There’s a new crop of rookies in the NHL each season with the best of the bunch being awarded the Calder Trophy at the end of the campaign. The competition for the award is plentiful as there are numerous quality players kicking off their careers this year.
Let’s take a look at 12 of the league’s top candidates for the 2023/24 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best newcomer.
To gain some kind of perspective concerning their early-season performances we can compare them to the early stages of some the NHL’s most established stars. Here’s how this year’s best stack up points-wise after 11 games in the league compared to some of the league’s former top picks and the year they were drafted.
| Player | Team | Draft Year | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks | 2007 | 4 | 10 | 14 |
| Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | 2015 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Edmonton Oilers | 2011 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2016 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| John Tavares | New York Islanders | 2009 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Nico Hischier | New Jersey Devils | 2017 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | 2013 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Jack Hughes | New Jersey Devils | 2019 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Taylor Hall | Oilers | 2010 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Steven Stamkos | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2008 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Now let’s look at this season’s NHL rookies and see how they are doing so far in their first 11 games:
1. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
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Position: Center
Height: 5’10”
Born: 7/17/2005
Draft: 2023, Chicago (1st overall)
Bedard is expected to be a generational talent much like fellow centers Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs since he excels at just about everything on the ice.
His numbers may not seem that overwhelming at 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points after 11 games and a -8 rating, but fans need to remember he doesn’t turn 19 years old until July. Bedard was leading all rookies with 34 shots on net after 11 games and his four even-strength goals topped the Blackhawks. He also led his team in zone entries, carry-ins, entries with passes and entries with chances.
2. Logan Cooley, Arizona Coyotes
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Position: Center
Height: 5’10”
Born: 5/4/2004
Draft: 2022, Arizona (3rd overall)
Logan Cooley had racked up 8 points on a goal and 7 assists after 11 games and was a +1, which meant he was tied for the rookie lead in helpers with defender Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks. He’s more of a playmaker than a scorer and is already a big part of the Coyotes’ power play.
Cooley is excellent at receiving passes at a high speed and has the ability of making his first move with the puck without breaking stride. He started the season as the primary competition to Bedard and he’s holding his own so far.
3. Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Position: Left Wing/Center
Height: 6’2 ”
Born: 10/12/2004
Draft: 2023, Columbus (3rd overall)
Adam Fantilli is one of the bigger rookies in the league at 6-feet-2-inches and can play center as well as left wing. After 11 games he had 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points and a -5 rating.
He led the NCAA with 65 points last season in just 36 games with 30 goals and 35 assists and captured the Hobey Baker Award as the top male NCAA player. He’s very creative and physical on the ice, is a great puck handler with speed and is earning his time on the Blue Jackets’ power play.
4. Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils
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Position: Defence
Height: 6’2”
Born: 9/9/2003
Draft: 2021, New Jersey (4th overall)
When it comes to defencemen, Luke Hughes is one of the best newcomers to the league. He’s got size at 6-feet-2-inches but is more known for his offensive skills than defensive prowess. Hughes quarterbacks the New Jersey power play, which was the best in the league early on, and has notched a goal and 6 assists for 7 points after 11 games with a -1 rating.
Hughes 1 goal and 4 helpers with the man advantage as he’s an excellent distributor of the puck. He’s the brother and teammate of Jack Hughes and also fellow defender Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.
5. Matthew Poitras, Boston Bruins
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Position: Center
Height: 5’11”
Born: 3/10/2004
Draft: 2022, Boston (54th overall)
Nobody really thought Matthew Poitras would crack the Bruins’ lineup this year but he had an excellent training camp and preseason and just kept it going when the puck dropped on opening night. After 11 games had had 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points with a +4 rating.
He’s already become a key player on one of the league’s top teams as he’s flourished in both ends of the rink thanks to his fine defensive play. Poitras has arguably already exceeded expectations after being drafted 54th overall in 2022 with 19 per cent of his shots ending up in the net so far this season.
6. Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
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Position: Center
Height: 6’3”
Born: 12/26/2004
Draft: 2023, Anaheim (2nd overall)
The Anaheim Ducks got off to a great start this season with several young players leading the way, including 6-foot-3-inch Swedish center Leo Carlsson. He had chipped in with 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points in eight games after missing the opening four contests due to an injury and was even in the plus/minus rankings.
He’s an accurate shooter as 20 per cent of his shots have resulted in goals and his high hockey sense and IQ make him a constant threat. Carlsson’s size also allows him to drive to the net on the inside and play a physical game.
7. Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Position: Left Wing
Height: 6’3”
Born: 10/17/2002
Draft: 2021, Toronto (57th overall)
At the age of 21, winger Matthew Knies is one of the older rookies in the league this season. He made a bit of a name for himself in last year’s playoffs before being injured as he helped Toronto finally make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Knies posted 2 goals and 2 assists in his first 11 outings this year with a +2 rating and then added a goal and 2 assists in his next game. He’s played up and down the lineup for Toronto so far and has enjoyed a pair of three-point games this season, both against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s a big guy at 6-foot-3-inches and had 10 penalty minutes after 13 games.
8. Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim Ducks
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Position: Defenceman
Height: 6’1”
Born: 12/25/2003
Draft: 2022, Anaheim Ducks (10th overall)
With 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points after 11 games and a +6 rating, defenceman Pavel Mintyukov appears to be the real deal at both ends of the ice with Anaheim. He’s an excellent transitional player and stickhandler and a legitimate offensive force.
He was named the OHL defenceman of the year last season with a league-high 88 points from 24 goals and 64 assists in 69 games Ottawa and with Saginaw and hasn’t missed a beat in the NHL. He was tied for the NHL rookie lead with Logan Cooley in assists and tied with Cooley and Bobby Brink in points with 8 after 11 games.
9. Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres
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Position: Goaltender
Height: 6’0”
Born: 12/27/2001
Draft: 2020, Buffalo (212th overall)
Even though he was drafted 212th overall in 2020 and is just 6 feet tall, Devon Levi entered the 2023/24 season as the top goaltending prospect as the Sabres believed he was ready to handle the stress and pressure of the NHL. The 21-year-old started Buffalo’s first four games before suffering an injury and returned with a 6-4 road victory against the high-scoring Toronto Maple Leafs. After five games he was 2-3 with an .885 save percentage and a 3.41 goals-against average.
Levi has the agility, athleticism and play-reading ability to improve as the season goes along and is hoping to lead Buffalo to the postseason for the first time since 2010/11 and become the first goalie to win the Calder Trophy since 2008/09 when Steve Mason captured it.
10. David Jiricek, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Position: Defenceman
Height: 6’4”
Born: 11/28/2003
Draft: 2022, Columbus (6th overall)
While he’s not really a major offensive threat at his point of his career, David Jiricek uses his 6-foot-4-inch frame to his advantage and knows how to take care of his own end.
He had a goal and 2 assists for 3 points after 10 games and was even in the plus/minus ratings. Jiricek rarely has a problem when it comes to clearing his defensive zone when under fore checking pressure thanks to his calm on-ice demeanour. He also uses his size effectively along the boards and in battles for loose pucks.
11. Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild
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Position: Center
Height: 5’9”
Born: 9/23/2001
Draft: 2020, Minnesota (9th overall)
Marco Rossi was leading all rookies in goals with 5 after 11 games and also had a pair of helpers for 7 points and was a +1. He’s just 5-feet-9-inches tall but is more experienced at 22 years old. He played a total of 21 games for the Wild over the past two seasons, so is still a rookie, and registered just 1 assist in those 21 contests.
He’s found his groove this season and provides additional firepower to his line which includes Matthew Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. Rossi is a strong puck possession player and isn’t afraid to shoot. It’s a great start for a player who was diagnosed with myocarditis a couple of years ago.
12. Bobby Brink, Philadelphia Flyers
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Position: Right Wing
Height: 5’8”
Born: 7/82001
Draft: 2019, Philadelphia (34th overall)
Like Marco Rossi, Bobby Brink is 22 years old and on the short side at 5-foot-8 inches tall. He was tied for the lead in rookie scoring after 11 games with 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points and was a + 1. Brink has helped the Flyers get off to a decent start to the season and notched 4 assists in 10 games with the team in 2021/22.
He’s a solid possession player and adds scoring depth up front. Brink was a finalist for the 2021/22 Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s NCAA player as a junior at the University of Denver after leading the league with 57 points from 14 goals and 43 helpers.
Ian is an experienced ice hockey writer with a passion for the game. He has been covering hockey for over 25 years and has contributed to various publications. He covers all aspects of the sport, from NHL rules to in-depth analysis of the game as well as previews. Ian is also an avid fan who attends numerous games and has played hockey regularly since moving to Canada at the age of 10.