The NHL’s 2020-21 Dark-Horse Rookie of the Year Candidates
By Nick Herrera
Ville Heinola, Defenseman, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg was one of the five NHL teams to have a 2019 Draft pick debut last season. Ville Heinola was selected 20th overall in 2019 and played in eight games, scoring one goal and recording four assists in that short time. Currently, the 19-year-old is on loan overseas to Lukko in the Liiga. This is very much to continue his development and shouldn’t be seen as a negative.
The Jets are deep enough in skilled wingers that they are rumored to have Patrik Laine on the trade market. That is a trade chip that very well could be used to sure up their defense. With the departure of Jacob Trouba to the Rangers and the hole left by Dustin Byfuglien, it is arguably the Jets’ biggest need. The strange thing is that the trade has yet to happen.
The Jets are shallow enough on the blueline that their top-four is led by Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk. Production-wise, Pionk put up 45 points last year while Morrissey was more disappointing with only 31 points. After that, as far as defensive points go, Tucker Poolman tallied only 16 total points. If Heinola can put up a 40 point pace in a small sample size as an 18-year-old and be in a position to play top-four minutes, then he will help the Jets this upcoming season.
Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers
Evan Bouchard was the tenth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He made the Oilers roster and played in seven games in the 2018-2019 season. He did not play in the NHL at all last season but, with such a top-heavy roster lead by Connor McDavid, he could make this year’s Edmonton team and stay put.
Complicating the Bouchard question, though, is the salary cap situation in Edmonton. Currently, the Oilers are right at the salary cap and still have restricted free agent Ethan Bear unsigned. Bear would be the Oilers’ sixth rostered defenseman when most teams frequently carry seven with one being a healthy scratch.
Another smaller point of friction with Bouchard making the NHL roster is the Oilers 2019 first-round draft pick, defenseman Philip Broberg. Broberg was selected eighth overall and has yet to make his NHL debut. As it stands, Broberg is playing in Sweden’s pro-hockey league the SHL. Broberg has five points in 14 games with Skelleftea AIK.
The SHL has imposed some player movement restrictions for this season due to the worldwide uncertainty revolving around COVID. The SHL is one of the bigger and better leagues in Europe and is not under any requirement to work with the NHL. Unless things change, and they do often, Broberg is not yet blocking Bouchard’s path to the NHL roster.