Gallagher named to NHL All-Rookie team
Saturday, 29.06.2013 / 12:00 PM / News
PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK (June 29, 2013) — The National Hockey League today announced the 2012-13 NHL All-Rookie Team, including the three players named as finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s top rookie: forwards Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers and Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Also named to the All-Rookie Team are goaltender Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues and defensemen Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild and Justin Schultz of the Edmonton Oilers.
Voting was conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season. Following is a summary of each NHL All-Rookie Team member’s outstanding season:
GOALTENDER
Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues
A second-round pick (34th overall) by the Blues in the 2008 NHL Draft, Allen led rookie goaltenders in wins (9), goals-against average (2.46) and save percentage (.905) while ranking second in appearances (15) and minutes (803:53). He won eight of his first nine decisions, including five straight March 7-16, and became the third netminder in League history to win his first NHL start in Detroit (Damian Rhodes, 1991; Rastislav Stana, 2004). Allen, 22, made a career-high 39 saves March 12 versus San Jose (the most by any St. Louis goaltender this season) and posted his first career shutout March 14 against Phoenix (28 saves).
DEFENSEMEN (in alphabetical order)
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Selected 10th overall by the Wild in the 2011 NHL Draft, Brodin compiled 2-9–11 and a +3 rating in 45 games to help Minnesota clinch its first postseason berth since 2007-08. He led all rookies in total time on ice (1,044:35) and average time on ice (23:12), becoming just the eighth first-year skater in League history to average more than 23:00 per game. Brodin, 19, also recorded 18 takeaways (first among freshmen blueliners) and 60 blocked shots (fourth among all rookies) as the youngest defenseman in the NHL this season.
Justin Schultz, Edmonton Oilers
After playing three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, Schultz signed with the Oilers as a free agent and led first-year defensemen in goals (8), assists (19) and points (27) in 48 games. The 22-year-old also paced all rookies with 11 power-play assists and 15 power-play points, five more than the next-closest player, and tied for first among freshmen skaters with three game-winning goals. Among rookies, Schultz ranked second in total time on ice (1,029:35), third in average time on ice (21:26) and first in average power-play time on ice (3:12).
Gallagher’s Play of the Year
FORWARDS (in alphabetical order)
Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens
A fifth-round pick (147th overall) by the Canadiens in the 2010 NHL Draft, Gallagher helped Montreal go from a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2011-12 to a Northeast Division title and the second seed in the conference in 2012-13. He played in 44 games, ranking second among rookies with 15 goals and fourth with 28 points. Gallagher, 21, also finished in the top five among freshmen skaters in shots on goal (second, 117), plus/minus (fifth, +10) and game-winning goals (t-first, 3).
Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers
Selected third overall by the Panthers in the 2011 NHL Draft, Huberdeau played in all 48 games for Florida and ranked second both on the team and among NHL rookies with 31 points (14-17–31). Among first-year players, he finished third in goals, fourth in assists and third in shots on goal (112). His 16:55 average time on ice also led rookie forwards, while his nine power-play points (2-7–9) placed fourth among all freshmen skaters. The 20-year-old Huberdeau set two franchise records, becoming the first Panther to score on two penalty shots in one season (Feb. 21 at Philadelphia and March 5 vs. Carolina) and recording the most points by a teenager in team history (four more than Radek Dvorak in 1995-96).
Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks
A second-round pick (43rd overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Draft, Saad led all rookies with a +17 rating, including a +12 rating on the road, to help Chicago earn its second Presidents’ Trophy in team history. He ranked fifth among rookies in each of the three major scoring categories — goals (10), assists (17) and points (27). Saad, 20, also placed third among freshmen forwards in average time on ice (16:27) and fourth among all first-year skaters in shots on goal (98) in 46 games.