In a month when Auston Matthews is in the top three in overall scoring, Patrik Laine is tied for the most goals and Travis Konecny, Zach Werenski and Mitch Marner are averaging close to a point per game, it is sometimes easy to forget that not every fresh-faced teen has seamlessly transitioned into the National Hockey League.
Forget scoring hat tricks or leading their teams in scoring. Outside Toronto, most rookies are struggling to pick up their first points. Some, such as Dylan Strome and Mathew Barzal, are not even playing.
Strome, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NHL draft, has no goals and one assist with the Arizona Coyotes.