Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League
None of our top three players were drafted in 2017. Two are from the 2015 class, and the other is from 2016.
3rd Place – Brock Boeser. Despite missing the final 16 games of the season, Boeser still had the second highest rookie goal total (29). Additionally, his 55 points were tied for the Canucks lead with Henrik Sedin. He is one of the big reasons Vancouver can start their transition away from the Sedin twins. For good measure, Boeser was also 2018 NHL All-Star Game MVP.
2nd Place – Clayton Keller. Still a teenager, at 19, Keller finished the season with 65 points. That was good enough to lead the Coyotes (who he also led in power play points). If there is going to be a turn around in the Dessert, 2016’s seventh overall draft pick will be at the forefront.
1st Place – Mathew Barzal. He was the leading scorer among all rookies and it wasn’t even close. His 85 points were 20 better than runner-up Keller. Barzal even outscored John Taveras on his own team. Granted the Islanders didn’t have a great season, but Barzal was one of only four players on the team to finish the season with a plus rating.