Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Wild defenseman Brock Faber and Devils defenseman Luke Hughes have been named finalists for this year’s Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie.
Bedard, still just 18, led or tied for the lead in rookie (and Blackhawks) scoring with 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points despite being limited to 68 games with a broken jaw sustained midseason. He’s the the second-youngest rookie in NHL history to lead their team in all three major offensive categories behind Sidney Crosby, who did so with 39 goals, 63 assists and 102 points in 81 games with the Penguins in 2005-06. Last year’s first-overall pick also led rookies league-wide in shots on goal and takeaways.
While he’s the favorite to win the award, there likely won’t be a very large gap between him and Faber when the voting breakdown among PHWA members is released. The 2020 second-round pick of the Kings had his signing rights dealt to Minnesota in the Kevin Fiala trade a few years back, and he turned pro last spring after three seasons at the University of Minnesota. He immediately jumped into the NHL lineup and stabilized the Wild defense this year with captain Jared Spurgeon missing most of the season with various injuries, posting eight goals and 47 points while playing in all 82 games. Faber averaged 24:58 per game – the most among qualified rookies since the stat has been tracked (1997-98), beating out Atlanta’s Toby Enström by a full 30 seconds.
Those advocating for Faber to take home the award will point to Bedard’s -44 rating, which sat near the bottom of the league. Both players had difficult usage against other teams’ top competition, especially Faber. Yet, compared to their teammates, Bedard was better at controlling possession than Faber, posting a 0.2 relative CF% at even strength compared to Faber’s -3.4 CF% impact. In a team context, though, Faber was much better at dominating possession quality with a 50.6 xGF% compared to Bedard’s 42.3 xGF%, per Hockey Reference.
Hughes’ chance at the award is minimal compared to his peers, but the nomination still puts a bow on a nice rookie season for the younger brother of Jack and Quinn. With Dougie Hamilton missing most of the campaign, New Jersey relied on Hughes as their top puck-moving and power-play option on the blue line. He responded well, tying Faber’s offensive totals with 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) while also playing in all 82 games, a rarity for a Devils team that struggled to stay healthy this season. He averaged 21:28 per game and controlled possession well at even strength with a 55.0 CF% and a 52.3 xGF%, with his -25 rating largely sunk by the team’s poor goaltending.
Bedard will win because he’s Bedard, but Faber is the rightful winner in my opinion
Agree. Bedard will win but faber should. Not that 61 points in 68 is unimpressive but looking at Crosby’s rookie season at 102 (!!) points it’s crazy. Faber logging 25 mins a night and putting up .5 ppg in his rookie season being far and away Minny’s best D-man as a rookie he’s the total package.
Faber and Hughes had the same points but Hughes played less minutes per game
Not saying Hughes is better…but it’s not as far apart as it seems.
Bedard will win. He was on a brutal team and almost a ppg with 3rd line wingers.
I put a lot more stock in Faber putting up the numbers that he did plus his key role. Hughes was sheltered and playing with much higher calibre offensive stars
I don’t really think it’s that close between Faber and Hughes to be honest
Bettman has decided it will be bedard. Btw thankfully on nhl.com we don’t have to see the Bedard Watch every day. Tonight he faces mcdavid for the first team blah blah blah.
Why would Gary Bettman take the time to rig the ROTY award?
It should be Bedard. He was nearly a PPG player on a historically bad team that suffered from countless injuries. Faber had a great season, but Bedard was the best rookie.
Bedard is the only choice. Hopefully a couple of ping pong balls fall right again and we’re saying the same thing next year about Cellebrini who is bigger and more equipped to play right away in the NHL.
Anyway that’s my fantasy for May.
More equipped than PPG Bedard?
If he is the only choice, why are there three finalists?
By “Bedard is the only choice.” he clearly meant “Bedard is the clear choice.”
But you knew that.
Faber hands down but the league won’t allow it.
Why would the league not allow it?
Faber did have a lot more talent around him, Bedard putting up 61 points in 68 games and an All Star Game selection, with the linemates he had was impressive, non of his linemates were even top 6 forwards, hard to say Kurashev is more than a middle 6 either. Bedard lead in points for rookies by a lot on a basement team, Minnesota was expected to make the playoffs regardless but didn’t, Faber had a great season and regardless of Bias either way Bedard probably should get it
Typically an offensive player has more points than a defenseman, and they should. Faber is a pretty good two-way player who played great defense and scored quite a bit as well. I’d like to see Faber win it, but much like the NFL, if you’re a QB, you have a built an advantage.