Rookie Watch: Bunting, Jeannot among best not chosen early in NHL Draft

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2021-22 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, a look at the top six rookies not selected in the first or second round of the NHL Draft (listed alphabetically):

Michael Bunting, F, Toronto Maple Leafs: The 26-year-old left wing is fourth among NHL rookies with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 42 games, including five points (four goals, one assist) in his past three games, and has found a consistent spot on the Maple Leafs' top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Bunting is averaging 15:13 of ice time per game, is first among NHL rookies in penalties drawn (26) and fifth in takeaways (21). Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round (No. 117) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Bunting is in his first season with Toronto after signing a two-year, $1.9 million contract ($950,000 average annual value) July 28.
"[Bunting, Matthews and Marner] are very much on the same page," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "They're moving well with and without the puck to find each other. Take all those things and combine it with the elite skill they have, they're a hard group to handle. Bunting is a great competitor and he's found ways to put the puck into the net."

Alexandre Carrier, D, Nashville Predators: The 25-year-old right-hand shot is averaging 20:51 of ice time in 43 games playing on a defense pair with Roman Josi. Carrier, chosen by the Predators in the fourth round (No. 115) of the 2015 NHL Draft, is third among NHL rookie defensemen with 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) and second with a plus-13. He is third among rookies and second on the Predators with 65 blocked shots (Josi, 69) and is second among rookie defensemen with 18 takeaways. Carrier scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 19 regular-season games and had two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Predators last season.
Tanner Jeannot, F, Nashville Predators: The 24-year-old left wing leads NHL rookies with 14 goals, including three game-winners, which is tied for second, and his 27 points are sixth. He leads NHL rookies with 151 hits, is second with 16 penalties drawn and is second among rookie forwards with 33 blocked shots in 46 games. Jeannot, who signed with the Predators on April 2, 2018, after going undrafted, scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in 15 games with Nashville last season.

Kaapo Kahkonen, G, Minnesota Wild: Kahkonen, a fourth-round pick (No. 109) by the Wild in the 2014 draft, leads rookie goalies (minimum 10 games played) in save percentage (.922) and is second in wins (10) and goals-against average (2.53). The 25-year-old is first in even-strength save percentage (.927) among rookie goalies while facing the fourth-most shots at even strength (381). The Wild signed Kahkonen to a two-year, $1.45 million contract ($725,000 AAV) on Oct. 12, 2020.
Dysin Mayo, D, Arizona Coyotes: Mayo has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in 36 games. He's second among NHL rookies with 71 blocked shots and fourth among rookie defensemen with 56 hits while averaging 20:53 in ice time. He was chosen by the Coyotes in the fifth round (No. 133) in the 2014 draft. The 25-year-old right-hand shot made his NHL debut Oct. 21 after playing the previous six seasons with Springfield and Tucson in the American Hockey League, scoring 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) with a plus-8 rating in 256 games.
Jake Middleton, D, San Jose Sharks: Middleton has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) and averaged 18:18 of ice time in 29 games. The 26-year-old is fifth among NHL rookie defensemen with 54 hits and is sixth with 47 blocked shots. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (No. 210) of the 2014 draft, and signed with the Sharks as a free agent on Sept. 7, 2017. Middleton played most of the previous five seasons with San Jose of the American Hockey League while playing 14 games with the Sharks.