Counting stats
NHL Rookie Shots on Goal Leaders
2026-27All situationsThrough 11 team games
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (DET) and 
Cole Hutson (WSH) lead NHL rookies with 22 shots on goal in 2026-27, ahead of 
Trevor Connelly (VGK) (21).
Leaders: Shots on Goal: rookies, 2026-27
- 1stMichael Brandsegg-NygårdDET · 9 GP22Share
- 2ndCole HutsonWSH · 9 GP22Share
- 3rdTrevor ConnellyVGK · 11 GP21Share
4thT.J. HughesCOL · 10 GP21Share
5thGavin McKennaTOR · 11 GP20Share
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Shots on Goal: rookies measures
This board ranks NHL rookies (the NHL's own rookie list) by total shots on goal, all situations, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Total shots on goal, 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. 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, 55 rookies qualify for this board; the median is 7 and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård leads at 22.
Shots on Goal: rookies leaderboard
- Rookies as the NHL defines them (its own rookie list for the season).
| # | Player | Team | SOG | GP | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Brandsegg-NygårdFDET | DET | 22 | 9 | 99 | 44%▲19 |
| 2 | Cole HutsonDWSH | WSH | 22 | 9 | 99 | 87% |
| 3 | Trevor ConnellyFVGK | VGK | 21 | 11 | 95 | 44%▲3.4 |
| 4 | T.J. HughesFCOL | COL | 21 | 10 | 95 | 24%▲0.9 |
| 5 | Gavin McKennaFTOR | TOR | 20 | 11 | 93 | 92%▼0.5 |
| 6 |  James HagensFBOS | BOS | 17 | 10 | 91 | 52%▲1.5 |
| 7 |  Anton FrondellFCHI | CHI | 16 | 9 | 89 | 67%▼1.2 |
| 8 |  Ivar StenbergFSJS | SJS | 15 | 10 | 85 | 77%▲1.7 |
| 9 |  Adam JiricekDSTL | STL | 15 | 9 | 85 | 26%▲1.6 |
| 10 |  Arttu HyryFDAL | DAL | 15 | 9 | 85 | 9.0%▲4.9 |
| 11 |  Amadeus LombardiFNJD | NJD | 14 | 8 | 81 | 5.6%▲0.8 |
| 12 |  Tyson HindsDANA | ANA | 13 | 9 | 79 | 4.8% |
| 13 |  Carter YakemchukDOTT | OTT | 13 | 9 | 79 | 43%▼2.5 |
| 14 |  Porter MartoneFPHI | PHI | 12 | 11 | 73 | 77%▼4.4 |
| 15 |  Roman KantserovFCHI | CHI | 12 | 9 | 73 | 51%▲2.8 |
| 16 |  Victor EklundFNYI | NYI | 12 | 9 | 73 | 35%▼1.7 |
| 17 |  Luca CagnoniDSJS | SJS | 12 | 8 | 73 | 53%▼9.4 |
| 18 |  Sandis VilmanisFFLA | FLA | 11 | 9 | 67 | 6.4% |
| 19 |  Konsta HeleniusFBUF | BUF | 11 | 8 | 67 | 37%▼1.7 |
| 20 |  Ville OttavainenDSEA | SEA | 11 | 7 | 67 | 0.0% |
| 21 |  Ilya ProtasFWSH | WSH | 8 | 9 | 58 | 40% |
| 22 |  Viggo BjörckFWPG | WPG | 8 | 9 | 58 | 39%▼1.7 |
| 23 |  Owen MichaelsFEDM | EDM | 8 | 9 | 58 | 8.1% |
| 24 |  Frederic BrunetDBOS | BOS | 8 | 7 | 58 | 9.7%▲3.2 |
| 25 |  David SpacekDMIN | MIN | 8 | 6 | 58 | 3.2%▲3.2 |
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Shots on Goal: rookies in 2026-27?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård leads with 22. The median of the 55 qualified rookies is 7.
Which defenseman leads in Shots on Goal: rookies in 2026-27?
Cole Hutson leads NHL defensemen with 22; the top forward is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård at 22.
How is Shots on Goal: rookies calculated?
Total shots on goal, all situations, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Shots on Goal: 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.