FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

NHL ANNOUNCES 2019-20 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

EDMONTON (Sept. 21, 2020) – The announced today the 2019-20 NHL All-Rookie Team, including the three players voted as finalists for the as the League’s top rookie: defensemen of the Canucks and of the as well as forward Dominik Kubalik of the .

Also named to the 2019-20 NHL All-Rookie Team are Elvis Merzlikins of the and forwards of the and Nick Suzuki of the Canadiens.

Voting was conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association after the conclusion of the regular season. Following is a summary of each NHL All-Rookie Team member’s outstanding campaign:

GOALTENDER

Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets

Merzlikins, a third-round pick (76th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, led rookies and ranked among the top five in the entire NHL in (t-2nd; 5), goals-against average (5th; 2.35) and save percentage (5th; .923) in 33 contests. He went 13-9-8 overall, highlighted by an eight-game winning streak from Jan. 11 – Feb. 7 during which he recorded all five of his shutouts (1.00 GAA, .967 SV%). In doing so, Merzlikins became the sixth NHL goaltender (rookie or veteran) to earn five shutouts in a span of eight or fewer appearances since 1929-30 (when forward passing was permitted inside all three zones) – a feat last achieved by Brian Boucher, who blanked five straight opponents from Dec. 31, 2003 – Jan. 9, 2004 (w/ PHX). The 26-year-old Riga, Latvia, native is Columbus’ first All-Rookie Team representative since teammate Zach Werenski in 2016-17 and the second Blue Jackets goaltender to make the list, following Steve Mason in 2008-09.

DEFENSEMEN (in alphabetical order)

Quinn Hughes,

Hughes, the seventh overall choice in the 2018 NHL Draft, posted 8-45—53 in 68 games to become the third defenseman in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to top all rookies in scoring (outright or tied), joining (1966-67 w/ BOS) and (1988-89 w/ NYR). His 53 points were the most by any rookie blueliner since 1991-92, when Nicklas Lidstrom compiled 11-49—60 in 80 appearances (w/ DET), and three shy of Dale Tallon’s single-season franchise record for a rookie defenseman, set in 10 more games in 1970-71 (14-42—56 in 78 GP). Hughes also led all 2019-20 rookies in assists (45), power-play assists (22) and power-play points (25), while ranking among the top five in average time on ice (2nd; 21:53), total time on ice (2nd; 1,488:09) and shots on (5th; 126). The 20-year-old Orlando, Fla., native is Vancouver’s third All-Rookie Team selection in as many seasons, following teammates in 2017-18 and in 2018-19, and the first Canucks defenseman to receive the honor since Mattias Ohlund in 1997-98.

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Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Makar, the fourth overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, made waves in his first full NHL season, topping rookies with 0.88 points per game (12-38—50 in 57 GP). Only three other rookie blueliners in NHL history have averaged as many points per game in a single season (minimum: 50 GP): Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 w/ NYR), Larry Murphy (0.95 in 1980-81 w/ LAK) and Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84 w/ CGY). The 21-year-old native also finished among the 2019-20 rookie leaders in game-winning goals (t-1st; 4), assists (2nd; 38), points (2nd; 50), power-play assists (2nd; 15), power-play points (2nd; 19), average time on ice (3rd; 21:01), goals (6th; 12), power-play goals (t-6th; 4), plus/minus (7th; +12), shots on goal (8th; 121) and shooting percentage (8th; 9.9%). Makar – a unanimous selection – is Colorado’s first All-Rookie Team representative since teammate Nathan MacKinnon in 2013-14 and the third Avalanche/Nordiques defenseman to make the list, following Bruce Bell in 1984-85 and John- Michael Liles in 2003-04.

FORWARDS (in alphabetical order)

Dominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks

Kubalik, a seventh-round pick (191st overall) by the in the 2013 NHL Draft, led all rookies with 30 goals in 68 games (30-16—46), making him the fifth rookie in Blackhawks history to reach the 30-goal milestone after Steve Larmer (43 in 1982-83), Darryl Sutter (40 in 1980-81), Eric Daze (30 in 1995‑96) and (30 in 2015-16). The 25-year-old Plzen, Czech Republic, native became the first Czech-born player in NHL history to pace rookies in goals as well as the third to reach the 30‑goal plateau, joining Petr Klima (32 in 1985-86) and Petr Prucha (30 in 2005-06). Kubalik, who topped all 2019-20 rookies and ranked seventh in the entire NHL with a 19.1 shooting percentage, also placed among the top 10 freshmen in shots on goal (1st; 157), points (3rd; 46), power-play goals (t-6th; 4), game-winning goals (t‑6th; 3), assists (t-9th; 16) and power-play points (t-10th; 8). He is Chicago’s fourth All-Rookie Team honoree in the past decade, joining Corey Crawford (2010-11), Brandon Saad (2012-13) and Panarin (2015-16).

Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres

Olofsson, who entered the season with two goals in six games (both on the man-advantage), became the first player in NHL history to score each of his first eight career goals via the power play (March 28 – Oct. 16, 2019: 8-4—12 in 13 GP). He ultimately topped rookies and shared 11th place in the entire NHL with 11 power-play goals in 2019-20 (54 GP) – the most by a Sabres rookie since 2005-06 (Thomas Vanek: 11 in 81 GP). Olofsson, a seventh-round selection (181st overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, also placed among the top five rookies in game-winning goals (t-1st; 4), goals (t-2nd; 20), power- play points (3rd; 17), shooting percentage (3rd; 15.7%), points (4th; 42), shots on goal (4th; 127) and assists (5th; 22). The 25-year-old Ornskoldsvik, , native – who scored his first even-strength goal during the 2019 NHL Global Series in Stockholm (Nov. 9 at TBL) – is Buffalo’s second All-Rookie Team selection in as many seasons, following Rasmus Dahlin in 2018-19, and the first Sabres forward to make the list since Jack Eichel in 2015-16.

Nick Suzuki,

Suzuki, the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (by the ), led rookie forwards in total time on ice (1,135:16) and even-strength time on ice (960:02) in 71 appearances. He finished sixth among all rookies with 41 points – the most by a Canadiens freshman since 2003-04, when collected 63 in 81 contests. Suzuki also ranked among the top five rookies in shots on goal (2nd; 138), power-play goals (3rd; 6), assists (4th; 28), power-play points (4th; 14), goals (5th; 13) and power-play assists (5th; 8). The 21-year-old London, Ont., native is Montreal’s first All-Rookie Team honoree since teammate in 2012-13 and the seventh Canadiens forward to make the list since it was introduced in 1982-83. The others: Mats Naslund (1982-83), Kjell Dahlin (1985-86), Gilbert Dionne (1991-92), Oleg Petrov (1993-94), Ryder (2003-04) and Gallagher (2012-13).

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2019-20 NHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

GP W L OT GAA SV% SO G Elvis Merzlikins, CBJ 33 13 9 8 2.35 .923 5

GP G A P +/- TOI/G D Quinn Hughes, VAN 68 8 45 53 -10 21:53 D Cale Makar, COL 57 12 38 50 +12 21:01 F Dominik Kubalik, CHI 68 30 16 46 +2 14:22 F Victor Olofsson, BUF 54 20 22 42 -1 18:23 F Nick Suzuki, MTL 71 13 28 41 -15 15:59

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2019-20 NHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM VOTING (1 per vote)

Goaltenders Points 1. ELVIS MERZLIKINS, CBJ 92 2. Mackenzie Blackwood, NJD 75 3. Ilya Samsonov, WSH 3

Defensemen Points 1. CALE MAKAR, COL 170 2. QUINN HUGHES, VAN 167 3. , NYR 3

Forwards Points 1. DOMINIK KUBALIK, CHI 169 2. VICTOR OLOFSSON, BUF 163 3. NICK SUZUKI, MTL 134 4. Denis Gurianov, DAL 29 5. Martin Necas, CAR 15

### (9/21/20)