Matty Beniers, Owen Power, and Stuart Skinner named 2023 Calder Trophy finalists

Matty Beniers, Owen Power, and Stuart Skinner have been named the 2023 Calder Trophy finalists by the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association.

The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL’s top rookie. This year is the first time since 2019 that a forward, defenseman, and goalie were finalists for the award. Elias Pettersson ended up winning the trophy that year, beating out Jordan Binnington and Rasmus Dahlin.

Power and Beniers were selected first and second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, respectively. Skinner was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Skinner worked his way all the way up from the WHL to the ECHL to the AHL and finally securing his spot as the starting goalie for the Oilers.

In 50 games this year, Skinner has a 29-14-5 record playing behind a team full of superstars. He notched a .914 SV% and 2.73 GAA and is currently the starting goalie in the second round of the playoffs, where he will face the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old netminder was awarded for his play when he signed a three-year $7.8 million contract to stay with Edmonton long-term.

Beniers is a product of the University of Michigan and could have easily beaten out Power to be selected first overall in 2021. He put up 43 points in his final season in university and didn’t miss a beat, scoring nine points in the 10 game stint he was awarded at the end of the 2021-22 season. The Seattle Kraken forward led all NHL rookies in goals and points this season.

Power is a huge 6’6 tall defenseman who can score points as well as playing strong defense. He scored four goals and 35 points as one of the best young players on an up-and-coming Sabres team. If Power takes home the Calder Trophy this year, it will be back-to-back years with a defenseman winning the prestigious award. Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Moritz Seider won it last season for his 50-point campaign.