The National Hockey League announced its All-Rookie Team on Friday, headlined by star New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer and a pair of Montreal Canadiens players.
The six-player All-Rookie Team included Jakub Dobes of the Canadiens at goaltender, the Islanders’ Schaefer and Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin as the two defencemen, and the Canadiens’ Iva Demidov, the Anaheim Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke and the St. Louis Blues’ Jimmy Snuggerud the three forwards.
Demidov was a unanimous choice for the team after putting up 19 goals and 62 points to help guide the Canadiens to a spot in the playoffs. He joined Nick Suzuki (2019-20), Brendan Gallagher (2012-13) and Michael Ryder (2003-04) as the only Canadiens forwards to be named to the team in the 21st century.
It marks the third time multiple Canadiens players have been named to the same All-Rookie Team, joining Chris Chelios and Steve Penney (1984-85) and Kjell Dahlin and Patrick Roy (1985-86).
Dobes led all rookies with 29 wins this season, compiling a 29-10-4 record over 43 starts with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
Schaefer took home the Calder Trophy for the league’s top rookie after scoring 23 goals and finishing with 59 points in 82 games with the Islanders. Nikishin helped push the Hurricanes to the top spot in the Eastern Conference by contributing 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games.
Snuggerud finished his season with 21 goals and 51 points in 70 games, and Sennecke totaled 23 goals and 60 points in 82 games with the Ducks.
Those honours for Demidov and Dobes continue a decorated award season for the Canadiens in June, as Suzuki took home the Frank Selke Trophy last week and Cole Caufield won the Lady Byng Trophy.
