Connor Bedard among finalists for Calder Trophy as top NHL rookie

It's no surprise that Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

In a year in which he dominated the freshmen class, Bedard, barely 18 when he started his NHL career in October, had a season for the ages: in 68 games, he had 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points on a very bad Blackhawks team.

Bedard became the second-youngest player in league history to finish as the rookie leader in goals, assists and points behind Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon in 2013-14.

Bedard, the first-overall pick at the 2023 NHL draft, is also the second-youngest rookie in NHL history to achieve the feat for his team after Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby in 2005-06.

And even though he missed 14 games with a broken jaw, the North Vancouver, B.C., native was still far and away the leader among rookie scorers.

In fact, Bedard was 14 points up on the next two rookie scorers, who are also the other two Calder finalists: Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.

Faber, a native of Maple Grove, Minn., had his 47 points on eight goals and 39 assists, while Hughes, a native of Manchester, N.H., had nine goals and 38 assists. He topped all rookies with an average ice time of 24 minutes 58 seconds.

Hughes's 47 points are the second-most by a rookie defenceman in Devils franchise history, behind Barry Beck’s 60 in 1977-78 with the Colorado Rockies.

Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes, Luke's brother, was a finalist for the Calder in 2020. It's the first time two brothers have been named a finalist for the award.

The Calder is voted on at the end of the regular season by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, with each voter ranking their top five candidates on a 10–7–5–3–1 points system.

--with files from The Canadian Press