Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard named 2024 Calder Trophy winner

The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced that Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard has captured the 2023-24 Calder Memorial Trophy.

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.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes were among the 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.

Bedard was Chicago’s first No. 1 pick since Patrick Kane in 2007 and becomes just the ninth player in Blackhawks history to win the Calder Trophy with Artemi Panarin winning it in 2016 and Kane in 2008 as the most recent to do so.

The five-foot-nine center scored 71 goals and 143 points in just 57 games with the Regina Pats of the WHL during the 2022–23 regular season. He added 20 points in seven WHL playoff games and 23 points in seven games with Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship. Bedard didn’t skip a beat as he came into the NHL, he notched 15 goals through his first 39 games before being injured.

The North Vancouver product is now the face of the franchise with the likes of Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel, and Frank Nazar. Chicago is set to pick No. 2 overall at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas on Friday, further adding to their new look.