The 2023-24 NHL regular season ends this week. The league's awards finalists will soon be announced, then the winners named including rookie of the year. The Calder Trophy, representing the "player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition," has pretty much been a two-horse race the entire season with Chicago forward Connor Bedard and Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber standing ahead of the rest. Many believe Bedard has it locked up because of the weight he's dealt with on the rebuilding and injury-depleted Blackhawks this season and the success he's had. Meanwhile, Faber has been very impressive for the Minnesota Wild. Fourteen NHL beat writers discussed an "offline vote" for the Calder based on a 5-4-3-2-1 point system. None of these writers are members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA, https://www.thephwa.com/ [https://www.thephwa.com/]) and they aren't eligible to vote for the real Calder and other NHL awards. Bedard led the pack with 67 points, then Faber came in a close second with 57. This means that three of these unofficial voters didn't give Bedard their first place vote. The Blackhawks 18-year-old forward will need to be snubbed by even more of the real PHWA voters at the end of the year for Faber to take home the trophy. Even so, Bedard hasn't locked up the Calder. Bedard's broken jaw that kept him out for over a month definitely made the race a little more interesting. He is the Blackhawks' top line center, plays nearly 20 minutes per game, and is the NHL's leading rookie scorer with 22 goals, 38 assists, and 60 points in 66 games. Connor Bedard is sad the 2023-24 season is ending. He's mum on whether he want to play in the IIHF World Championships in Prague. The 21-year-old Faber has had the benefit of three NCAA seasons at the University of Minnesota, but for a rookie defenseman to play 25 minutes per game at his age is very impressive. He has been very solid in his own end, and has seven goals and 45 points in 80 games. Opportunity is what helped Faber get a shot at being the top defenseman in Minnesota as Jared Spurgeon has played only 16 games this season, but Faber's incredible talent is what has kept him there. Bedard will probably come home with rookie of the year honors, but it will be a tight one. Both he and Faber might deserve it, but only one can win it. RECENT BLACKHAWKS NEWS Blackhawks Prospect Frank Nazar III Scores On First Shot On Goal, Just Like Jonathan Toews [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/blackhawks-prospect-frank-nazar-iii-scores-on-first-shot-on-goal-just-like-jonathan-toews] Blackhawks' Richardson Praises Bedard, Young Players for Stepping Into More Mature Roles [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/blackhawks-richardson-praises-bedard-young-players-for-stepping-into-more-mature-roles] Hockey Cold Turkey For Connor Bedard? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/hockey-cold-turkey-for-connor-bedard] Connor Bedard, Two Other Young Blackhawks Stars Among Five Worst NHLers In Plus/Minus, But... [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/bedard-2-other-young-blackhawks-clobbered-in-2023-24-with-horrible-plus-minus]
