Surprise NHL breakouts? Top 7 under-the-radar rookies from Ben Kindel to Arseny Gritsyuk

Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer have dominated the early Calder Trophy headlines. Behind them, several other high-profile prospects — such as Zeev Buium, Jimmy Snuggerud, Beckett Sennecke, Michael Misa, Sam Rinzel, Ryan Leonard and Alexander Nikishin — have made a loud, immediate impact.

With most of the buzz focused on the biggest names, there’s still plenty of exciting rookie talent slipping under the radar. In this piece, I wanted to shed light on some of those players. This story isn’t necessarily about the “best” rookies so far, although there’s some overlap; the point is to give some love to less-heralded names exceeding expectations so far this season.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

(All data as of Oct. 30)

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Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

Age: 20
Draft status: No. 201 pick in 2023
Stats: 10 GP, 4 goals-4 assists-8 points, 16:05 average time on ice

How he’s looked: Nobody could have predicted that the Red Wings’ 2023 seventh-round pick would come out of nowhere and emerge as a perfect early fit on the top line with Dylan Larkin.

Finnie’s eight points in 10 games (tied for second in rookie scoring) jump off the page. However, what’s more impressive than the offensive production is how complete and well-rounded his game is as a complementary top-six winger.

The 20-year-old is an elite skater, ranking in the 97th percentile among NHL forwards for speed bursts of 20 miles per hour or more this season. Coupled with his long wingspan, big-bodied frame and non-stop energy, it makes him an aggressive, disruptive forechecker. In the clip below, for example, watch how Finnie relentlessly pressures Chris Tanev, one of the league’s most poised defensemen, and cleanly pickpockets the puck.

Finnie isn’t just athletically gifted; he reads the play intelligently in all three zones with a clear understanding of spacing, puck support and positioning both offensively and defensively. In the attacking zone, he knows how to get open in soft areas when most of the opposition’s attention is on Larkin or Lucas Raymond. And his net-front play is already a legitimate offensive asset. Finnie pays the price to park his large frame in front of goalies and is often first to pounce on rebounds for second-chance opportunities. He wins battles down low to extend offensive possessions for his line.

Watch his excellent net-front work in the sequence below as a prime example. Finnie wins the initial battle for the rebound down low and passes the puck to Larkin to extend the play. He loops back around and generates a Grade-A scoring chance from Raymond’s pass, and then swats the puck away from Auston Matthews, which frees it up for Larkin to pepper another Grade-A chance.

Finnie’s zone exits have also been impressive for a rookie. In the play below, the Red Wings were hemmed in defensively for a long time. Finnie made a strong play to ward off heavy pressure and engineer a clean breakout under duress.

Finnie doesn’t have the most high-end skill, but his speed is dangerous and his passing has been good enough to mesh with Larkin. I’d expect Finnie’s offensive production to slow down because his line has benefited from an unsustainably high 18.4 percent shooting percentage at five-on-five when he’s on the ice. However, his details are so polished and mature that he should continue thriving as a speedy, heavy winger who can do the dirty work for skilled players.

Jakub Dobeš, G, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 24
Draft status: No. 136 pick in 2020
Stats: 6-0-0, .930 save percentage

How he’s looked: Everybody had Sam Montembeault pegged as the Canadiens’ clear-cut No.1 goalie, following a 62-game campaign where he excelled as a workhorse starter.

However, Montembeault’s early struggles (.842 save percentage in five games), and Dobeš’ scorching-hot start have created the perfect storm for a potential goaltending controversy in Montreal. Dobeš, who played well in 16 games for the Habs last season, is the first rookie in NHL history to start two consecutive seasons with a 5-0-0 record. He owns a sparkling .930 save percentage and has already saved almost 10 goals above expected, which ranks fourth among all NHL goaltenders so far this season.

Dobeš has always had interesting raw tools, but the key is that he’s harnessed them in a more controlled way this year.

“The size, flexibility, length, power and athleticism were obvious last season, but he appears to be using it more effectively this season,” said goaltending expert Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine. “There were times last season where he took himself right out of the net, but what looks like a more controlled, conservative depth and tactics so far this season keep him in position more to use all those natural skills without being overly reliant on them.”

Ben Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Age: 18

Draft status: No. 11 pick in 2025

Stats: 10 GP, 3G-0A-0P, 13:12 ATOI

How he’s looked: Kindel has been way more impactful than his modest point totals would suggest. First, it’s worth acknowledging how wildly impressive it is that he’s even stuck in the NHL as an 18-year-old, especially as an undersized 5-foot-11 forward who’s been trusted to play his natural position at center rather than shift to the wing. Kindel is the only 2025 draftee besides No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer who’s already suited up for more than six NHL games.

Not only is Kindel surviving, he’s legitimately tilting the ice as the Penguins’ third-line center. Pittsburgh has controlled 52 percent of shots and a team-best 55.7 percent of expected goals during Kindel’s five-on-five shifts. It’s almost unheard-of for teenage forwards to drive two-way play like this.

Kindel’s hockey IQ is arguably his best tool. He already processes plays both offensively and defensively like a 10-year NHL veteran. He’s a very slick player with the puck because of his smarts, fast skating and the ice in his veins when attempting tricky plays in high traffic areas.

In a game against the Anaheim Ducks, Kindel had the audaciousness to pull off a spin-o-rama in front of his own goal to effortlessly beat an opponent and lead a zone exit. That kind of play represents the immense confidence he has making plays.

Below, you can see how nasty Kindel’s give-and-go with Tommy Novak was on his second goal of the season.

What a one-timer by Kindel 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xIbHmAoIaF

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 24, 2025

Kindel wins a surprising number of puck battles because of his quickness, anticipation and stick work. And when he gains clear possession, he makes neat passes in tight spaces under pressure, which explains why his line has spent a lot more time attacking than it has defending.

Kindel probably won’t have the flashy point totals to be in the Calder conversation, but what he’s accomplishing driving play as an 18-year-old center is unreal and hints at his upside as a future star.

Arseny Gritsyuk, LW/RW, New Jersey Devils

Age: 24
Draft status: No. 129 pick in 2019
Stats: 11 GP, 2G-4A-6P, 13:32 ATOI

How he’s looked: Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier are an overpowering 1-2-3 punch up front, but the Devils didn’t have enough secondary scoring outside of that elite trio last year. New Jersey’s middle-six forwards are performing at a far higher level in 2025-26, with Gritsyuk emerging as a key catalyst.

Gritsyuk is quick and plays with nonstop energy. He can carry the puck up ice with his pace, but is also excellent at winning pucks back in all three zones with his dogged work ethic. This goal against the Avalanche was a prime example. The wicked release on his goal is what will make the highlight reel, but that opportunity doesn’t happen without his buzzsaw energy and stick pressure to beat Artturi Lehkonen in a 50-50 battle to keep the puck alive inside the attacking zone.

On his very next shift, Gritsyuk made an excellent read to intercept Martin Necas’ pass and used his speed to turn it into a quality shot off the rush.

Gritsyuk is fun to watch because he has the high-energy motor you’d expect from a grinder, but also the dynamic puck-carrying ability you’d expect from a skilled top-six forward. Here’s an example of that on one of his assists.

Arseny Gritsyuk! 🤩

How about this play for his first NHL point! #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/zzzyqmz3vl

— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2025

That combination of dawg and skill explains why he’s already a killer play-driver; he’s driven a team-high 57.2 percent of shot attempts during his five-on-five shifts. He’s also a high-volume shot creator, ranking second among Devils forwards for shots per 60.

Easton Cowan, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Age: 20
Draft status: No. 28 pick in 2023
Stats: 8 GP, 0G-3A-3P, 12:46 ATOI

How he’s looked: Cowan is a bit raw and has considerable room to grow, but he’s shown some exciting sparks through his first several NHL games. The skill he has with the puck is already eye-catching. He’s shifty when carrying pucks up the ice and has good puck control on zone entries, making sure he keeps possession close to his body and away from the reach of opposing defensemen.

Cowan is also a very crafty, intelligent passer. He can make high-skill passes to problem-solve around traffic, whether it’s finessing a feed through a defender’s legs, making little slip passes in tight areas or lifting nifty saucer passes over opposing sticks. Here’s an example of him springing Auston Matthews for a Grade-A scoring chance.

He’s also a likable player because of his dog-on-a-bone mentality and overall quickness. Cowan held his own playing on the top line with Matthews earlier in the season, and more recently has been impactful playing on the Leafs’ third line with Nic Roy and Dakota Joshua. He’s a bit undersized, needs to add some polish defensively and has had some stretches where his impact can be quiet, but his overall body of work has been quite promising. Cowan has chipped in with three points in seven games and the Leafs have comfortably won his five-on-five minutes, controlling 55 percent of shots with a plus-two goal differential.

It’s highly unlikely that he’ll be a consistent top-six caliber contributor this year, but it’s feasible to think he could provide value as a supporting middle-six winger.

Arturs Silovs, G, Pittsburgh Penguins

Age: 24
Draft status: No. 156 pick in 2019
Stats: 3-1-2, .919 save percentage

How he’s looked: Acquired from the Vancouver Canucks this past summer for a fourth-round pick and Chase Stillman, Silovs was a smart buy-low gamble for the Penguins.

The 24-year-old Latvian was coming off a sensational run where he won AHL playoff MVP and guided the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup win. He’d even flashed potential at the NHL level — most notably during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he appeared in 10 games following injuries to Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. Stuck behind Demko and Kevin Lankinen, Silovs wasn’t going to get an NHL opportunity in Vancouver, so the Canucks were forced to trade him to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing to waivers.

Silovs earned the nod as the Penguins’ opening-night starter and has made a strong first impression. He’s recorded a .919 save percentage and ranks 10th among all goaltenders for goals saved above expected according to Evolving-Hockey’s model. Silovs has looked athletic and explosive, and has excelled tracking plays down low and stopping in-tight chances. Historically, his biggest weakness at the NHL level has been making saves on long-distance shots with heavy traffic, and while he’s still not perfect in that area, it hasn’t been a crippling problem the way it was at times last year.

Silovs has been torched in the shootout on two consecutive occasions, but his overall play has been terrific and exceeded expectations.

Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 22
Draft status: No. 64 pick in 2021
Stats: 11 GP, 4G-3A-7P, 12:24 ATOI

How he’s looked: Is there important context we need to consider to make sure we don’t overhype Kapanen’s hot start? For sure.

• Kapanen’s line has scored on nearly 20 percent of its shots at five-on-five. His offensive production will taper off once his shooting percentage normalizes.
• Kapanen benefits from playing on a line with Ivan Demidov.
• Kapanen’s underlying metrics aren’t anything to write home about — the Habs have been outshot 58-37 with Kapanen on the ice at five-on-five.

However, even with all of those contextual factors acknowledged, Kapanen has exceeded all expectations. The 22-year-old has held his own in a high-leverage role as Montreal’s second-line center. He’s already potted four goals and seven points in 11 games, but the real substance of his game comes from his two-way smarts.

Kapanen may not have the flashiest offensive skill set, but his positioning, reads and defensive play are polished for such a young, inexperienced center. Stylistically, that safer approach has been a nice fit with Demidov’s flashier, more dynamic skill set. Kapanen is fast enough to keep up with Demidov as a supporting offensive threat off the rush and can handle some of the dirty work to win battles and regain puck possession.

For example, Kapanen stripped Lukas Reichel of the puck on the forecheck and got his line set up in the attacking zone with possession, which led to Demidov scoring a beautiful one-timer goal moments later.

I still think Kapanen is much better suited to being a third-line center long-term than as a 2C (especially once his shooting percentage regresses) but his impressive start has helped keep the Canadiens afloat better than expected in the early going.

Honorable mentions: Harrison Brunicke, Berkly Catton, Samuel Honzek, Noah Laba, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Adam Wilsby, Gavin Brindley, Fraser Minten, Colton Dach