Jiri Sekac is a member of the Montreal Canadiens 2014-15 roster to keep an eye on. No, he is not necessarily a Calder Memorial Trophy candidate for rookie of the year but many of the better players in this league do not have that piece of hardware. The Czech-born, 22-year old currently sits tied for ninth in the National Hockey League in points among rookies behind names such as Filip Forsberg, Johnny Gaudreau, Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Drouin and Tanner Pearson. With only 34 games played, Sekac has suited up for the last amount of games among the top ten rookie point leaders who range from 35 – 42 games played. With only 34 shots taken, Sekac has seven goals and sits in first among the top ten rookies in points in shooting percentage.
With 15 points (seven goals and eight assists) in 34 games played this season, Jiri Sekac currently holds 0.44 points per game. A similar number to his hometown counterpart Tomas Plekanec who, in his first 20+ game season sustained 0.43 points per game through 67 games with Montreal.
Let’s take a look at how Sekac’s teammates performed in their “rookie season”. The list includes only the top eight (not including Sekac) forwards by points per game (PPG) and see how they compare to Jiri’s current statistics.
For accuracy purposes for points per game, while it may not be everybody’s technical rookie season, the “rookie season” in this case is considered their first 20+ games played season. Also, Jiri Sekac’s statistics are as of 5:00pm EST on January 14th, 2015.
Keep in mind, was picked up by the Montreal Canadiens as an undrafted free agent during free agent frenzy during the offseason last summer. Sekac spent minimal prior time in North America prior to coming to Montreal. Jiri played 8 games in the Ontario Hockey League and about a season and a half in the United States Hockey League before heading back to Europe in 2011 to play in the KHL. After a strong 2013-14 showing in the KHL and approximately a dozen teams offering Sekac a contract to come play in the National Hockey League, he followed his heart and signed under Bergevin for the Montreal Canadiens.
With plenty of factors including the minimal hockey played in North America along with being undrafted, Sekac is making a name for himself at a young age and shows a promising future after making the team right away via a strong training camp. Despite playing on the second and third lines for the majority of the season (not including being a healthy scratch for 7 games earlier this season), he has been somehow on the fourth line in the most recent practices. One of the latest of many Therrien decisions that have been under scrutiny and heavy questioning.
Another milestone in his career, Jiri Sekac will participate in the 2015 All-Star weekend in Columbus. Since Tanner Pearson (LA) is out indefinitely with a fractured fibula, Sekac was given the nod to participate in the rookie group during the skills competition on the evening following the 2015 All-Star game. Keep an eye out for Sekac, because his future is looking bright.