Ranking the Best Rookies Early in the 2015 NHL Playoffs

When we think of playoff performers, we're more likely to think of seasoned professionals, players who have been through the wars a little and due to experience have established themselves as reliable options during the most grueling portion of the NHL season.

But Stanley Cup playoff history is littered with young skaters and goalies who have had an immediate impact, and the 2015 edition of the grand tournament is no different. The following slideshow highlights some of the best rookie performances early in this year's postseason.

Only players eligible for this season's Calder Trophy and listed as rookies on NHL.com are included on the following list. Read on to see which have been the most impressive. 

8. Adam Lowry, Winnipeg Jets

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Four games, one goal, three points, 14:46 average time on ice

In Brief: In a physical, exciting series that was far closer than the four-game sweep would indicate (Anaheim battled back from deficits heading into the third period three times in the four games), Adam Lowry was right at home.

The 6'5", 207-pound forward contributed a goal and two assists, going hard to the net on both the goal and one of the assists. It was a tough series for a rookie to stand out in, particularly a rookie on the losing side, but it was the kind of hockey that suits Lowry well. 

7. Michael Ferland, Calgary Flames

Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Five games, zero goals, one point, 13:13 average time on ice

In Brief: It's undoubtedly a comment that Kevin Bieksa regrets. Asked if Ferland was getting under the skin of the Canucks, Bieksa described the agitating forward as "pretty irrelevant so far" to the Calgary Sun's Scott Mitchell. 

He's been anything but. For one, he's a wrecking ball; in just five games, Ferland has racked up 33 hits, and while hit counts are frequently derided due to the NHL's difficulty in counting them accurately, in this case, it's a decent reflection of the strong physical work he's done.

It's more than that, though. The Flames have a 2-0 lead in goals when Ferland is on the ice in the series so far, and by the shot metrics, he is part of what might be Calgary's most effective puck possession line. He's had an impact.  

6. Nikita Nesterov, Tampa Bay Lightning

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Four games, one goal, three points, 16:14 average time on ice

In Brief: Nesterov is the lone defenceman on this list, which might signify how difficult it is for rookie defenders to have an impact in the postseason—or possibly how unlikely it is for a team leaning heavily on rookies to make the playoffs. Regardless, he's been a useful piece for Tampa Bay.

Nesterov's primary impact so far has been as a power-play specialist (a role in which he has delivered two points), with a more limited role at evens. Even so, he's generally done a good job with the minutes he's been given, with the Lightning holding a 33-23 edge in Corsi events when he's on the ice.    

5. Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Four games, zero goals, three assists, 19:16 average time on ice 

In Brief: Ottawa has three impressive rookie forwards, as well as a first-year goaltender who is just a touch too old to qualify for the Calder under the NHL's age rules. Mike Hoffman, who scored the game-winning goal in the Senators' lone win in their first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, deserves recognition, but Stone is probably the most impressive player on the team.

It's not just that Stone has chipped in three assists—all of them primary helpers—it's also that he's fought through what the Senators told NHL.com's Arpon Basu is a broken wrist, an injury suffered in a highly publicized Game 1 slash from Montreal defenceman P.K. Subban. He's persevering and he's contributing.  

4. Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Stats: Two wins, two losses, .922 save percentage

In Brief: When it came time to name his playoff starter, Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock had the choice of going with a long-term No. 1 who had faltered badly down the stretch or a young upstart who had played extremely well over the season's final three months. He went with the latter option, and so far, Mrazek has largely justified the decision. 

Mrazek almost single-handedly won the first game of the Red Wings' series against Tampa Bay, turning aside 44 of 46 shots. He posted a Game 3 shutout after a weaker Game 2 performance. To date, he's also outplayed Ben Bishop at the other end of the rink. 

3. Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Stats: Two wins, two losses, .935 save percentage

In Brief: It's been a weird season for goalies in St. Louis. Brian Elliott began the year as the starter, but when he went down due to injury, the Blues brought in the legendary Martin Brodeur, not wanting to trust Allen as the starter. Allen, in turn, struggled when he got an opportunity early in the year.  

Then he got hot down the stretch, Elliott got cold and Allen was anointed playoff starter. He's been brilliant so far, significantly better than his opposite Devan Dubnyk (who was excellent for the Wild this season). He has not allowed more than two goals in any one game nor had a save percentage below 0.913. He's done all that the Blues could reasonably expect from their starter.

2. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Five games, four goals, five points, 21:10 average time on ice

In Brief: On Thursday morning, Forsberg learned that he was not one of the three finalists announced by the NHL for the Calder Trophy, despite an exceptional season in which he established himself early as a front-runner. The same evening, with his Predators facing possible elimination, he scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Chicago that extended Nashville's first-round series to at least six games.

He's not just a point-per-game player; he's also part of Nashville's best line. According to war-on-ice.com, Forsberg's on-ice scoring chance numbers at evens (47 for, 35 against, plus-12 differential) are the best of any Predators forward. 

1. Scott Darling, Chicago Blackhawks

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: Three wins, one loss, .950 save percentage

In Brief: Despite a difficult outing on Thursday, Darling has been a revelation in net for Chicago. He salvaged a win in Game 1 against Nashville after starter Corey Crawford was pulled early with a 42-save performance. When given another opportunity, this time to start Game 3, Darling was magnificent.

He's almost certainly the difference between the Blackhawks having the lead in their series and them trailing. 

Statistics courtesy of NHL.com and war-on-ice.com.