Everybody loves when a younger, thrilling star comes into the NHL and dominates proper out of the gate. The Calder Memorial Trophy is given out every year to the league’s finest rookie, with many winners later taking residence different {hardware}, such because the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s most dear participant.
So, let’s look again and rank every Calder Trophy winner within the wage cap period for the reason that NHL retook the ice again in 2005.
18. Jonathan Huberdeau – Florida Panthers – 2012-13
The lockout-shortened 2012-13 NHL marketing campaign will all the time appear a bit bizarre when wanting again on it from a historic perspective. That season’s Calder Trophy winner, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, performed all 48 video games however scored 14 targets and 31 factors. Even stretched out over an 82-game tempo, that’s simply 24 targets and 53 factors throughout a complete season. On prime of that, he registered a minus-15 score whereas skating only a contact below 17 minutes per recreation.
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Whereas which will have been sufficient to win the Calder in 2013, it’s not sufficient to push him out of final place on this listing.
17. Gabriel Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche – 2011-12
As the primary of two Colorado Avalanche forwards on this listing, Gabriel Landeskog performed all 82 video games throughout his rookie season simply months after being the second total choose within the 2011 NHL Draft. Landeskog tied Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the primary total choice that very same yr, with 52 factors for the rookie lead. Nevertheless, the Avalanche winger notched 22 targets, 4 greater than his rookie rival whereas recording a powerful plus-20 score, serving to him edge out Nugent-Hopkins for the award.
16. Aaron Ekblad – Florida Panthers – 2014-15
Simply two years after his Panthers teammate took residence the Calder Trophy, Aaron Ekblad stepped up and introduced it again to the Sunshine State.
The Canadian blueliner was chosen first total within the 2014 NHL Draft and went straight to the league, sniping 12 targets and 39 factors together with a plus-12 score. This displaying made him an on the spot franchise face for the Panthers whereas showcasing that he would have a brilliant future within the league.
15. Tyler Myers – Buffalo Sabres – 2009-10
At 19 years previous, Tyler Myers grew to become the primary defenseman to take residence the Calder Trophy since Barret Jackman in the course of the 2002-03 NHL marketing campaign. Myers tallied 11 targets and 48 factors throughout his rookie season, with each totals nonetheless being his profession highs as of 2021-22. The large 6-foot-8 blueliner additionally notched 133 blocked photographs and 89 hits, displaying that he was extra than simply an offensive presence for the Sabres.
14. Matty Beniers – Seattle Kraken – 2022-23
Not often does the odds-on favourite firstly of the NHL season truly go on to win an award, however getting into the 2022-23 season, the hockey world felt that the Calder Trophy would, in the end, be raised by Matty Beniers. As the primary choice made by the Seattle Kraken in franchise historical past, Beniers lived as much as all expectations by posting 24 targets and 57 factors in 80 video games performed. As a crew that noticed stunning success of their second yr within the league, the Kraken will look to their budding star to take that subsequent step in his profession after this spectacular rookie season.
13. Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche – 2019-20
Cale Makar’s rookie season will all the time be one the place you ask the query… What If? What if Makar had stayed wholesome? What if the season hadn’t been minimize quick?
Even with these questions, there’s little doubt that Makar had a breakout marketing campaign in 2019-20. With 12 targets and 50 factors in simply 57 video games, there was no telling simply how excessive his scoring totals might have been if all the things had gone completely.
12. Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks – 2007-08
Like a number of others on this listing, Patrick Kane got here into the NHL instantly after being drafted. The highest choose within the 2007 NHL Draft scored 21 targets and 72 factors throughout his terrific rookie marketing campaign, narrowly main all rookies in scoring. That very same season, fellow Chicago Blackhawks ahead Jonathan Toews completed third in Calder Trophy voting after scoring 54 factors.
11. Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche – 2013-14
One other prime draft alternative, Nathan MacKinnon was chosen with the No. 1 choose within the 2013 NHL Draft and lived as much as expectations early. The 18-year-old Nova Scotian collected 24 targets and 63 factors, probably the most he would rating till his fifth NHL season.
MacKinnon took residence the Calder Trophy simply two seasons after Landeskog, outscoring him by 11 factors of their respective rookie campaigns whereas showcasing how brilliant Colorado’s future could possibly be.
10. Moritz Seider – Detroit Crimson Wings – 2021-22
It may be troublesome to evaluate a workhorse defenseman like Moritz Seider, as his contributions to the Detroit Crimson Wings have been a lot greater than factors. In that regard, he posted seven targets and 50 factors, which is so much for a rookie defenseman. Nevertheless, together with that offense, he additionally contributed 161 blocks, 151 hits, 41 takeaways, and most significantly, averaged greater than 23 minutes of ice time every night time in 82 wholesome video games.
For a 20-year-old defenseman on a Crimson Wings crew that also wasn’t there but as a playoff contender, these are some spectacular totals. The longer term is brilliant for Seider, and you’ll count on the German blueliner to turn out to be one of many faces of the game in his residence nation.
9. Jeff Skinner – Carolina Hurricanes – 2010-11
Chosen seventh total within the 2010 NHL Draft behind names akin to Taylor Corridor and Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner’s Calder Trophy victory was a bit stunning. The 18-year-old winger was the lone rookie to surpass the 60-point plateau that season however completed third amongst rookies with 31 targets scored. Skinner’s 63 factors stays a career-high, however he’s reached that actual complete thrice.
Heading into the 2018-19 season, Elias Pettersson was the playing favourite to take residence the Calder Trophy, and he impressively adopted by on that hype. Regardless of lacking 11 video games with a concussion and a knee harm, the 6-foot-2 heart nonetheless tallied 28 targets and 66 factors, together with 22 power-play factors. The 2017 fifth-overall choose has cemented himself as among the finest younger forwards within the recreation and must be a part of the Vancouver Canucks’ resurgence within the coming years.
7. Artemi Panarin – Chicago Blackhawks – 2015-16
Artemi Panarin definitely didn’t have a typical rookie season. The Russian winger didn’t come to North America till he was 24 years previous, turning into the oldest Calder Trophy winner since Evgeni Nabokov in 2000-01.
Nonetheless, Panarin was excellent, amassing 30 targets and 77 factors in 80 video games. That very same season, Conor McDavid completed third after scoring 48 factors in simply 45 video games and certain would’ve taken the award residence if not for struggling an harm.
6. Steve Mason – Columbus Blue Jackets – 2008-09
Steve Mason’s Calder-winning 2008-09 marketing campaign was ok to land him a second-place end within the Vezina Trophy voting as properly. The 22-year-old led the NHL with a ridiculous 10 shutouts, giving him a 2.29 goals-against common and .916 save proportion alongside a 33-20-7 document. Extra impressively, no netminder has taken residence the Calder since then, making this win a uncommon incidence for a goalie.
5. Kirill Kaprizov – Minnesota Wild – 2020-21
Heading into the 2020-21 season, all eyes have been on Kirill “The Thrill” Kaprizov as he joined the Minnesota Wild after dominating the KHL in recent times. He was, in spite of everything, probably the most electrical offensive skills on this planet, and he had the potential to reshape the Wild’s core round him.
It didn’t take lengthy for Kaprizov to introduce himself to the NHL, as he scored the game-winning time beyond regulation aim in his first begin, and went on to put up 27 targets and 51 factors in simply 55 video games. If he had continued this tempo over a full 82-game schedule, Kaprizov would have scored 40 targets and 76 factors, that are each unimaginable numbers for a rookie ahead.
Because it stands, nevertheless, Karpizov’s rookie season continues to be an unimaginable feat. Not solely is he the offensive face of the Wild, however he will likely be one of many NHL’s rising stars for years to return.
4. Mathew Barzal – New York Islanders – 2017-18
Mathew Barzal had two video games of NHL motion previous to his first full season with the New York Islanders, and he was held and not using a level in these contests. Nevertheless, the next season the 20-year-old heart put the league on discover by operating away with the rookie scoring race, totaling 22 targets and 85 factors, beating the second-leading scorer, Clayton Keller, by 20 factors. Not solely this, however Barzal was the primary rookie to surpass the 80-point mark since Evgeni Malkin again within the 2006-07 season.
3. Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs – 2016-17
With the first-overall choose on the 2016 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been searching for a new face of the franchise and received simply that in Auston Matthews. The 19-year-old lived as much as all of the hype, scoring 40 targets (together with an NHL-best 32 at even energy) and 69 factors.
Along with his absurd scoring potential on full show, Matthews cemented himself as one of many league’s younger stars and has continued to show it was no fluke since.
2. Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins – 2006-07
Evgeni Malkin grew to become the second consecutive Russian ahead to take residence the award, following within the footsteps of Alex Ovechkin. The 20-year-old notched 33 targets and 85 factors, a factors complete that will not be matched till Barzal’s Calder-winning marketing campaign greater than a decade later.
Additionally of observe, this was the identical season that Malkin’s new teammate, Sidney Crosby, gained his first Hart Memorial award. In fact, these two would go on to turn out to be among the finest duos in NHL historical past, profitable loads of {hardware} and some Stanley Cup titles.
1. Alex Ovechkin – Washington Capitals – 2005-06
Alex Ovechkin’s rookie marketing campaign set the trail for the remainder of his profession as an elite aim scorer and one of many recreation’s prime skaters for over a decade. The large-bodied Russian grew to become the primary rookie to eclipse the 100-point mark since Teemu Selanne in the course of the 1992-93 marketing campaign.
Ovechkin racked up 52 targets and 106 factors on the yr, narrowly edging out Crosby’s 102 factors for the rookie lead. Since then, no rookie has reached the century mark for factors or the 50-goal plateau. At this level, there might not be a rookie like Ovechkin for a very long time.
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