Celebrini, Gauthier and Hutson are among the top 12 rookies to watch in the NHL this season

Macklin Celebrini, the San Jose Sharks’ No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, leads a group of talented rookies hoping to make an impact as the 2024-25 season begins Friday.

The Sharks finished last in the NHL last season and were ranked No. 1 for the first time. General manager Mike Grier said he believes San Jose’s offseason moves, including the signings of forwards Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg, as well as the Freeing two-time Stanley Cup winner Barclay Goodrow from the New York Rangers could create a good environment and structure for Celebrini on and off the ice.

“He wants to be the guy; he wants to have the puck on his stick the whole game,” Toffoli said of Celebrini. “He doesn’t wait for it to come to him. I think he does a really good job of being in really good spots and just knowing when to finish plays, when to strike and when to get it – [defensive] Zone, [offensive] Zone – he moves his feet and has the puck.

Here are 12 rookies to keep an eye on (in alphabetical order):