3 NHL Rookie Standouts From Week 1: Björck, Helenius, & Hutson

Week 1 of the 2026-27 regular season has concluded. Some teams disappointed, and some surprised. But which players—specifically, rookies—lived up to the hype and more?

Here’s an early look at Viggo Björck, Konsta Helenius, and Cole Hutson from the opening week of the season.

Viggo Björck Looks Like a Seasoned Vet at 18 Years Old

Björck was selected with the eighth pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and the Winnipeg Jets should be very grateful he slid that far. The 18-year-old center’s mature, pro-ready game has been on display for a while now, but that was over in Sweden. This past week, he proved himself at hockey’s highest level: the NHL.

Björck has looked like a seasoned veteran through two contests. Some rookies—even the best of the best—need a lot of time to find their game in the NHL. Some take several seasons. It’s early, but we’re seeing signs that this player may be different.

I didn’t catch Björck’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, one in which he had a 13.1% expected goal share per HockeyStats, but I was able to catch his debut. His two-way game and offensive upside were on display in that one.

Björck was engaged along the boards and in his own zone, and was comfortable making plays with the puck. He never really made a mistake, either, while generating chances for his side.

It’s worth noting that Björck had a slow start in his first Swedish Hockey League (SHL) season in 2025-26, but he has rounded out his game nicely since then. Should the Jets reemerge as a contender without Connor Hellebuyck in the crease, the youngster will likely be a reason why.

Konsta Helenius Has Poise Beyond His Years

Helenius didn’t put up the most thrilling stat line in Week 1, recording a goal and an even plus/minus in two contests. But the process was there for the 20-year-old forward despite being limited to under 15 minutes of average ice time.

What stood out the most for me with Helenius was his reliability. Almost every time he engaged in a puck battle, he won it. When he gained possession in the defensive zone, he was able to exit cleanly, sometimes starting rushes the other way.

In a week when the Buffalo Sabres looked sloppy, particularly on the blue line, I thought Helenius was one of the few players who avoided mistakes. He makes a ton of strong plays that, over time, will help the Sabres win games.

There’s an offensive skill aspect here, too. Helenius is a player you want to have the puck in the opponent’s zone. He has shooting and passing talent in addition to his forechecking prowess, which could lead to opportunities higher in the lineup. No. 94 looks poised beyond his years.

Cole Hutson’s High-End Skill Showed in Week 1

The level of confidence shown by the youngest Hutson brother is really encouraging to see. It’s allowed him to be a difference-maker at both ends of the ice, living up to the two-way pedigree he displayed in college.

Hutson is a breakout artist with his strong skating and puck-carrying abilities as well as his stretch-pass prowess. The 20-year-old blueliner makes the Washington Capitals a constant threat in transition for this reason. He sets up his forwards with more dangerous touches than some of the other defensemen on the roster, and he can also bring the puck up himself.

In the offensive zone, though, Hutson might be at his best. He is reminiscent of his Norris Trophy-contending brother Lane, who has helped turn the Montreal Canadiens into one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Cole is great at creating havoc yet remaining a responsible two-way defender at the same time.

On-ice results from a two-game sample mean almost nothing, but it’s still worth noting that Hutson has performed well in that department. All in all, it’s been really good stuff from the Capitals defenseman.

Again, a one-week sample should be taken with a grain of salt. But these three rookies shone for their teams. A bright season could be ahead for each of them.