Site MapThe Calder Race Will Be a Tale of Two Votes
Between Brock Faber and Connor Bedard, the vote will have layers to it and test what the voters look
The NHL Award finalists are slowly being announced. The most exciting trophy race this season will be the Hart Trophy, the award given to the league’s MVP. For the first time in a while, was a four-player contest where Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nikita Kucherov, and Nathan MacKinnon all made great cases for the award.
The second-most exciting award contest is the Calder Trophy, the award given to the rookie of the year. It’s a two-player race with Brock Faber and Connor Bedard emerging as the two favorites to take home the award.
The three finalists for the Calder Trophy Award. Luke Hughes was the throw-in as it’s a two-player race. SOURCE: NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS (TWITTER/X)
Here’s a rundown of the two finalists:
Connor Bedard:
● Since his high school days, Bedard was labeled as the next great one. A generational talent who many saw as being the next Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, you get the point. He’s one of those players who is expected to turn a franchise into a perennial contender.
● In his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks, he battled injuries and missed 14 games while the team went 23-53-6 to finish in last place in the Central Division. Safe to say, it takes time to turn one of the worst teams into a contender, even if you are one of the best.
● Bedard still led his team in goals (22) and assists (39) while proving to be one of the most exciting players in the league as well. His speed, great passing, and offensive skills were on full display and proved that he’s ready to take the league by storm.
Brock Faber:
● The Minnesota Wild had a season to forget, going 39-34-9 and missing the playoffs. Faber did not. The 21-year-old defenseman was one of the bright spots and established himself as one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
● Faber had 4.2 defensive point shares and 150 blocked shots while contributing eight goals and 39 assists on the offensive end of the ice but what made his season more impressive was that he still produced even with an overwhelming workload. He averaged 24:58 ice time and was only one of two skaters on the Wild to play in all 82 games.
● The Wild struggled on defense. They allowed 3.17 goals per game and the unit was a mess by midseason, forcing a coaching change and lots of movement on the unit. Through it all Faber powered through and continued to play at a high level and it makes him a building block for a team looking to contend next season.
Why The Debate is Intriguing
Most casual fans know about Bedard and his brilliance. He’s the player who goes hand-in-hand with the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and is the next face of the NHL. Faber is the type of player a fan only knows is good if they watch the NHL on a common basis. One finalist plays in Chicago, the other in Minnesota. One had all the hype heading into the season, the other stuck up on everyone. One is a constant on the highlight reels, the other makes an impact every night but his value often goes unnoticed.
Brock Faber doesn’t get the same spotlight but will get his fair share of Calder votes. SOURCE: B/R OPEN ICE (TWITTER/X)
This isn’t just a vote on a rookie of the year, this is a vote that will reflect the hockey landscape. The voters have an interesting debate on their hands and part of their decision will revolve around what they think matters for the winner. For some, it’s all about the production and the value a player brings to their team. For others, it’s about players you will remember from a given season or an era. It’s what makes the Bedard-Faber debate interesting. It’s not just a split between hockey fans but how voters think.
How do you think should win the Calder Trophy?
