#rookie-scoring

#rookie-scoring

Nineteen-year-old rookie Ilya Protas leads the Bears with 10 points in 14 games and is tied for first in goals (5) with veteran Matt Strome, who scored Hershey's Calder Cup-winning goal in 2024. The last rookie to finish a season leading the Hershey Bears in points was Connor McMichael, who tallied 27 points (14g, 13a) in 33 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. The last rookie player to lead the team in goals was Ethen Frank, who scored 30 goals during the 2022-23 campaign. Both are in the NHL and currently play for the Washington Capitals.

Askarov's long-range save percentage last season was perfect (59 shots faced, 59 saves); he was the only goalie in the League who faced at least 50 long-range shots without allowing a goal. Askarov, who was also above the NHL average in both high-danger save percentage (.814; average: .803) and midrange save percentage (.892; average: 887), could also benefit from the Sharks additions this offseason in veteran defensemen Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg and Nick Leddy.

Lane Hutson's remarkable achievement in becoming the top rookie scorer in the NHL reveals that with determination and resilience, even those labeled as underdogs can soar.