Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar wins Calder Trophy as top rookie

Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar (8) celebrates his goal with teammates during second period NHL hockey action against the Ottawa Senators, in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Fred Chartrand/CP)

Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar has been crowned the top rookie of the 2019-20 campaign.

The Calgary, Alta., native logged a monstrous effort to earn the Calder Memorial Trophy win in his first big-league go-round, skating more than 21 minutes per night and amassing 50 points through 57 games in the process.

While his Calder win comes as a result of his regular-season success, Makar’s already proven to be a clutch playoff performer as well. After debuting in the NHL during the 2019 playoffs with six points through 10 games in his first-ever run in an Avalanche sweater, Makar put up 15 points through 15 games this time around, while skating a team-leading 23:41 minutes per night.

Makar beat out fellow dynamic defenceman Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks – who put up 53 points during the regular season himself and 17 in the post-season, albeit both in more games than Makar – and Chicago Blackhawks 30-goal-scorer Dominik Kubalik.

The 21-year-old Makar joins teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog as Calder winners on the Avalanche roster, with the forwards winning in 2014 and 2012, respectively.

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