When the Arizona Coyotes cut ties with Shane Doan this summer, they walked away from the face of the franchise.
But a budding superstar in the desert is making his case for that claim. Clayton Keller, who leads all rookies with 17 points, and stands seven points ahead of Arizona's next-highest scorer, is turning heads in his freshman campaign.
The electric winger has collected 11 goals and six assists through the season's early goings, stacking up nicely against some of the best rookie performances in the post-lockout era.
Alex Ovechkin, 2005-06
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 13 | 5 | 18 |
The Washington Capitals sensation went neck-and-neck with Sidney Crosby in his rookie season, ultimately finishing with 106 points and edging the Pittsburgh Penguins center by four points to capture the Calder. Credit a prolific start in his first 16 games as part of the reason for Ovechkin's win.
Evgeni Malkin, 2006-07
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
The most impressive performance on this list, Malkin hit double digits in both goals and assists through his first 16 NHL games. The Penguins center parlayed a hot start to the season into rookie of the year honors, wrapping the season with 106 points.
Patrick Kane, 2007-08
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
Keller models his game after Kane, so it's a fitting comparison given how the elder American winger took the NHL by storm in his first season. Kane's Calder win in 2008 was the first of many trophies for the Chicago Blackhawks star.
Jeff Skinner, 2010-11
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
While a few lesser campaigns followed, it's hard to forget Skinner's introduction to the NHL, when the Carolina Hurricanes winger finished with 31 goals and 32 assists. Skinner bested fellow forwards Logan Couture and Michael Grabner for the most Calder votes.
Nathan MacKinnon, 2013-14
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
The top pick in the 2013 draft, the Colorado Avalanche forward wasted little time in showing off his talents to the NHL audience. MacKinnon tallied 10 points through his first 16 games, later finishing with 24 goals and 39 assists to become the franchise's third Calder Trophy recipient.
Auston Matthews, 2016-17
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
Scoring four goals, the Toronto Maple Leafs center made the most of his first night on NHL ice. Matthews used that performance as a launching pad, finishing the year with 69 points. He would become the first Maple Leafs player to be named the top rookie since 1966.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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