Celebrini and Smith of the Sharks and Slafkovsky of the Canadiens headline the NHL's next generation of stars – Winnipeg Free Press

Juraj Slafkovsky was an NHL draft pick, just like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard. But in Montreal, he was not quite as in the spotlight and the excitement was not as great.

“I like it like this,” said Slafkovsky.

Regardless of the attention, or lack thereof, Slafkovsky is at the forefront of the next generation of hockey stars, along with the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith from San Jose, JJ Peterka from Buffalo and Luke Hughes from New Jersey.

“It's really cool to be a part of it and I hope to be a part of it,” Slafkovsky said two years after the Canadiens drafted him No. 1 in 2022. “Hopefully we can accomplish some things as a younger generation.”

Slafkovsky, Peterka, Hughes and Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings have been around for a bit and now it's time to show they can be among the league's best. Rookies like Celebrini, Smith, Philadelphia's Matvei Michkov and even teammate Lane Hutson are favorites in the race for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

Macklin Celebrini

The youngest No. 1 pick may not have the “generational talent” label like Crosby, McDavid or Bedard, but he still won the Hobey Baker Award as the country’s best college player last season at Boston University with 64 points in 38 games.

Sharks forward William Eklund wasn't particularly familiar with Celebrini's game until the draft, so he made sure to watch his highlights.

“I've watched him a little bit and he's obviously a great player,” Eklund said. “He's a high-level player and it's going to be fun to watch.”

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 4-1

Will Smith

Smith and Celebrini, rivals at Boston-area schools, are now taking center stage as the faces of San Jose's rebuilding effort.

“It's going to be a great relationship,” said Smith, who was selected with the fourth overall pick in 2023 and decided to turn pro after being a star at Boston College last season. “Really cool. We were talking earlier about how crazy it is that we're on the same team now.”

Smith, a year older than Celebrini, has scored 71 points this season, helped the U.S. win gold at the World Junior Championships and has competed at the World Championships.

“He's a kid with a really bright future and a lot of talent,” said Washington goalkeeper Charlie Lindgren, who was on his team at the World Cup. “He's also a really good kid, and I think he's going to play for San Jose this year and I think he's going to do pretty well.”

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 5-1

Juraj Slafkovsky

The MVP of the 2022 Beijing Olympics without an NHL player struggled in his rookie year. Last season, he quintupled his production with 20 goals, 30 assists and 50 points and said: “I'm ready to start where I left off.”

Slafkovsky signed an eight-year contract extension worth over $60 million this spring. Now it's up to the big Slovakian striker to earn the money.

“I just want to show them that they made the right decision,” Slafkovsky said. “I think the only way I can do that is to be present every day, play hard and be there.”

JJ Peterka

Peterka, a 2020 second-round pick of the Sabres, is a bit older at 22 but could be a front-line option this season after establishing himself as a full-time NHL player and scoring 28 goals. The German-born forward is in a contract year and hopes to land a guaranteed deal like Slafkovsky and others.

Peterka believes the key is not to put too much pressure on himself, especially as he tries to help Buffalo end the league's longest playoff drought.

“I want to get into more situations where I don't feel too uncomfortable,” Peterka said. “I want to be more responsible and more consistent. For me, it's just about taking the next step to grow as a player, as a more complete player.”

Quinton Byfield

The 6'5″, 220-pound power forward is slated to play center on a five-year, $31.25 million contract. He spent the summer working on his shot to make him more dangerous from further away and prefers the center position on both offense and defense.

“I like to play good defense and shut down their top lines. So if I can be in my own half and outplay the guys down there, that's where I want to be,” Byfield said. “Plus, I don't want to just stand against the wall and skate up the ice. I want to use my speed and kind of claim the middle of the ice.”

Luke Hughes

A left shoulder injury sustained during summer training could cause the Devils defenseman to miss the start of the season, but that absence shouldn't stop Hughes from building on his 47-point rookie year that earned him third place in the Calder Trophy voting.

“He's going to take another step,” said his older brother and New Jersey teammate Jack Hughes. “Luke is going to be even more mature this year. He's going to know the league a little bit better and he's going to know the players and he's going to know what he can afford and where he can capitalize on certain things. I think he's going to have a better year offensively, obviously, and just keep getting better.”

Matvei Michkov

The 19-year-old Russian winger is the new face of the Flyers and carries the burden of the nearly five-decade Stanley Cup drought on his shoulders. Michkov was the seventh pick in 2023 as some teams feared he might not leave the KHL or was underestimated given the war in Ukraine.

The first returns are positive.

“Everyone is really excited to have him and when you see him on the ice it's really special and gives our team a positive boost,” said forward Owen Tippett. “Super talented. We're all really excited to have him on our side and we're excited to see what he can do.”

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 7-2

Lane Hutson

A pinpoint pass from Hutson during an early practice game that landed right on the blade of teammate Emil Heineman's stick went viral in hockey circles. It's just a taste of what the 20-year-old defenseman can do once he adjusts to life in the NHL, but he already has big expectations in Montreal.

“I haven't proven anything yet,” Hutson said. “There's a lot to prove before I'm even close to being a face of the team.”