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Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterJul 18, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
CloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
Is Macklin Celebrini about to follow Connor Bedard in becoming the latest No. 1 pick to win the Calder Trophy? Or could a winner come from a dynamic field that features Cutter Gauthier, Matvei Michkov, Logan Stankoven and Will Smith?
We won’t know the answers to those questions until next June … but why wait? Being the top pick in 2023 — plus the fact he’d been talked about for years — made Bedard an early Calder front-runner, only for Brock Faber to emerge as a serious challenger who at one time appeared as if he could win.
So what about this season? Who are the favorites and why? Who are the less-hyped players to keep an eye on who could potentially emerge as serious Calder challengers? Here’s our way-too-early look.
Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order.
The Stars have one of the NHL’s strongest farm systems, which has allowed them to be in a championship window while giving their prospects opportunities too. In recent seasons, prospects such as Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson became important players in their first full season, en route to becoming crucial figures.
The next in that line could be Bourque, who is a candidate to start the season as the Stars’ third-line center. It would be a natural transition considering how he has developed over the past two seasons. Bourque went from 47 points in 70 games in the 2022-23 season for the AHL’s Texas Stars to scoring 77 points in 71 games in the 2023-24 season.
Calder races can be greatly influenced by details such as role and usage. That’s what made the race between Bedard and Faber compelling. Bedard logged the minutes that came with being a No. 1 center, while Faber emerged into a top-pairing defenseman who could play in every situation.
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Celebrini has the chance to do the same with the Sharks. Finishing with the worst record in the NHL was a result…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/40548367/nhl-rookie-rankings-2024-2025-calder-trophy-candidates-top-players
Author : Ryan S. Clark
Publish date : 2024-07-18 11:52:10
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