Matty Beniers has been the favorite for the NHL's rookie-of-the-year honors since Day 1. But there is some movement in the rest of Tony Ferrari's list.

We’ve passed the three-quarter mark of the 2022-23 season, and the race for rookie of the year has had one player lead the way from start to finish – although it hasn’t always been a dominant lead. Matty Beniers has been the league's most consistent and impactful rookie from start to finish.

The goalies in the conversation haven’t quite been able to steady their play enough to get into the top three, but we have seen a new netminder take the top spot among those at the position. It’s been a slightly less impressive year from a statistical standpoint than in recent years for the rookie class, but the overall impact the rookies are having is even more impressive in some ways.

Let’s dive into the contenders for the NHL’s top rookie.

1. Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken

The wire-to-wire head of the class has done everything asked of him. He’s played a top-six role and showed consistency at both ends of the ice. Beniers has helped the Kraken to what should be the team’s first playoff berth in franchise history. The former Michigan Wolverine uses his speed in all facets of the game, pressuring the opposing puck carrier through the neutral zone and into the defensive zone while putting opposing defenders on their heels with the puck on his stick. His intelligence and pace have allowed him to make an immediate impact.

2. Owen Power, D, Buffalo Sabres

While his hockey card stats aren’t what you’d expect for a defender this high up the list, Power has been one of Buffalo’s best players and has helped put them in a position to challenge for a playoff spot this year. Power has played more than any Sabres defender since the start of 2023, averaging almost 24 minutes per game. His underlying metrics and chance generation statistics remain elite. If Power finds a way to get hot and gets a bit more puck luck, he still remains the best challenger to Beniers at the top of the list.

3. Mason McTavish, C/W, Anaheim Ducks

Tied with Beniers for the most primary points since Jan. 1, McTavish has taken a big step in the second half of the season for one of the league's worst teams. McTavish has established himself as a legitimate NHL goal scorer and has rounded out his game in a lot of ways. The young Canadian has a physical edge to his game and plays with power while being a dual-threat offensive player. He is second in rookie scoring with 37 points – 10 back of Beniers.

4. Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton Oilers

There’s no more denying it. Stuart Skinner is the best netminder that the Edmonton Oilers have. Whatever your feelings are about that when it comes to their playoff chances, it means that Skinner has solidified his spot as the top rookie netminder this year. His statistics are nearly identical to Logan Thompson's behind a much more porous defense group. It’s beginning to look like Skinner will be “the guy” down the stretch, which should allow him to overtake the injured Thompson in the win column, one of the only areas that Thompson has the clear edge statistically.

5. Matias Maccelli, LW, Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes don’t have many bright spots in such an odd season where the narrative has been dominated by questionable salary cap decisions, playing in a college rink, and a roster that has been built to get them into the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. One of the brightest spots for the Yotes has been Maccelli.

The Finnish winger sits third in rookie scoring and second in points per game among rookies who have played at least 15 games, despite missing a chunk of time with injury. He doesn’t have much help around him but he’s found a way to become one of the team’s best playmakers. Maccelli is also one of the few Coyotes who isn’t a negative goal-differential player. 

6. Cole Perfetti, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Cole Perfetti’s spot on this list begins what could be deemed the “best of the rest.” The next five are probably just outside of the group that could reasonably challenge Beniers for the top spot considering how much time is left in the season. Perfetti is the top player in that group.

Perfetti has been injured of late, but he was a fixture in the Jets' top six, helping their resurgence to contender status. His playmaking and intelligence have been an asset for Winnipeg. As he physically matures over the next couple of years, Perfetti could be one of the best NHLers from this year’s rookie class.

7. Logan Thompson, G, Vegas Golden Knights

An injury has held him out of the lineup for all but one game since the end of January, which has caused his rookie-of-the-year stock to fall. He was beginning to show cracks before the injury, but inactivity will make it quite hard for the Vegas goaltender to climb back into the top of the rookie class. Thompson was a darling of the rookie class early in the year, but this injury may tank his chances at the Calder.

8. Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

A steadying presence on the Ottawa blueline, Sanderson will likely be less relied upon with Jakob Chychrun in the fold now. This should be good for Sanderson’s long-term development but likely pushes him down the Calder board. Sanderson has looked every bit of an NHL top-four blueliner thanks to his intelligent defensive play and high-end mobility. Sanderson was the Sens’ best defender for long stretches of the season and should be a key cog in their playoff chase toward the end of the year.

9. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The title of most underrated rookie this year may belong to Johnston. His presence in the Dallas lineup has given them a ton of flexibility and depth in their lineup. He has played center almost exclusively this season, recently moonlighting as the second-line pivot because of injuries in the lineup. Johnston is fourth in rookie goal-scoring while driving excellent on-ice results. The 19-year-old should get a wealth of playoff experience as the Stars look to go on a deep Cup run.

10. Kent Johnson, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets

It has been a trying season in Columbus as the team sits at the bottom of the NHL standings, but the youth has been a bright spot at times. Johnson has flashed brilliance at times, showing off the video game-esque skill and the playmaking prowess that made him one of the most intriguing players in the 2021 NHL draft. His offensive production has been a bit inconsistent, but he hasn’t been able to find steady production – a fault shared by everyone on the Columbus roster.

Honorable Mentions: D Nick Perbix (TB), C Juuso Parssinen (NSH), D Calen Addison (MIN), LW/C Noah Cates (PHI), C Shane Pinto (OTT), RW Jack Quinn (BUF), LW J.J. Peterka (BUF), LW Jonatan Berggren (DET), D Kaiden Guhle (MTL), D Jordan Harris (MTL), RW Kirill Marchenko (CBJ)