Panthers’ Ekblad wins Calder Trophy as top rookie

It was possibly one of the closest Calder ballots in recent memory with three, even four, eligible candidates for the award, but it was Aaron Ekblad that would ultimately prevail.

LAS VEGAS — Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad has won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

Ekblad accepted the trophy Wednesday night at the NHL Awards show in Las Vegas after winning a tight three-man race with Ottawa’s Mark Stone and Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau.

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The No. 1 overall pick in last summer’s draft, Ekblad scored 39 points with a plus-12 rating for the Panthers. After turning 19 years old last February, he is the youngest defenceman to win the Calder since Bobby Orr in 1967.

Florida has won two of the last three Calder Trophies. Ekblad joins Jonathan Huberdeau, who won it in 2013.

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