Counting stats
NHL Rookie Shots on Goal per Game Leaders
2026-27All situationsThrough 11 team games
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (DET) and 
Cole Hutson (WSH) lead NHL rookies with a SOG/GP of 2.44 in 2026-27, ahead of 
T.J. Hughes (COL) (2.10).
Leaders: Shots on Goal per Game: rookies, 2026-27
- 1stMichael Brandsegg-NygårdDET · 9 GP2.44
- 2ndCole HutsonWSH · 9 GP2.44
- 3rdT.J. HughesCOL · 10 GP2.10
4thTrevor ConnellyVGK · 11 GP1.91
5thGavin McKennaTOR · 11 GP1.82
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Shots on Goal per Game: rookies measures
This board ranks NHL rookies (the NHL's own rookie list) by shots on goal per game played, all situations, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Shots on Goal per game played, all situations, this season.
Rookie totals reward games and ice time as much as skill; per-60 rates are the fairer comparison between a top-six rookie and a call-up. A row needs at least 4.4 games to qualify, a bar that rises as the season goes on, so early leaders with a handful of games do not crowd the top.
The rookie race is the Calder Trophy race in numbers. Per game puts players who missed games on equal footing with those who played them all. Shots on goal count every shot that the goalie saved or that went in. Volume shooters with power-play time lead the league; shots are the most repeatable scoring stat a skater has. In 2026-27, 37 rookies qualify for this board; the median is 1.33 and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård leads at 2.44.
Shots on Goal per Game: rookies leaderboard
- Rookies as the NHL defines them (its own rookie list for the season).
| # | Player | Team | SOG/GP | GP | SOG | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Brandsegg-NygårdFDET | DET | 2.44 | 9 | 22 | 99 | 44%▲19 |
| 2 | Cole HutsonDWSH | WSH | 2.44 | 9 | 22 | 99 | 87% |
| 3 | T.J. HughesFCOL | COL | 2.10 | 10 | 21 | 94 | 24%▲0.9 |
| 4 | Trevor ConnellyFVGK | VGK | 1.91 | 11 | 21 | 92 | 44%▲3.4 |
| 5 | Gavin McKennaFTOR | TOR | 1.82 | 11 | 20 | 89 | 92%▼0.5 |
| 6 |  Anton FrondellFCHI | CHI | 1.78 | 9 | 16 | 86 | 67%▼1.2 |
| 7 |  Amadeus LombardiFNJD | NJD | 1.75 | 8 | 14 | 83 | 5.6%▲0.8 |
| 8 |  James HagensFBOS | BOS | 1.70 | 10 | 17 | 81 | 52%▲1.5 |
| 9 |  Adam JiricekDSTL | STL | 1.67 | 9 | 15 | 76 | 26%▲1.6 |
| 10 |  Arttu HyryFDAL | DAL | 1.67 | 9 | 15 | 76 | 9.0%▲4.9 |
| 11 |  Ville OttavainenDSEA | SEA | 1.57 | 7 | 11 | 72 | 0.0% |
| 12 |  Ivar StenbergFSJS | SJS | 1.50 | 10 | 15 | 68 | 77%▲1.7 |
| 13 |  Luca CagnoniDSJS | SJS | 1.50 | 8 | 12 | 68 | 53%▼9.4 |
| 14 |  Tyson HindsDANA | ANA | 1.44 | 9 | 13 | 63 | 4.8% |
| 15 |  Carter YakemchukDOTT | OTT | 1.44 | 9 | 13 | 63 | 43%▼2.5 |
| 16 |  Aydar SunievFCGY | CGY | 1.40 | 5 | 7 | 58 | 11%▲5.7 |
| 17 |  Konsta HeleniusFBUF | BUF | 1.38 | 8 | 11 | 56 | 37%▼1.7 |
| 18 |  Roman KantserovFCHI | CHI | 1.33 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 51%▲2.8 |
| 19 |  Victor EklundFNYI | NYI | 1.33 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 35%▼1.7 |
| 20 |  David SpacekDMIN | MIN | 1.33 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 3.2%▲3.2 |
| 21 |  Sandis VilmanisFFLA | FLA | 1.22 | 9 | 11 | 44 | 6.4% |
| 22 |  Frederic BrunetDBOS | BOS | 1.14 | 7 | 8 | 42 | 9.7%▲3.2 |
| 23 |  Porter MartoneFPHI | PHI | 1.09 | 11 | 12 | 39 | 77%▼4.4 |
| 24 |  Adam EngstromDMTL | MTL | 1.00 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 6.4% |
| 25 |  Oliver BonkDPHI | PHI | 1.00 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 22%▲0.8 |
Minimum sample: 4.4 games (it scales with games played). 26 below the minimum are hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Shots on Goal per Game: rookies in 2026-27?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård leads with 2.44. The median of the 37 qualified rookies is 1.33.
Which defenseman leads in Shots on Goal per Game: rookies in 2026-27?
Cole Hutson leads NHL defensemen with 2.44; the top forward is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård at 2.44.
How is Shots on Goal per Game: rookies calculated?
Shots on Goal per game played, all situations, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Shots on Goal per Game: rookies?
Rookie totals reward games and ice time as much as skill; per-60 rates are the fairer comparison between a top-six rookie and a call-up.
Why are some players missing from the board?
Rows below the minimum sample (4.4 games) are hidden; 26 are below it right now. The minimum grows with the number of games teams have played.