots (241). The first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft tallied at least one point in 13 consecutive games from Jan. 25 to March 6 (5-13—18), breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record for the longest single-season point streak by a player age 18 or younger (12 games). MacKinnon is the fourth Avalanche player voted to the NHL All-Rookie Team in the past eight years, joining Paul Stastny (2006-07), Matt Duchene (2009-10) and Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12).

Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning

Palat ranked second among rookie scorers with 23-36—59, three points shy of Brad Richards’ Lightning rookie record of 62 points in 2000-01. Palat was the League’s top rookie threat over the second half of the season, leading all first-year players in scoring after Jan. 1 (17-27—44 in 42 GP, including 14 multi-point games) and earning NHL Rookie of the Month honors for January and March. He posted an eight-game point streak from Dec. 23 to Jan. 9, the longest ever by a Lightning rookie, and led all first-year players in plus/minus (+32).


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services