Rookie Watch: Kochetkov, Thompson among top 1st-year goalies

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2022-23 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, the top five rookie goaltenders (in alphabetical order):

Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes:A second-round pick (No. 36) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kochetkov has three shutouts, tying Alex Nedeljkovic (2020-21) for the second-most in a season by a rookie in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history, behind Peter Sidorkiewicz (four in 1988-89). The 23-year-old became Carolina's first goalie with back-to-back shutouts since 2003 when he defeated the New York Islanders 3-0 on Dec. 10, and the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 three days later. He is 9-1-4 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 14 games (13 starts). He signed a four-year, $8 million contract (average annual value $2 million) with the Hurricanes on Nov. 23.
"He's shown in the little time that he's been here that he can play," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "(It's) the whole makeup of the player, his personality, his willingness to work hard and obviously his ability. Goaltending, we know, is so important, so it's nice to have him in the mix."

Akira Schmid, New Jersey Devils:A fifth-round selection (No. 136) in the 2018 NHL Draft, Schmid has provided consistent goaltending as the backup to Vitek Vanecek and in the absence of Mackenzie Blackwood, who has been out since Nov. 3 with an MCL sprain. Schmid is 5-3-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .932 save percentage in eight games (six starts). He matched the Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts record for the longest season-opening winning streak (five) set by Chris Terreri (5-0-0 in 1993-94). Born in Bern, Switzerland, Schmid was 0-4-0 with a 4.83 GAA and .833 save percentage in six games (four starts) last season. The 22-year-old is 0-3-0 with a 2.91 GAA and .904 save percentage in his past three games (two starts).
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Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames:The 25-year-old is 4-1-2 with a 2.55 GAA and .917 save percentage in his past seven games (all starts) as the backup to Jacob Markstrom. Vladar, acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins on July 28, 2021 for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is 5-4-2 with a 2.81 GAA and .905 save percentage in 11 games (10 starts).
"In my mind, I think Dan Vladar is a No. 1 goalie in the future," Flames director of goaltending Jordan Sigalet told The Athletic. "I think he's got the potential to be that. You never really know until you're given the reins and try and take it. But we definitely see him as No. 1 potential."