Rookie Watch: Bedard, Cooley among World Junior stars thriving in NHL

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2023-24 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.

This week, 10 of the top NHL rookies who once starred for their country at the IIHF World Junior Championship (in alphabetical order):

Connor Bedard, F, Chicago Blackhawks: The No. 1 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft led the 2023 WJC with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in seven games for Canada while averaging 19:36 in ice time. He set the record for most goals and assists by a Canada player in a single World Juniors and it was the fourth-most by any player in a single tournament, behind Peter Forsberg (31 points, Sweden, 1993), Markus Naslund (24 points, Sweden, 1993) and Raimo Helminen (24 points, Finland, 1984). Bedard hasn't disappointed in the NHL, leading rookies in goals (13), points (30), even-strength points (23), takeaways (30) and shots on goal (105). He averages 19:31 of ice time in 33 games.

The 18-year-old scored a "Michigan"-style goal for the Blackhawks in a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday when he got the puck behind the St. Louis net, scooped it up and scored with a lacrosse-style shot over Blues goalie Jordan Binnington's left shoulder to tie the game 1-1 at 3:49 of the first period.

"He's a really talented player," Chicago forward Taylor Raddysh said. "It was surprising to see, but he's someone you kind of expect anything from at any time. Yeah, he's a guy that can do that stuff and it was a great goal for him."

Bobby Brink, F, Philadelphia Flyers: Brink had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 12 games for the United States at the 2020 and 2021 WJC. He had six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games to help the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2021 tournament. The second-round pick (No. 34) in the 2019 NHL Draft is tied for eighth among NHL rookies with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 28 games while averaging 14:50 in ice time.

Leo Carlsson, F, Anaheim Ducks: Carlsson had six points (three goals, three assists) for Sweden at the 2023 WJC. He's fourth among NHL rookies with eight goals and 12th with 15 points in 23 games. The 18-year-old center is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of a sprained MCL in his right knee sustained when Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar fell on him during the third period of a 3-0 Ducks loss. Carlsson ranks fourth among first-year players with an average of 0.65 points per game (minimum 10 games) and is tied for sixth with 14 takeaways, while averaging 18:03 in ice time.

Logan Cooley, F, Arizona Coyotes: Cooley, chosen No. 3 in the 2022 NHL Draft, led the U.S. with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) as it won the bronze medal at the 2023 WJC. He also had six points (two goals, four assists) in five games at the 2022 WJC. He's tied for third among NHL rookies with 14 assists and is tied for fifth with 17 points in 33 games. Cooley averages 16:23 in ice time and leads all first-year players with 10 power-play points (two goals).

Samuel Ersson, G, Philadelphia Flyers: The 24-year-old, a fifth-round pick (No. 143) in the 2018 NHL Draft, was 3-1-0 with a 2.23 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in four games for Sweden at the 2019 WJC. He's tied for first among NHL rookie goalies in wins (8-4-2) in 14 games (13 starts) and is first in shutouts (two). Ersson is also first in goals-against average (2.56) among rookie goalies (minimum 10 games).

Adam Fantilli, F, Columbus Blue Jackets: Fantilli had five points (two goals, three assists) and averaged 11:31 in ice time in seven games for first-place Canada at the 2023 WJC. The No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft is third among NHL rookies with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) and is second with 88 shots on goal in 35 games. He also is in the 75th percentile of all players with a 14.7 percent shooting percentage (5-for-34) in the mid-range or high slot area on the ice, according to NHL EDGE stats.

Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils: Hughes had five points (four goals, one assist) for the U.S. at the 2023 WJC. He's represented his country twice at the tournament, with six points (one goal, five assists) in five games at the 2022 WJC. The No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft leads NHL rookie defensemen with four goals and eight power-play points (three goals), and he's second with 16 points in 32 games. He's one of three rookie defensemen to average at least 20:00 minutes of ice time per game (20:00) and leads all first-year players at his position in takeaways (17).

Marco Rossi, F, Minnesota Wild: Rossi, selected No. 9 in the 2020 NHL Draft, did not have a point but led Austria with 10 shots on goal at the 2021 WJC, which was the country's return to the top division of the tournament for the first time in 11 years and fourth time overall (1981, 2004, 2010). The 22-year-old is second among NHL rookies in goals (11) and points (21) in 32 games, and averages 16:12 in ice time.

Dmitri Voronkov, F, Columbus Blue Jackets: Voronkov had seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games and was voted one of Russia's top three players as his team won the silver medal at the 2020 WJC. The 23-year-old, selected in the fourth round (No. 114) of the 2019 draft, is tied for fifth among NHL rookies with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and is fifth with an average of 0.59 points per game (minimum 10 games) while averaging 13:29 in ice time in 29 games. He's been centering the Blue Jackets' all-Russia-born second line, with left wing Yegor Chinakhov and right wing Kirill Marchenko.

Connor Zary, F, Calgary Flames: Zary had two assists in seven games for Canada at the 2021 WJC. The No. 24 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has been a surprise for the Flames this season and is tied for fifth among NHL rookies with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 24 games. He's averaging 15:33 in ice time, has a plus-7 rating, and is first among NHL rookies in shooting percentage at 25.0 percent (minimum 10 games). His average of 0.71 points per game is second among rookies after Bedard's 0.91 (minimum 10 games).