The conclusion of the NHL regular season looms ahead at the end of the month. With that, the chance for players to make their case for NHL Awards also is about to come to a close.
The Calder Trophy race is still fairly competitive, but there’s one towering German defenseman in Motor City that is in line to take Rookie of the Year.
Not much has changed since the last time we took a look at the candidates for the NHL Calder Trophy. The usual suspects of Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Michael Bunting and Trevor Zegras should be some of the highest vote-getters once the ballots are collected and tallied.
Here is a look at how the NHL Calder Trophy race is shaping up as we hit the home stretch of the season.
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MVP betting odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
NHL Calder Trophy Ladder
1. Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings (odds -217)
With most rookies, the goal of their first season is to let them get a feel for the NHL game and adjust their skills to the level.
Not with Seider. He’s already the Red Wings’ bonafide No. 1 defenseman. The German blue liner plays fast and physical, with great vision for finding his teammates up the ice.
Seider’s 23:08 average time on ice is two minutes more than any other rookie. He’s first in assists with 41, power play points with 20 and is even tied for first in OT goals with two. His 46 points are fourth among all rookies, but no one has looked more like an everyday NHL player than Seider.
All that is left at this point is to engrave his name in the award.
2. Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings (odds +432)
Joining Seider in Detroit’s rookie class is Raymond, who has been one of the team’s best forwards all season long.
The Swedish forward has cooled down after a scorching start (21 points in the first 22 games), but he’s still producing at a high level in his first year. He ranks second in rookies points and goals with 55 and 22, respectively. His 33 assists are fourth while his 18 power play points rank only behind Seider.
Raymond has played a significant role for the Red Wings with the team looking to be further along in its rebuild thanks to his development, as well as Seider’s. But his teammate has Raymond beat for Rookie of the Year, which I don’t foresee the forward minding too much.
3. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks (odds +402)
Whether he’s going between the legs or behind the net for a Michigan, no rookie has showcased more skill this season than Zegras.
The young Ducks forward has put up a number of highlight-reel plays this year, in addition to a ton of points. He’s tied with Raymond for second in points with 55, tied with Bunting for third in goals with 20 and third in assists with 35. No rookie has scored more goals on the power play than Zegras, who has seven.
While Zegras’ skill has caused some issues with certain broadcasters (looking at you Tyson Nash), he’s quickly becoming one of the most entertaining players and personalities in the NHL.
4. Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs (odds +703)
Bunting was a great pickup for the Maple Leafs this offseason, signing with the team after spending five seasons in the Coyotes’ organization. Playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the trio have formed one of the best 5 on 5 lines in the league.
He leads all rookies in points with 57 in 73 games played. His 20 goals put him in a tie for second and his 37 assists only trail Seider, but he hasn’t found the back of the net in over a month, with his last goal coming on March 7.
The age still makes Bunting a controversial choice for the Calder. The 26-year-old was two days away from missing the deadline to be considered a rookie this season. Heck, he’s older than his two linemates who are playing in their sixth seasons. I think he really needed to run away in the rookie scoring race and it’s just not enough right now for people to overlook the age issue.
5. Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins (odds +2832)
The best rookie in the crease this season has undoubtedly been Swayman. He’s first in every major category when it comes to rookie goaltenders — goals against average (2.34), save percentage (.916), wins (30) and shutouts (3).
Splitting time with Linus Ullmark in Boston has prohibited Swayman from being able to climb up higher in the Calder discussion. He’s made 35 starts this season, compiling a 20-11-3 record.
The last time a goalie won the Calder Trophy was Steve Mason in 2008-09 with the Blue Jackets. This year won’t change that.
Honorable mentions
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers (odds +4829)
There’s two rookies that, in my opinion, have completely flown under the radar. Lundell is one of them. The Finnish forward is seventh among rookies in points (41), goals (16) and assists (25), as well as first in plus/minus with a +30. He’s buried on the third line on a loaded Panthers roster, so he doesn’t see as much ice time as other rookies, but he’s been extremely effective in his role.
Tanner Jeannot, Nashville Predators (odds +3493)
Jeannot is the other rookie that’s not getting enough recognition. He’s first in rookie goals with 24 and fourth in points with 41. His five game-winning goals also put him in a tie for first. Not only can he score, but the kid can fight. No one in the entire NHL has fought more this season than Jeannot, who owns 13 fighting majors.
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild (odds +4990)
Boldy’s 0.81 points per game is the most among all rookies. However, he’s only played in 37 games this season, about half as much as the rest of the field, recording 30 points in those contests. It’s a shame he wasn’t on the Wild roster straight out of camp; there’s a good chance he’d be giving Seider a run for the Calder.