Top 25 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2024-25 NHL season

Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Calder Trophy race is shaping up to be a good one.

With a couple of strong drafts in a row, the NHL’s rookie crop is quite deep. Between players with some experience already, such as Logan Stankoven and Dustin Wolf, and others making the jump from college, junior or European pro, there’s plenty of options who could seriously challenge for rookie of the year honors.

Last year’s Calder Trophy fight was Connor Bedard’s to lose. This year, Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov might be the preseason favorite, but it goes so much deeper than that – including 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini.

NHL teams will have big decisions to make with the start of the regular season (for most teams) kicking off on Oct. 8. We’ll see teams allow younger players to start in the NHL in hopes of keeping their NHL hopes alive, like Zach Benson last year. Others will get sent back to junior or find themselves with a chance to play a bigger role in the AHL.

Knowing how the rookie battles work each year, one of the Calder finalists might be someone completely out of left field. But for now, these 25 will be interesting to watch in 2024-25:

Matvei Michkov, RW (Philadelphia Flyers)

Michkov truly feels like the oldest 19-year-old in NHL history – partly because his name started to be mentioned in scouting circles back in 2018. Now, he’s finally set to play an impact role on a Flyers team that’s looking to push themselves back into playoff contention sooner rather than later. Michkov’s NHL arrival came earlier than expected, so it’ll be interesting to see how GM Danny Briere adjusts the team’s timeline to accommodate that. But it’s been a long time since Flyers fans have had such a high-profile prospect to get excited about. Michkov is so skilled and dangerous and is already looking good in his early days with the franchise. Next up? Chasing the Calder.

Logan Stankoven, RW (Dallas Stars)

For what it’s worth, Stankoven was this writer’s choice for the Calder Trophy. The Stars had Stankoven play in 24 regular season games in 2023-24, and he put up 14 points in that span. The former WHL star made a huge impression in his first pro season, scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 47 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars, and could have potentially won the league MVP title had he remained in the AHL. Still, it was enough to win Rookie of the Year honors, which, given how much time he spent with the big club, tells you just how dominant he was. Stankoven is small at just 5-foot-8, but that hasn’t slowed him down in his pursuit to become one of the best prospects in the game.

Macklin Celebrini, C (San Jose Sharks)

All eyes will be on Celebrini in 2024-25 after going first overall back in June. He proved he had nothing left to show in the college ranks and now he’ll get a chance to become a No. 1 center in the NHL. With Celebrini, you can see all the translatable skills, plus how well he handled playing against older competition at only 17. He hits, scores, drives the play and commits himself defensively at all times. From an all-around standpoint, Celebrini is one of the best two-way first-overall picks in a while, and that’s exciting. He doesn’t have to be flashy to be good, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to steal the spotlight in California. Now we cross our fingers and hope the prognosis on his lower-body injury is good.

Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks)

Celebrini won’t be alone, though. The Boston College alum led the NCAA in scoring last year, and while he had some spiffy linemates at his disposal, Smith almost always looked like the best player out there. Now, just over a year after going fourth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Smith is going to likely become a second-line NHLer right out of the gate. The 19-year-old has looked good in Sharks colors early on and will be given every opportunity to play a ton of minutes and different situations on the Sharks. It’s going to be hard to compete for the Calder with his teammate, but don’t be surprised if Smith ends up becoming the higher-scoring player this year. Regardless, it’s an exciting time for Sharks fans.

Cutter Gauthier, LW (Anaheim Ducks)

With Gauthier’s mix of confidence and skill, I have every reason to believe he’ll be a star sooner rather than later. And, maybe, he’ll be one of the biggest reasons why Anaheim is challenging for Stanley Cups before the turn of the decade. The biggest question, to me, is whether Gauthier slots down the middle or on the wing. He has significant experience at both, and has the physical traits you’d look for out of a center. A Gauthier, Trevor Zegras and Frank Vatrano trio would be pretty spicy, though. Regardless, Gauthier is built for the pro game and I’m excited to see him play a big role on Anaheim this year.

Dustin Wolf, G (Calgary Fl ames)

Few goalie prospects have been as dominant at just about every level they’ve played in as Wolf. Last year was the first time that he didn’t win top goalie honors in either the WHL or AHL since 2018-19 (when, funny enough, he led the WHL with a .936 save percentage), but he still put up a 20-12-3 record in the AHL with four shutouts and a .922 save percentage. Wolf is on the smaller side at six-foot, so there are concerns about whether his skill will translate to the NHL, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a top-10 goalie in the NHL by December, either. When Wolf’s on his game, few can be as dominant as he can. Don’t be surprised if he has established himself as Calgary’s clear No. 1 by the midway point.

Mavrik Bourque, C (Dallas Stars)

The fact that Bourque is Dallas’ second-best prospect is wild. He’s an excellent talent, and with the Stars looking to go the distance this year, it’s exciting to think that both Stankoven and Bourque could have decent roles. After a solid rookie campaign in 2022-23, Bourque blew the doors off with 26 goals, 51 assists and 77 points in 71 games to lead the AHL in scoring and take home MVP honors. Bourque made his NHL debut, too, and now has nothing left to prove in the minors. A late first-rounder in 2020, Bourque finished his QMJHL career two years ago producing at a wild rate and hasn’t slowed down since turning pro. That momentum and confidence in himself is going to take him far, and he could end up getting some top five Calder votes when it’s all said and done.

Devon Levi, G (Buffalo Sabres)

Levi’s first pro season was a bit all over the place, bouncing between Buffalo and Rochester. It never made sense for Levi to start the year with the Sabres, even with his great play near the end of the 2022-23 campaign. But once he found his groove with Rochester, he was nearly unstoppable, and it’s time for him to build upon that as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup – at least to start. Levi had been a dominant force during his two years in the NCAA, but the pro game, especially for a goaltender standing just six-foot, is a totally different animal. You want your goaltenders to have confidence, and Levi really showed that during the Americans’ playoff push. Levi might legitimately be Buffalo’s goalie of the future, but they also have the luxury of being patient with him thanks to the rise of Luukkonen.

Rutger McGroarty, LW (Pittsburgh Penguins)

McGroarty’s ability to score, hit and outwork opponents makes him so intriguing. He does so much with and without the puck that I feel gets overlooked. He’s got size and speed, and the offense has been incredible this year, with him blasting past the 50-point mark as a sophomore in college. McGroarty battles so hard that, if he isn’t scoring, he’s still doing enough to keep himself relevant on the scoresheet. The World Juniors was proof of that. He has a chance to play alongside Penguins royalty in either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, and that can’t hurt the stat sheet.

Josh Doan, RW (Utah Hockey Club)

Doan is expected to earn plenty of ice time with Utah after a great 11-game NHL stretch last year. It came after Doan put up 26 goals and 46 points in 62 AHL games – good numbers for a rookie. But with Utah seeking some secondary scoring help, Doan could be what they really need. There’s an argument to be made that he tops off as a second-liner at best, especially with Utah’s depth on the right side. But I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him during the preseason and am looking forward to seeing him contribute when the games start to matter.

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (Minnesota Wild)

Khusnutdinov got his first taste of NHL action at the end of 2023-24, putting up four points in 16 games to close out the year. It came in a campaign after starting the year with SKA St. Petersburg before heading off to HK Sochi for the bulk of the year. His production rate dropped, but Khusnutdinov he still played a big role on a poor team and proved to many scouts that he’s still a legitimate prospect with a bright future ahead of him. Khusnutdinov is just 5-foot-9, but he has some great, pure skill and hustles hard to make up for it. I think Khusnutdinov will become a third-liner in the NHL, one capable of winning a boatload of faceoffs and beating players in tight to provide valuable depth scoring.

Artūrs Šilovs, G (Vancouver Canuck s)

This is shaping up to be a massive year for Šilovs. With health concerns already stifling the start of the season for Thatcher Demko, we’ll see if the Latvian keeper can take advantage. Šilovs had his ups and downs during the regular season, but he was much better than his stats would suggest in Abbotsford where the defense corps wasn’t always playing at a capable level. Šilovs was a big reason why the Canucks stayed alive in the playoffs, leading to the team moving on from Casey DeSmith and opening the backup role up for the 23-year-old keeper instead. If Šilovs can play anywhere like he did in the playoffs, the Canucks should feel comfortable giving him plenty of starts.

Jiri Kulich, C (Buffalo Sabres)

After ripping apart the Buffalo Prospect Challenge last month and then joining much of Buffalo’s main squad for the trip to Europe, there seems to be a path forward for Kulich to become an everyday contributor. Now 20 years old and with four years of pro hockey experience (two in Rochester), Kulich doesn’t have much more to prove in the AHL. He’s a sharpshooter that many scouts believe can be a 25-30 goal scorer one day – perhaps filling a void left by Victor Olofsson after watching his production wither away last year. Kulich should be a big piece of Buffalo’s future, but we’ll see where he cracks the lineup this year.

Lane Hutson, D (Montreal Canadiens)

I love Hutson, who is easily one of my favorite prospects in the NHL. But I’ll be the first to say that the Canadiens should consider being patient here and not buy into the preseason hype 100%. I’d love to be wrong, and love to see him chase a Calder. But it’s difficult for a player with his particular high-flying, run-and-gun style to adapt to the pro game easily, especially when Hutson is still prone to making big mistakes in his own zone. So if Hutson struggles out of the gate and gets sent down to Laval, that’s fine. He’s 20 years old and has so many great years of hockey ahead of him. But, by the same token, the Canadiens might be willing to play the patient game with him because they’re still expected to be a bottom-feeder, and we know coach Martin St. Louis has found success working with smaller players. By all accounts, there isn’t a more fascinating defenseman to watch in this rookie crop.

Joshua Roy, LW (Montreal Canadiens)

The biggest thing about Roy was seeing how his game translated to the pros after dominating the junior ranks. He’s not big, and he was a one-dimensional player throughout the first half of his QMJHL tenure. But there haven’t been many AHL rookies that impressed early in a season in recent memory like Roy did, challenging for the scoring lead early on while also getting some significant opportunities with the big club. Roy had 32 points in 41 games in the AHL and another nine points in 23 NHL games. Now, Roy’s ready for full-time NHL duty, and fans are rightfully excited. He never looked out of place against older, tougher competition last year, and he could help generate some extra scoring in Patrik Laine’s absence.

Maxim Tsyplakov, RW (New York Islanders)

Tsyplakov is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger with Spartak Moskva. He’s coming off a breakthrough season, scoring a career-best 31 goals and 47 points in 65 games. He struggled over the final few games during the KHL regular season, but he still blew away his personal best of 25 points in a season. Tsyplakov is a good skater, but he’ll need to add a bit more speed to his game to thrive in the NHL. We’ll see if last year’s KHL play was a fluke, or if he’s actually a great find by the Isles.

Gavin Brindley, RW (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Don’t be surprised if Brindley breaks out for 50 points this year and puts himself firmly in the Calder conversation. He still has to make the team, but the winger has shown in the preseason that he deserves to at least start in the NHL. After a solid 38-point freshman season at Michigan two years ago, Brindley finished 25 goals and 53 points in 40 games, including two points in the game that sent Michigan to the Frozen Four. Add in his incredible performance at the World Juniors with USA, and you can see someone who had very little left to prove at the college level. Brindley isn’t big, but he’s energetic and isn’t afraid to get rough along the boards to win any battle thrown at him. He deserves a shot to play in the top nine, and, potentially, reunite with Fantilli.

Mackie Samoskevich, RW (Florida Panthers)

Samoskevich might not be in a big market, but he deserves much more praise for his AHL exploits last year. He posted 22 goals and 54 points in 62 games with Charlotte last year and he now looks ready to push for middle-six ice time with the big club. Samoskevich is an excellent skater who loves to attack the puck, and he’s got excellent hands, too. One issue that has persisted for years, though, is how often he overhandles the puck. Sometimes, he just needs to slow down and keep things simple to be effective. But when he’s feeling it, Samoskevich is downright lethal.

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (Colorado Avalanche)

With more than 300 games of KHL experience, the 24-year-old isn’t your average rookie. The Avs are hoping Kovalenko can build upon two good years in the KHL and a decent short stint with the Colorado Eagles and become a legit contributor right away. Some holes in Colorado’s lineup – including the absence of Valeri Nichushkin – could allow Kovalenko to immediately step into a middle-six role, combining speed and strength to win puck battles. At the very least, he looks like a third-line caliber player who isn’t afraid to push players around despite his slight 5-foot-10 stature. Anything more is great.

Justus Annunen, G (Colorado Avalanche)

With Alexandar Georgiev proving to be inconsistent, Annunen could end up pushing to steal a ton of starts in 2024-25. He has mainly spent the past three years with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, but he finally got his first real taste of NHL action with an 8-4-1 record, two shutouts, and a .928 save percentage in 14 games. The Avs relied on Georgiev probably a bit too much last year and that was especially evident later in the season. But after Annunen showed promise in the second half of the year, it should give coach Jared Bednar a bit more confidence after bouncing between backups the past few years. Annunen is ready to give Georgiev more of a break this year.

Cal Ritchie, C (Colorado Avalanche)

Ritchie has been excellent throughout training camp and many scouts think he could easily adapt to full-time NHL duty this season. His ability to learn from his mistakes him so effective, and there was no reason he should have fallen as late as he did in the first round in 2023. Ritchie missed time in his third OHL campaign last year but set a new career high with 52 assists and 80 points in 50 games played. He was also a serious contender for OHL playoff MVP with 30 points in 21 games, only for the Generals to fall in four games. Ritchie is a strong, smart, two-way center who can play against anyone and come out on top, and he’s going to be a long-term impact option for the Avs.

Zachary L’Heureux, LW (Nashville Predators)

L’Heureux is a human wrecking ball, someone who can play so many different roles for a team while terrorizing opponents. The 21-year-old isn’t huge, but he’s strong and downright nasty. He immediately made a massive impact as a pro in Milwaukee, scoring 19 goals and 48 points, and 197 penalty minutes in 66 games. He also had 10 goals, 15 points and 62 penalty minutes in 15 postseason games, landing every hit he could possibly unload. Sure, L’Heureux’s intensity can get him into trouble – a lot – but he has shown the skill to back it up at every level and I expect to see that remain the case once he cracks the NHL.

Yaroslav Askarov, G (San Jose Sharks)

It’s hard to find a pathway for Askarov to play a ton this year, but he might actually be the best goalie the Sharks have behind Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek. Askarov posted a 30-13-1 record with six shutouts and a .911 save percentage in the AHL, with his season highlighted by a 14-game win streak in the winter. By all accounts, the 6-foot-4 keeper is ready for full-time NHL duty. But after starting the preseason on the sidelines, and both Blackwood and Vanecek looking to establish themselves in a year where they’re both pending UFAs, it could be difficult for Askarov to get the starts required to make a difference. I hope he gets a shot, at least.

Denton Mateychuk, D (Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Blue Jackets have a backlog on the point, so getting full-time NHL duty will be difficult. But many think that once Mateychuk gets a chance with the big club, he’s not going back to the AHL. Mateychuk had three 60-plus-point seasons in the WHL and was a dominant force en route to a WHL league title last year. The dynamic, skilled, two-way defender can do so much with the puck and he has played well enough in camp to shove someone like Jack Johnson out of the lineup. The Blue Jackets have a good one here.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, RW (Washington Capitals)

After everything he went with on the health front, it was great seeing Miroshnichenko have a successful first year in North America. He put up a modest six points in 21 NHL games with the Caps, but he also helped Hershey win its second consecutive Calder Cup championship with a solid 12 points in 20 postseason games. The fact he played so well down the stretch helped and should do a lot to boost his confidence heading into his second season in the United States. There’s still no rush to push up to the NHL on a full-time basis, but based on training camp, I hope we get to see more of him this year.

Other notables: Easton Cowan, C (Toronto Maple Leafs), Calle Clang, G (Anaheim Ducks), Logan Mailloux, D (Montreal Canadiens), Bradly Nadeau, LW (Carolina Hurricanes)

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