Logan Stankoven, a Dallas Stars winger, has been named the AHL’s Rookie of the Year for 2024 after an impressive season with a record-breaking scoring pace, and despite concerns about his size, he has quickly become a key player for Dallas in the NHL, maintaining his eligibility for the Calder Trophy next season.
Logan Stankoven, the Dallas Stars winger, just snagged the 2024 Red Garrett Memorial Award. It’s a big deal, marking him as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year. Why? Well, he’s been on fire, racking up 24 goals and 57 points in just 47 games. That’s a whopping 1.21 points-per-game.
No one’s seen numbers like that since Jack Quinn dazzled us back in the 2021-22 season. Quinn, by the way, also took home the Rookie of the Year honors. And before him? You’d have to rewind to Jake Guentzel in the 2016-17 season to find a rookie as electric.
Now, linking AHL awards to NHL success isn’t always straightforward. But, the AHL Rookie of the Year? It’s a different story. Take Quinn, Joshua Norris, and the 2015 duo Mikko Rantanen and Frank Vatrano. Their NHL careers? Pretty stellar. Stankoven’s already making waves in the NHL, securing a spot in Dallas’ top-six early on. He ended the regular season with 14 points in 24 games and even made his mark in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dallas is over the moon with Stankoven’s debut season. Before turning pro, he was a standout at Kamloops Blazers, amassing 260 points in 179 games. Despite concerns about his size, Dallas saw his potential and nabbed him in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Two years on, he’s proving them right, shining in his pro career and stepping up in the postseason.
Interestingly, Stankoven was just one game short of this season counting as his NHL rookie year. This means he’s still in the running for the Calder Trophy next season. And with his role in Dallas’ offense becoming more defined, he’s one to watch. Especially if he teams up again with Mavrik Borque, the AHL’s top scorer this season. Together, they’ve already shown they can light up the scoreboard.
