Counting stats
NHL Rookie Goals Leaders
2026-27All situationsThrough 11 team games
Trevor Connelly (VGK) leads NHL rookies with 4 goals in 2026-27, ahead of 
Gavin McKenna (TOR) (3).
Leaders: Goals: rookies, 2026-27
- 1stTrevor ConnellyVGK · 11 GP4Share
- 2ndGavin McKennaTOR · 11 GP3Share
3rdJames HagensBOS · 10 GP3Share
4thRoman KantserovCHI · 9 GP3Share
5thArttu HyryDAL · 9 GP3Share
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Goals: rookies measures
This board ranks NHL rookies (the NHL's own rookie list) by total goals, all situations, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Total goals, 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.
The rookie race is the Calder Trophy race in numbers. Goals scored this season, every situation including the power play and empty nets. The goal race swings more than the points race, because shooting percentage runs hot and cold. In 2026-27, 24 rookies qualify for this board; the median is 2 and Trevor Connelly leads at 4.
Goals: rookies leaderboard
- Rookies as the NHL defines them (its own rookie list for the season).
| # | Player | Team | G | GP | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trevor ConnellyFVGK | VGK | 4 | 11 | 100 | 44%▲3.4 |
| 2 | Gavin McKennaFTOR | TOR | 3 | 11 | 89 | 92%▼0.5 |
| 3 | James HagensFBOS | BOS | 3 | 10 | 89 | 52%▲1.5 |
| 4 | Roman KantserovFCHI | CHI | 3 | 9 | 89 | 51%▲2.8 |
| 5 | Arttu HyryFDAL | DAL | 3 | 9 | 89 | 9.0%▲4.9 |
| 6 |  Porter MartoneFPHI | PHI | 2 | 11 | 63 | 77%▼4.4 |
| 7 |  Ivar StenbergFSJS | SJS | 2 | 10 | 63 | 77%▲1.7 |
| 8 |  T.J. HughesFCOL | COL | 2 | 10 | 63 | 24%▲0.9 |
| 9 |  Michael Brandsegg-NygårdFDET | DET | 2 | 9 | 63 | 44%▲19 |
| 10 |  Cole HutsonDWSH | WSH | 2 | 9 | 63 | 87% |
| 11 |  Victor EklundFNYI | NYI | 2 | 9 | 63 | 35%▼1.7 |
| 12 |  Owen MichaelsFEDM | EDM | 2 | 9 | 63 | 8.1% |
| 13 |  Aydar SunievFCGY | CGY | 2 | 5 | 63 | 11%▲5.7 |
| 14 |  Anton JohanssonDDET | DET | 1 | 9 | 22 | 6.4%▲1.6 |
| 15 |  Carter YakemchukDOTT | OTT | 1 | 9 | 22 | 43%▼2.5 |
| 16 |  Adam JiricekDSTL | STL | 1 | 9 | 22 | 26%▲1.6 |
| 17 |  Ilya ProtasFWSH | WSH | 1 | 9 | 22 | 40% |
| 18 |  Anton FrondellFCHI | CHI | 1 | 9 | 22 | 67%▼1.2 |
| 19 |  Judd CaulfieldFANA | ANA | 1 | 8 | 22 | 4.8%▲4.8 |
| 20 |  Luca CagnoniDSJS | SJS | 1 | 8 | 22 | 53%▼9.4 |
| 21 |  Konsta HeleniusFBUF | BUF | 1 | 8 | 22 | 37%▼1.7 |
| 22 |  Ville OttavainenDSEA | SEA | 1 | 7 | 22 | 0.0% |
| 23 |  Frederic BrunetDBOS | BOS | 1 | 7 | 22 | 9.7%▲3.2 |
| 24 |  William WallinderDDET | DET | 1 | 4 | 22 | 8.9%▲0.8 |
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Goals: rookies in 2026-27?
Trevor Connelly leads with 4. The median of the 24 qualified rookies is 2.
Which defenseman leads in Goals: rookies in 2026-27?
Cole Hutson leads NHL defensemen with 2; the top forward is Trevor Connelly at 4.
How is Goals: rookies calculated?
Total goals, all situations, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Goals: 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.