Chicago's 18-year-old center, along with Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey D-man Luke Hughes are the three candidates for the NHL's 2023-24 rookie of the year. Winner will be announced before the draft in June.
It was no secret: Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber were announced Tuesday as finalists for the 2023-24 Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie or the year.
Joining the two frontrunners as the third finalist is New Jersey D-man Luke Hughes.
The 18-year-old Bedard led all rookies with 22 goals and 61 points last season. The NHL's heralded No. 1 draft pick of 2023 has repeatedly said he's not thinking about the 2023-24 Calder Trophy. The same is pretty much true of the 21-year-old Faber, who emerged as Minnesota's minutes leader, averaging 24:58 of ice time per game — best among first-year skaters.
"That's not something I focus on," Bedard said last week. "During the year, I just focus on playing hockey and trying to be the best I can be.
"That stuff takes care of itself and I'm not overly worried." See video.
Technically, the Calder Memorial Trophy is "presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.” First awarded in 1932-33, the selection is made by voting members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. There are specific criteria as to who qualifies as a rookie.https://records.nhl.com/awards/trophies/calder-memorial-trophy
Should he win, Bedard would be the ninth Blackhawks Calder winner. Artemi Panarin, in 2015-16, was the last. Bedard is the first Blackhawks Calder finalist since Dominik Kubalik in 2019-20.
Hughes, 20, is the younger brother of Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes, who may be named a Norris Trophy finalist, and Jack Hughes, a high-scoring center on the Devils.
Luke Hughes had nine goals and 47 points in 82 games for New Jersey last season. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, the 6-foot-2 Hughes averaged 21:28 of ice time per game and was a minus-25.
The winners will be announced at the league's awards ceremony, expected to take place in Las Vegas in late June just before the NHL's final centralized draft.
Big Contrast
Bedard dazzled at times, but the North Vancouver, British Columbia native scuffled at others. He jumped directly from junior hockey to the NHL with the 31st place Blackhawks, a rebuilding team made even thinner by injuries.
Bedard missed 14 himself at mid-season with a broken jaw, suffered on a hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith on Jan. 5 in New Jersey.
Faber, 21, had the benefit of three NCAA seasons with the University of Minnesota before debuting with the Wild. From the Twin Cities suburbs, the 6-foot, 200-pound Faber played in all 82 games and saw his ice time rise after Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon was injured.
Faber finished with eight goals and 39 assists and was a minus-1 on a team with a minus-12 goals differential. Bedard was a minus-44 on a team with minus-111 goals differential.
Bedard averaged 19:47 of ice time per game, most among rookie forwards.