Bedard, Faber, Hughes announced as 2023-24 Calder Trophy finalists

To nobody’s surprise, Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard, Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes have been announced as the 2023-24 Calder Trophy Finalists.

First awarded in 1932-33, the Calder Memorial Trophy is presented annually “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.”

The award is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.

Last year’s winner was Seattle Kraken forward Matty Beniers, with Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power getting the nods as finalists.

Bedard waltzed into the season with humongous expectations and despite a broken jaw setback, had himself a solid first year of production. The 2023 first-overall pick tallied 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points in 68 games, Bedard’s 61 points ranked him first among NHL rookies. Bedard ranked tied for first among Blackhawks skaters with Jason Dickinson for goals and first in points.

Faber became a pivotal piece of the Wild’s defense corps as they struggled with injuries and tallied eight goals and 39 assists for 47 points. Faber was averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time per game which at his age is almost unheard of. Faber would be the first defenseman since Moritz Seider to win the Calder. Seider did it in 2022. Faber would also be the second Wild player to win the Calder, the last being Kirill Kaprizov.

Hughes tallied nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points in 82 games. Hughes’s 47 points rank second in Devils franchise history as the most by a rookie defenseman. Hughes led all NHL rookies with 21 powerplay assists and 25 powerplay points. The 20-year-old is the first Calder Trophy Finalist for the Devils since Adam Henrique placed third in 2011-12. Hughes is looking to join Scott Gomez and Martin Brodeur as the third winner in franchise history. Luke joins his brother Quinn, as the first ever pair of brothers in NHL history to be voted as finalists for the award.