3. New York Rangers
Total games played by rookies: 176 (seven players)
Players: Forwards Noah Laba, Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, Jaroslav Chmelar; defensemen Matthew Robertson, Scott Morrow, Vincent Iorio
The scoop: Laba (6-3, 214) has certainly been a bright spot for the Rangers with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists), 73 hits and 35 blocked shots as a third-line center. Perreault (No. 23, 2023 NHL Draft) has been given every opportunity in a top-six role of late, most recently with center Mika Zibanejad and left wing J.T. Miller. The 20-year-old has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 24 games. Robertson (6-4, 210), a second-round pick (No. 49) in the 2019 NHL Draft, has performed well in a second defense-pair role with Will Borgen. The 24-year-old has 11 points (four goals, seven assists), 70 hits, and leads Rangers rookies with 62 blocked shots and time on ice (17:15) in 47 games. Iorio, who has three assists in 22 games, was claimed off waivers from the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 31.