When was the last time a rookie class was this good this early in a season? I can’t recall one better.
Many rookies are making big impacts on their respective clubs, spurring an early debate about who will take home the Calder Trophy. There are more candidates than the five listed below, and some of them may hit the proverbial rookie wall. But this rookie class has been too good to be ignored, despite it being less than two weeks into the shortened season.
Here are the current top five candidates for the Calder:
1. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
The flashy 21-year-old from Russia started like gangbusters, collecting five points in his first two NHL games. He’s a true difference-maker for the Blues. They were a great team last season but lacked that one player that could create offence out of sheer skill. Tarasenko is that kind of player and makes the Blues a more complete team. He’s the early front-runner for the Calder.
2. Justin Schultz, Edmonton Oilers
Given his first impression on the Oilers organization, it’s safe to say Schultz has lived up to the hype thus far. After racking up 48 points in 34 AHL games during the lockout, Schultz is impressing at the NHL level. Not only does he have five points in seven games, but he leads the Oilers in average ice time (22:46) and is playing in all situations. If he keeps this up, he may work his way into the Norris Trophy conversation. Fun fact: Schultz is eligible for both the AHL and NHL rookie of the year awards.
3. Cory Conacher, Tampa Bay Lightning
Conacher may be third on this list, but he could easily be first. The undrafted, 5-foot-8 product out of Canisius College leads all rookies in points, with nine in the first six games. Conacher, who has four multi-point games under his belt, has thrived on a line with Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell.
4. Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruins
During a Jan. 25 tilt against the New York Islanders, Hamilton’s fourth NHL game, Bruins fans started a “Dougie! Dougie!” chant. If you watch Hamilton play, you’d think he’s been in the league for a decade. His poise and puck-moving ability are really impressive for a 19-year-old. As Bruins head coach Claude Julien told ESPN Boston: “Our guys drafted him because they saw a lot of things that we’re seeing right now.”
5. Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers
The No. 1 overall pick from last summer has garnered more attention for his goal celebrations than what he has actually done whistle-to-whistle. However, Yakupov has shown in flashes why he was highly coveted going into the 2012 draft. Yakupov has four goals in seven games, two of them coming in big moments — a game-tying goal with 4.7 seconds left against Los Angeles and an overtime winner against Phoenix.
Of the following, which NHL rookie will win the Calder Trophy?
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