March NHL Calder Trophy Update: Connor Bedard hasn’t missed a beat

Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Connor Bedard missed 14 games with a jaw fracture – but it didn’t do much to slow him down.

The Chicago Blackhawks rookie returned on Feb. 13 and didn’t miss a beat, scoring six points over a three-game stretch. He never relinquished the rookie scoring lead and is now on pace to become the first freshman to blast past the 50-point barrier in 2023-24.

What Bedard is doing on the worst team in the NHL is marvelous. He’s probably being stretched too thing a little bit, and it’s almost better that he doesn’t score because the team has a great chance at landing Macklin Celebrini. There are flaws in his game, especially defensively. But given what we’re watching now, just imagine where he’ll be in five years when the team’s years of misery finally start to pay off.

But enough about Bedard. You’re probably sick of hearing about him at this point. Here’s a look at nine other standout rookies you need to know:

Brock Faber, D (Minnesota Wild)

The fact Bedard missed so much time and is likely to still lead all rookies in points will likely give him the most votes. But what Faber is doing – playing north of 25 minutes a night on a team doing everything possible to remain in the playoff hunt – has many pegging him as a future NHL star. According to Evolving-Hockey, Faber’s 3.3 defensive rating is the best of any rookie D-man with at least 35 games played, and both his goals and wins above replacement are fourth among all freshmen. He’s leading all rookies in ice time while being one of Minnesota’s best players. The good news, Wild fans? Even if Faber doesn’t win the Calder, you’ve got arguably the best young defenseman in franchise history.

Marco Rossi, C (Minnesota Wild)

After a couple of false starts the past few years, it’s been great watching Rossi bubbling around near the 50-point pace mark this year. He’s been a valuable middle-six scorer who has been excellent at both ends of the ice. And that’s the thing – even when he’s not producing, he’s engaged defensively and drawing penalties. The points will keep improving, but for a guy who has been through so much already at 21, it’s been great seeing him produce like he has.

Luke Hughes, D (New Jersey Devils)

In an ideal world, Hughes would have acted in more of a support role while Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton did the heavy lifting. But injuries have forced Hughes to log more than 21 minutes a night while playing all situations, and it has taken a bit of a toll on his defensive game. He’s still looking solid with the puck, sitting sixth in rookie scoring with 29 points, but this felt like a real “getting thrown to the wolves” moment for the former University of Michigan defender. Transitionally, he’s been incredible, but he still needs some defensive seasoning.

Ridly Greig, LW (Ottawa Senators)

Greig missed time with an injury, but October’s rookie of the month has been so valuable for the Sens this season. Greig is on pace for 32 points, but according to Evolving-Hockey, he leads all rookies in goals above replacement (13.5) and wins above replacement (2.2) – and nobody is that close. He drives a ton of offense in a bottom-six role, and his expected goals-for percentage is 53.15 at 5-on-5. For what it’s worth, when you average Greig’s GAR, WAR and SPAR (Standing Points Above Replacement), Greig’s rating of 6.66 is the best of all rookies. When Greig’s on the ice, the Sens are a better team more often than not – simple as that.

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (Columbus Blue Jackets)

There’s an argument to be made that if there was a 2019 NHL re-draft, Voronkov would go in the top 15. Originally drafted 114th overall, Voronkov is on pace for 25 goals, 45 points and 64 penalty minutes – tremendous numbers for a team that struggles to generate much of anything most nights. Voronkov is a powerful 6-foot-5 forward who showed some promising signs in the KHL last year, but it seems like his overall game is geared more to the NHL. Voronkov is a legit scoring threat who should be a big part of Columbus’ future.

Connor Zary, LW (Calgary Flames)

It was another good month for Zary, who had six points in 10 games while averaging 15:28 in ice time. He has found a home on the second line alongside Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil, helping to put him fifth in rookie scoring with 29 points. He’s been good on the power play with four of his 12 goals coming on the man advantage, and he leads all rookies with at least 30 games played with a shooting percentage of 18.8. He’s also near the top rookies in terms of analytics, with his 10.9 goals above replacement and 1.8 wins above replacement putting him second behind Greig.

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (Carolina Hurricanes)

Kochetkov’s road to the Calder has been interesting, to say the least. He won rookie of the month for December 2022 before getting sent back down to the AHL. This is technically his third season in the NHL, but his first as a legitimate full-time NHLer. He’s been excellent, keeping the Hurricanes afloat amid Frederik Andersen’s health issues. His advanced analytics are mid-pack, but there’s no question the Hurricanes would be in deep trouble without his play this year.

Samuel Ersson, G (Philadelphia Flyers)

It’s Ersson’s net to lose after assuming No. 1 duties with Carter Hart’s departure. Ersson posted a 5-2-1 record with a .909 save percentage in February, helping to keep the Flyers in the playoff hunt. His advanced analytics aren’t great, but it’s not easy getting thrust into a starter’s role in a situation like he was. He leads all rookie goaltenders in most statistical categories, which helps. Is he Philly’s long-term solution in net? That’s not clear, but if the Flyers do end up making the playoffs, you can bet Ersson will be a big reason why.

Tyson Foerster, RW (Philadelphia Flyers)

February was an excellent month for Foerster, who had five goals and six points in as many games. The 6-foot-2 winger has hovered inside the top 10 in rookie scoring while being in the top three in goals above replacement (10.5) and wins above replacement (1.7). While Foerster hasn’t blitzed the league offensively, his underlying numbers suggest he’s one of the better rookies in the NHL. Plus, he’s playing at a 20-goal pace – and that type of scoring depth is one of the reasons why the Flyers are still in the playoff hunt.

Other notables: Leo Carlsson, C (Anaheim Ducks), Adam Fantilli, C (Columbus Blue Jackets), Matthew Knies, LW (Toronto Maple Leafs), Pavel Mintyukov, D (Anaheim Ducks), Logan Cooley, C (Arizona Coyotes), Luke Evangelista, RW (Nashville Predators), Simon Nemec, D (New Jersey Devils)

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