Rapid Rewind: Calder Trophy Finalists

The NHL announced its finalists for the Calder Trophy Award for the 2019-20 season. The Calder Trophy goes to the best rookie in the NHL. It is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and the winner of the award will be announced during the conference finals.

These three finalists were the standouts among the rookie class this season. There are two defenseman and a left wing who all happen to play in the Western Conference. The two defensemen are Quinn Hughes, of the Vancouver Canucks, and Cale Makar, of the Colorado Avalanche. The lone forward finalist is Dominik Kubalik of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Quinn Hughes

The Canucks defenseman is the youngest finalist at just 20 years old. In 68 games, he had eight goals, 45 assists, 53 points and averaged 21:53 of ice time per game. Hughes played in five games with the Canucks last season where he had three assists. His 53 points were tied for third best on the team with Bo Horvat, while he tied for first on the team with 45 assists and 25 power play points. Hughes was the Canucks top scoring defenseman and he was consistent throughout the season with his play.

He is the first defenseman to lead all rookies outright in scoring in a season since Brian Leetch did it during the 1988-89 season. Hughes is a smooth skater, who can contribute on the offensive side of the puck. He ranked first among rookies in the following categories: assists (45), points (53), and power play points (25). The 20-year-old made an impact on his team in his rookie season and now the team has work left to do in the qualifying round of the postseason.

Dominik Kubalik

The Blackhawks’ forward is a bit older than the other finalists at 24, but he made an impact in his first NHL season. In 68 games, he had 30 goals, 16 assists, 46 points and averaged 14:22 of ice time per game. Kubalik’s 46 points were third on the Blackhawks and his 30 goals were good enough for second on the team behind Patrick Kane. The 24-year-old played at even strength and on the power play for a Blackhawks team that struggled at times this season. 

He ranked first among rookies in goals (30), even strength points (38), even strength goals (26), and shots (157). His 46 points were third best among rookies. He started out slow, but really came on in the second half of the season, and managed 19 goals in 29 games played from January 1, 2020 to the end of the NHL shortened season. I don’t think he’ll get as many votes as Hughes or Makar because Chicago was not in the postseason until the field was expanded to 24 teams. 

Cale Makar

Makar made his splash in the postseason last year with big time goals and creative plays. In 57 games this season, he had 12 goals, 38 assists, 50 points and averaged 21:01 of ice time per game. The 21-year-old played both at even strength and on the power play for the Avalanche. He is a smooth skating defenseman that can lead the rush or join the rush in the offensive zone. Makar ranked second on the Avalanche in assists (38), points (50), and power play points (19). He was tied for third on the team with four game-winning goals.

The defenseman was second to Quinn Hughes in assists (38), points (50), and power play points (19). The 21-year-old set the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for points by a rookie defenseman in a season with 50. He led all rookies in goals (12), power play goals (four) and even strength goals (eight). 

Predicting the Calder Trophy Winner

The three finalists all had good seasons in their own right, but Quinn Hughes will win this award. He had a big impact on his team, and helped get them into the postseason. Hughes had the best rookie season out of the three candidates, and really stood out. The 20-year-old was consistent in his play and even had some highlight reel-type plays. Hughes will be the second straight Canucks player to win the award, with Elias Pettersson winning it last season. The last time teammates won the Calder Trophy in back-to-back years was in 1966-67 and 1967-86 seasons, when Boston Bruins teammates, Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson won.