Beniers of Kraken, Power of Sabres among 12 rookies to watch this season

The Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Seattle Kraken each could have as many as two rookies in the lineup, leading a talented group of first-year players hoping to make an impact when the 2022-23 season begins Oct. 7.
Here are 12 rookies to keep an eye on (listed alphabetically):

Matty Beniers, F, Seattle Kraken
No. 2 in 2021 NHL Draft
The first player drafted by the Kraken, the 19-year-old had 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games as a sophomore at the University of Michigan before playing for the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in December and the 2022 Beijing Olympics in February. He made his NHL debut April 12 and had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 10 games. Beniers (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) brings a strong two-way, high-compete game. He can complement players and drive a line while pushing the pace.
William Eklund, F, San Jose Sharks
No. 7 in 2021 NHL Draft
Eklund, who turns 20 on Oct. 12, started last season with the Sharks and had four assists in nine games. He then returned to Sweden and had 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 29 games for Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League. San Jose needs offense and Eklund (5-11, 181) could be a player capable of providing it.
Alexander Holtz, F, New Jersey Devils
No. 7 in 2020 NHL Draft
Holtz is a pure goal-scorer capable of playing a tough, intelligent game. The 20-year-old right wing (6-0, 195) is an effective playmaker and strong candidate to play a top-six role while earning big minutes on the power play. He had 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists) in 52 games for Utica of the American Hockey League last season, and two assists in nine games with New Jersey.

Kent Johnson, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
No. 5 in 2021 NHL Draft
The 19-year-old can play wing or center. He had five points (one goal, four assissts) in five games for Canada in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 10 games at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, and had nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games to help Canada win the 2022 World Juniors in August. In his short stint with the Blue Jackets after completing his sophomore season at Michigan, Johnson (6-1, 167 pounds) exhibited great playmaking and an ability to generate offensive chances.
Mason McTavish, F, Anaheim Ducks
No. 3 in 2021 NHL Draft
The 19-year-old (6-0, 213) was named most valuable player of the 2022 World Juniors in August after leading the tournament with eight goals and 17 points in seven games to help Canada win gold. McTavish, who could be a complementary piece on the power play with Trevor Zegras, represented his country at the 2022 Olympics and had 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 24 regular-season games and 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 19 playoff games for Ontario Hockey League champion Hamilton.

Jack Quinn, F, Buffalo Sabres
No. 8 in 2020 NHL Draft
Quinn (6-0, 185) made his NHL debut last season and looks primed to start this season with the Sabres. The 21-year-old won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as American Hockey League rookie of the year playing for Rochester and earned a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team despite missing games because of a lower-body injury and mononucleosis. "He doesn't shy away from the hard work necessary to become a great player," Rochester coach Seth Appert said.
Owen Power, D, Buffalo Sabres
No. 1 in 2021 NHL Draft
Power (6-6, 213) averaged almost 1.00 points per game as a sophomore at the University of Michigan with 32 points (three goals, 29 assists) in 33 games last season. The 19-year-old got a taste of the NHL by joining the Sabres near the end of the season and showed the composure of someone far beyond his years. The prospect of a defense anchored by Power and Rasmus Dahlin, a 22-year-old chosen with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, should have Buffalo fans excited.
Shane Pinto, F, Ottawa Senators
No. 32 in 2019 NHL Draft
An outstanding two-way player, the playmaking center's health is the only potential roadblock for getting plenty of ice time with the Senators. The 21-year-old (6-2, 192) missed the majority of the 2021-22 season after having shoulder surgery in November and was limited to five games with Ottawa (one assist). He was a finalist for the 2021 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division I with 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games for North Dakota. Senators coach D.J. Smith said Pinto is a player under the radar capable of making a huge impact.
Marco Rossi, F, Minnesota Wild
No. 9 in 2020 NHL Draft
Rossi (5-9, 182), who turned 21 on Sept. 23, played the majority of his first season in North America for Iowa (AHL) and had 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 63 games. Considered the top prospect in Minnesota's pipeline, he played two games for the Wild last season and did not have a point. He missed most of 2019-20 because of COVID-19 and then being diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, after reporting to Wild training camp in early January. He participated in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase in September.
Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators
No. 5 in 2020 NHL Draft
The 20-year-old left-shot defenseman is healed from a nagging hand injury that prevented him from making his NHL debut last season. Sanderson (6-2, 185) was unable to participate in on-ice sessions when the Senators held their development camp from July 11-14 but has been a full participant during training camp. He had surgery on his hand twice in 2022. He was limited to 23 games for North Dakota last season but was one of two players on his team to average more than 1.00 points per game, with 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 23 games.
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, Montreal Canadiens
No. 1 in 2022 NHL Draft
Slafkovsky (6-3, 238) is expected to play a top-six role for the rebuilding Canadiens. He had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 31 games for TPS in Liiga, Finland's top professional men's league. The 18-year-old was voted most valuable player of the 2022 Olympics after scoring seven goals in seven games for Slovakia, which won the bronze medal for its first Olympic men's hockey medal. He had nine points (three goals, six assists) for Slovakia at the 2022 World Championship in May.
Shane Wright, F, Seattle Kraken
No. 4 in 2022 NHL Draft
Wright (6-0, 185) would like to prove his critics wrong after he had 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 games for Kingston (OHL) last season. The right-handed shot was projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft but instead fell to Seattle. The Kraken see many similarities between Wright and general manager Ron Francis, a Hockey Hall of Fame center and the No. 4 pick of the 1981 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers.