With the first half of the NHL season almost behind us here is a look at five rookies whose play has warranted some consideration for the Calder Trophy at the halfway mark.
Aaron Ekblad — 5 goals, 18 assists, 23 points, +11 plus/minus
Ekblad trails only Nick Bjugstad for the Florida Panthers scoring lead. He’s in a class of his own as an 18-year-old defenceman. In fact, Ekblad’s 23 points currently rank him eighth all-time for points in a season by an 18-year-old blue-liner and it’s only January.
Highlight of the 2014-15 season: First career NHL goal
Filip Forsberg — 14 goals, 24 assists, 38 points, +22 plus/minus
Forsberg leads all rookies in scoring. The 20-year-old also leads the Nashville Predators, who sit atop the Western Conference, in goals and points.
With a strong second half Forsberg could become the first Predators player since Paul Kariya in 2005-06 to score at a point-per-game pace.
Highlight of the 2014-15 season: A dangle and snipe to end a scoreless game in OT.
Johnny Gaudreau — 13 goals, 19 assists, 32 points, +10 plus/minus
“Johnny Hockey” is second to Forsberg for the rookie scoring lead. He’s also a big reason why the Calgary Flames have been one of the league’s biggest surprises through the first half.
How Gaudreau, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, holds up over the second half of the season may ultimately dictate how he fares in the race for the Calder Trophy.
Highlight of the 2014-15 season: An OT winner to cap his first career hat trick.
Michael Hutchinson — 11 wins, 2.00 GAA, .931 Sv%, 1 SO
The Winnipeg Jets currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference and it’s thanks in large part to improved goaltending. Hutchinson’s play has him poised to take over the Jets’ No. 1 goaltending duties from Ondrej Pavelec.
He leads the league in save percentage and sits second in goals-against average. Carrying the Jets to the post-season for the first time since the Atlanta Thrashers made it in 2006-07 might be enough to cement him as a Calder finalist.
Highlight of the 2014-15 season: 33 saves for first career shutout
John Klingberg — 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, +8 plus/minus
When the Dallas Stars shipped out veteran defenceman Sergei Gonchar and Brenden Dillon via trade it opened the door for Klingberg to assume a lot more responsibility.
The 22-year-old Swede has impressed. He’s skating more than 21 minutes per night and he’s helped the Stars shake their reputation as a defensively deficient hockey team. Ekblad is sure to overshadow him as a rookie defenceman, but Klingberg looks like a very good young piece for the Stars.
Highlight of the 2014-15 season: Beating Viktor Fasth from beyond the blue line
