By Sal Barry [https://x.com/PuckJunk], Puck Culture and In The Cards writer Since 1982-83, the Professional Hockey Writers Association has selected an NHL all-rookie team, comprised of six of the best first-year players. Along the way, there have been some interesting selections – and a notable omission. 1. WE THREE KINGS LUC ROBITAILLE, JIMMY CARSON, STEVE DUCHESNE (1987) Two players from the same NHL club have been named to an all-rookie team several times. Brock Faber and Marco Rossi of Minnesota [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] were the most recent teammates to achieve this when both were named to the 2024 team. But only once have three players from the same team received this honor. It happened when left winger Luc Robitaille, center Jimmy Carson and defenseman Steve Duchesne of the Los Angeles Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] were named to the 1987 all-rookie team. Robitaille also won Calder Trophy honors as the league’s top rookie. Luc Robitaille (RVR Photos-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/632d5860-d83e-4137-8789-bfd96a4f4034.jpeg] Luc Robitaille (RVR Photos-Imagn Images) 2. ROCKET REJECTED PAVEL BURE (1992) Usually, the player who wins the Calder Trophy is also named to the all-rookie team. But Pavel Bure was an inadvertent snub. Although he got the most votes for the Calder Trophy in 1992, ‘The Russian Rocket’ was not selected for the all-rookie team. He had split the season between playing left wing and right wing, so Bure’s votes were also divided among the positions. Tony Amonte ended up with the most votes at right wing, while Gilbert Dionne won the most votes for left wing. For 1993, the rule was changed so that voters chose two wingers and a center. Two years after that, votes went to the best three rookie forwards regardless of position. 3. EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT ED BELFOUR (1991) Sometimes, the top rookie picks up another award in the same season. Tony Esposito won the Calder and Vezina Trophies in 1970. Tom Barrasso repeated this feat in 1984. However, only one time has a freshman won three awards. Ed Belfour accomplished it for his stellar rookie season in 1990-91, when he led NHL goalies in games played, wins, goals against average and save percentage. Belfour was awarded the Calder, Vezina, and Jennings Trophies. He was also named a first-team all-star. 4. OLD FLAME SERGEI MAKAROV (1990) Former Russian star Sergei Makarov led rookies in scoring during 1989-90, when he scored 86 points for the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames]. He also happened to be 31 years old. Makarov was 12 years older than Mike Modano – who finished second in rookie scoring – and had 13 years of prior pro experience in the Soviet League. Despite being over a decade older than his peers, Makarov was still considered a rookie by NHL standards. He won the Calder Trophy and was named to the all-rookie team in 1990, becoming the oldest NHLer to accomplish each feat. The following season, the NHL deemed that only players 25 and younger could be eligible for rookie honors. Jake Allen (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5db3ea92-93b7-4c43-a076-0baad8386f53.jpeg] Jake Allen (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) 5. TWO-TIME TEAMERS JAMIE STORR (1998 & 1999) AND JAKE ALLEN (2013 & 2015) Two players have been named to the all-rookie team twice – and both were goalies. Jamie Storr played 17 games with the Kings in 1997-98, posting a 2.22 GAA and two shutouts, which landed him on the 1998 all-rookie team. Since Storr played in fewer than 25 games that season, he was still considered a rookie the following year. In 28 games during 1998-99, Storr posted a 2.40 GAA and four shutouts to win all-rookie team honors for a second time. Fifteen years later, Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] accomplished the same feat – though in non-consecutive seasons. Allen played 15 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, earning nine wins and one shutout, resulting in his first all-rookie-team nod. Two seasons later, Allen posted a 22-7-4 record, including four shutouts, and he gained all-rookie-team honors again in 2015. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/683998/13?t=PUCK%20CULTURE] appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season. You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?variant=41284791828614] today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.
