Coming into the season, we all thought Connor Bedard would run away with the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
It took a performance no one saw coming and an injury to Bedard, but the race for the Calder ended up being tightly contested all season.
It’s been a two-horse race for much of the year. Bedard has led most of the way, but there was a brief moment when Brock Faber pulled ahead. His incredible impact defensively and a blossoming offensive game stood out while Bedard was out of the lineup for a month-and-a-half with a fractured jaw.
Let’s look at what my ballot for the Calder Trophy would look like and why those players would make it into my top five.
Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Since Bedard returned from injury, all he has done is solidify his position as the league’s top rookie this season.
On a team with little to no help, which was made worse by injuries throughout the lineup, Bedard scored 61 points to lead Chicago in scoring despite missing 14 games.
There was so much hype for Connor Bedard coming into the season, and he’s done everything he could to meet those expectations. Bedard easily leads all rookies in scoring despite the missed time. He scored at a 73-point pace over 82 games, which would have surpassed the rookie years that Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Patrick Kane had.
Although Faber had an amazing season (we’ll get to that), Bedard’s dominance and the instant offensive punch he provided can’t be overlooked. Every time Bedard stepped on the ice, he put a level of fear into his opponents. Everyone knew that Bedard was going to generate offensive chances for his team, regardless of who his linemates were.
Simply put, Bedard was a true star every time he stepped onto NHL ice, and no other player in this rookie class could say that.
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild
Faber may be the most unexpected challenger for the Calder in the rookie class, but he was a fantastic addition to the Wild blueline.
His game at both ends of the ice is based on his fluid mobility and intelligent play-reading ability. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Faber isn’t a big, brutish defender, but he is certainly a strong defenseman who leveraged his position at a high level this season. He cut off play as soon as he saw an opportunity and got the puck moving the other way.
Offensively, Faber isn’t a dynamic, skilled blueliner the way we’ve come to know the top rearguards in the league. He instead is a tactical mastermind, picking apart small seams or exploiting lapses in coverage. His passing is rock solid, and he isn’t stationary at the blueline, moving laterally and down the wall as needed.
Power play goal for Minnesota!
Scored by Matt Boldy with 05:46 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Marco Rossi and Brock Faber.
Los Angeles: 0
Minnesota: 1#MINvsLAK #GoKingsGo #MNWild pic.twitter.com/ftLe9YWZlq— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 16, 2024
Faber’s play faded as the season went along, particularly sputtering in the final month or so of the season. It didn’t help that Bedard returned from injury and hit the ground running as his play waned.
Faber ended the season with 47 points, blowing his projections out of the water while maintaining a strong defensive game. Unfortunately, with his first NHL season being the most hockey he’s played in his career to this point, he seemed to burn out a bit.
Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils
Coming out of the University of Michigan in April 2023, we got a preview of what Hughes could be at the end of last season. Over the course of his first full campaign, we saw why there was so much hype for the youngest Hughes brother.
Although there were ups and downs throughout the year, he was the No. 1 defenseman in a year that featured a ton of injuries for the squad. The 20-year-old led Devils defensemen with 47 points and 21:28 of time on ice per game.
Hughes’ offensive game was as advertised. He skated like the wind, tried to create something every shift and could put a new play on his highlight reel at any given time. Whether dancing in overtime or rushing end-to-end with the puck on his stick, Hughes was entertaining all season long.
His defensive game was inconsistent, and it will certainly need work. But he did enough this season to get the title of “Best of the Rest.”
Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild
It’s funny because Rossi doesn’t have the most points of any rookie, and he wasn’t dominant for any stretch of the season. Still, he constantly did the little things and scored at a solid rate, finishing top-five in rookie scoring with 40 points and second in rookie goals with 21. He proved he could play a top-six role for the Minnesota Wild in a year where they struggled to find consistency.
His defensive acumen showed throughout the season, and he proved that even if he is a sub-six-foot forward, he is a center at the NHL level.
There were so many things Rossi could build on for next season. He played smart, structured hockey for the Wild. If they can add some finishing on his wings for next season, this year should be a first step toward a long career in Minnesota.
Connor Zary, C/W, Calgary Flames
Although he didn’t start the year in the NHL, when Zary received the call-up from the AHL, he didn’t let management send him back to the minors.
Zary ignited a fire for the Flames that wasn’t there before he arrived. He was successful with whoever he played alongside. Zary’s versatility was a major asset for the team this year.
Connor Zary adds one of his own 😤 pic.twitter.com/bZHeNFeJCA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2024
Zary’s value came at both ends of the ice, scoring at a 44-point pace and playing sound defensive hockey in his own end as well. There wasn’t much that Zary couldn’t do. He established himself as part of the Flames’ future, and he should be a big part of the young core they build around in this retool Calgary seems intent on going through.
Honorable Mentions
Both Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli were very good in the limited action they saw this season. Neither reached 55 games, but they showed why they went second and third in the 2023 NHL draft. They should be among the league’s breakout stars next season.
Pavel Mintyukov started the year on fire and really slowed down as the season went along. The Ducks defender was so fun to watch this season and should be a fixture on the back end. His emergence was likely a big reason the Ducks felt they could part with Jamie Drysdale in the trade to acquire Cutter Gauthier.
Logan Cooley started the year poorly. He struggled with the physicality of the NHL and didn’t seem comfortable. Some fans and media in the market questioned whether he needed some AHL time. He rebounded in a big way, and he finished the year strong in Arizona, setting up what should be a solid sophomore year in Utah.
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News Summary:
- NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Connor Bedard Beats Faber, Hughes in Final Rookie Ranking
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.