Top five Calder Trophy candidates for 2022-23

The Calder Trophy needs no introduction, but just to do our diligence: it’s a hotly debated annual NHL award handed out at the end of the season to the player who is the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL. The trophy’s name honors the NHL’s first president, Frank Calder.

In recent years the Calder has been won by the likes of Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner Cale Makar, Toronto Maple Leafs’ superstar Auston Matthews and most recently, Detroit Red Wings blueline prodigy Moritz Seider. With the 2022-23 NHL season merely a month away from puck drop, let’s take a sneak peek at five candidates who could compete for this season’s Calder Trophy.

1. Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres

Owen Power was the Buffalo Sabres’ first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He was a highly touted prospect and a star at the University of Michigan. He was coming off a shortened season where he registered 16 points in 26 games. However, he opted to stay back in school for one more season as he knew the team was brewing a national title contender.

During the 2021 Draft, he and fellow Wolverines teammates Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson were selected in the first round. Power and Beniers became the first teammates since 1969 to be drafted in the first two selections. Beniers, of course, was the NHL expansion Seattle Kraken’s first-ever pick. We will get to Beniers later on. Power was right, though. There was a special team in Michigan, a group that boasted numerous NHL picks and future talent; 14 players had NHL rights. The Wolverines would dominate the NCAA season and post a record of 31-1-10 before having their hearts broken in an overtime loss to eventual national champion Denver in the Frozen Four.

Following his NCAA season, Power opted for the NHL and joined the Sabres during the last few weeks of the regular season. He played eight games and registered three points, which included two goals. His short but sweet impression is enough for him to be listed as the top Calder candidate this season. The 6-foot-6 Mississauga, Ontario giant shows a lot of promise stepping into the NHL full-time this season, and it’s easy to understand the appeal. According to Daily Faceoff’s Brock Seguin’s 82-game rookie model, Power projects to score 5.7 goals and 27.4 assists for 33.2 points.

Not many players at his height can maneuver the way he does on the ice. Power rarely makes mistakes and frequently will play the short-range passing game to let his teammates take control of a play. With a powerful shot and the ability to walk the blueline with poise, Power has all the right tools in his bag to be crowned the Calder Trophy winner at the end of the season.

2. Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks

When the Ducks chose Mason McTavish with the third overall pick in the 2021 Draft, I distinctly remember seeing some backlash on social media regarding the selection. However, McTavish has since silenced any critics.

McTavish has been successful at every level in his career. He’s coming off a monster major-junior season where he registered 20 goals and 47 points in 29 games with the Peteborough Petes and Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League. He helped the Bulldogs win an OHL Championship and led them to the Memorial Cup Final.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound forward is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. His net-front presence and ability to use his strength to pounce on loose pucks is something that NHL management drools over. McTavish got a taste of both NHL and AHL action last season; he played his first nine games with the Ducks and recorded three points. He had two points in three games during his stint with the AHL San Diego Gulls, but it was not enough to keep him up with the club. Sending McTavish back to the OHL was the best thing the Ducks could have done for his development. He dominated the OHL and, this past summer, he captained Team Canada through its gold medal run at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. During the World Juniors, McTavish showed off his game, registering a whopping 17 points in 7 games. He was a man amongst boys out there.

After that incredible performance with Team Canada, he likely climbed many Calder Trophy candidate lists. With the Ducks heading toward rebuilding, McTavish could benefit in the long run. Building a core around the flashy offensive guru Trevor Zegras and McTavish is likely already outlined in the Ducks’ plan. Sure, they are two polar opposite players, but both are elite offensive players in their way. McTavish will have zero issues elevating his game to the next level.

According to Seguin’s 82-game rookie model, McTavish is projected to score 15.4 goals, 28.5 assists, for 43.8 points.

3. Matty Beniers, Seattle Kraken

We talked a bit about Beniers when mentioning his Wolverines teammate Power at the top of the list. Now we can divulge into Beniers’s game and why he is highly rated as a favorite to win the Calder.

The Wolverines prodigy was selected second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Seattle Kraken. Many believe that Beniers is the future face of the Kraken. His hockey IQ is off the charts, showing extreme attention to detail. His defensive problem-solving ability and switchability are some of his most prominent traits.

This past season, Beniers led the Wolverines to the Frozen Four registering 20 goals and 43 points in 37 games. He’s an extraordinarily versatile center. His offensive flare is also noticeable, and his high-pace acceleration allows him to maneuver past opposing defenders with little-to-no effort. Beniers got his first taste of NHL action this season when he suited up for an April 12th game against the Calgary Flames. In 10 games with the Kraken, he finished with nine points and made quite the impact right away in the lineup. According to Seguin’s 82-game rookie model, Beniers is projected to score 18.6 goals and 39.8 assists for 58.3 points.

The Kraken are an expansion team, meaning their prospect pool and the overall depth chart are weaker than those of most other clubs. However, with the recent draft selection of Shane Wright, the Kraken could have their one-two duo for the next 15 years in Beniers and Wright. Each plays an elite two-way game. Could the Kraken potentially build an elite team around Beniers and Wright? We will see in a few seasons, but I wouldn’t underestimate what Ron Francis is creating in Seattle.

4. Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Port Moody, B.C., native Johnson is the last of the trio from the Wolverines to appear on this list. Johnson was selected fifth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Before joining the Wolverines, Johnson was a superstar in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Trail Smoke Eaters. In his final season, he amassed 101 points in 52 games before the COVID-19 pandemic swooped in and initiated a stoppage of play. In Johnson’s first NCAA season, he registered 27 points in 26 games and impressed enough for general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen to take a chance on the puckhandling wizard.

Johnson is coming off an awe-inspiring year for a 19-year-old, playing on an NCAA juggernaut and scoring the goal that helped Canada win a gold medal at the World Juniors. Winning at every stage is something that Johnson has been getting used to in his career. Johnson is highly regarded for his excellent puck handling ability, allowing him to create highlight reel plays. He pulled off a ‘Michigan’ – a lacrosse-style goal, at the World Juniors in August. When Johnson is in his element, the game looks effortless. He is dynamic, and his ability to play with the puck and dance around opponents easily is a gifted trait. He embodies what it means to be an elite playmaker.

Last season in the NCAA, he registered 29 assists and 37 points in 32 games and was pivotal to the powerhouse Wolverines squad with Beniers and Power. In non-NHL action this year, he registered 1.07 points per game. Before joining the Blue Jackets, he had the privilege to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, tallying five points in five games.

Johnson then transitioned to the NHL and had three points in nine games. His role throughout those first nine games was minimal but an excellent taste of what the future looks like; it was also a feeler for Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen. Johnson will likely be slotted in a bottom-six role to start. His creativity on the ice with the puck is something to behold, and with that kind of finesse becoming increasingly popular, Johnson will surely fit into the culture. Last season we saw Zegras and Sonny Milano pull off an “alley-oop” style goal that shocked the hockey world, and after Johnson’s Michigan goal at the World Juniors, who knows what he has in store for the big leagues?

Nonetheless, another potential highlight-reel star is on the rise in the NHL. According to Seguin’s 82-game rookie model, Johnson is projected to score 11.3 goals and 30.8 assists, for 42.0 points.

5. Jack Quinn, Buffalo Sabres

The former Ottawa 67’s star and Cobden, Ontario product Quinn is the second Sabre to make this list. The Sabres took him eighth overall in the 2020 Draft after he registered 52 goals and 89 points in 62 games. Quinn was quick to impress in Buffalo training camps and spent the 2020-21 season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. In his first year of pro, he played 15 games and recorded nine points. Despite a shortened season, Quinn was able to make a good impression. That same year, he suited up for Team Canada at the World Juniors bubble in Edmonton, Alberta. He totalled five points in seven games and took home a silver medal following a defeat to the USA.

Quinn is a detail-oriented winger with a lethal NHL-caliber release. Watching him corral the puck at high speeds, followed by a curl-and-release sequence, he makes shooting look easy. The truth is, it’s an art, but something that Quinn is obsessed with mastering. He’s also a right-handed shot but will play both wing positions, giving the Sabres a little more flexibility when slotting him in the lineup. With year one in the books, Quinn returned stronger and ready to prove why he’s a top ten talent.

This past season, through ups and downs, including a severe hernia injury, Quinn fought through it all and torched the AHL with 26 goals and 61 points in 45 games. His sheer dominance was enough to be named the AHL rookie of the year. Quinn was the AHL’s most productive forward under 21, registering 1.36 points per game. Quinn also received an NHL call-up; he made his NHL debut on Jan. 20 against the Dallas Stars and had two points in a thrilling first game. While he was once considered a “late bloomer” in the development department, he has undoubtedly found his game and come full circle.

According to Seguin’s 82-game rookie model, Quinn will score 24.4 goals and 26.4 assists for 50.8 points. He will be yet another rookie to keep an eye on in Buffalo.

Honorable mentions

Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets

Whitby, Ontario product Perfetti is another player who could find himself on the ballot come the end of the season. Through 18 games last season with the Jets, he produced seven points. Perfetti is a cerebral puck carrier who possesses exceptional hockey IQ and vision. His ability to problem solve on the fly indicates the elite playmaking skills that make him such a threat on the ice. If the Jets utilize Perfetti correctly, he could steal the Calder right out from under everyone. Projection: 15.0 goals and 28.6 assists for 43.6 points.

Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild

The Austrian playmaking wizard Rossi, is an intriguing underdog to win the Calder. The former OHL MVP was diagnosed with the heart condition myocarditis during the 2020 World Juniors – to see him bounce back has been tremendous. Rossi registered 53 points in 63 games last season with the AHL Iowa Wild and seemed to have no issues adjusting to the game at the pro level. He, along with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, represents the future of the Minnesota Wild organization. Projection: 16.0 goals and 31.2 assists for 47.3 points.

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators

If Jake Sanderson can stay healthy through the season, he could be this year’s Seider. The former North Dakota Fighting Hawks assistant captain is finally 100 percent fit after undergoing multiple surgeries on his wrist and is ready to join the powerhouse Ottawa Senators. Projection: 8.6 goals and 26.5 assists for 35.1 points.

William Eklund, San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks drafted the flashy Swedish do-it-all forward seventh in 2021. When Eklund made his NHL debut last season, he seemed ready to leap. Through nine games, he had four assists. However, he was sent back to Sweden to play in the Swedish Hockey League and, through 29 games, registered 14 points. Now, he is ready to make the return to the NHL and battle through an 82-game schedule. Should he produce at the rate expected, Eklund will surely be a player appearing on ballots come voting time. Projection: 11.9 goals and 28.9 assists for 40.8 points.

Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings

Taken sixth overall in 2021, Edvinsson is a giant 6-foot-6 Swedish defenseman – who, along with Seider, is the future of the Red Wings blueline. After a great season in the SHL with Frolunda, registering 19 points in 44 games, Edvinsson seems poised to make the jump to the NHL. Edvinsson does a lot of things right, like using his large frame to his advantage to knock players off the puck, whether with a poke check or sheer physicality. His supreme defensive knowledge is also a focal point of his game. It appears Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has hit yet another home run. Projection: 3.5 goals and 29.8 assists for 33.3 points.

Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens

When Slafkovsky was taken first overall in Montreal this summer, he became the highest drafted Slovakian-born NHL player in history. If Slafkovksy can mimic his international performances, he is a player who could become a powerhouse at the pro level in the coming years. After all, he was named 2022 Olympic MVP after scoring seven goals in seven games and he was the leading scorer for the Slovaks at the 2022 Men’s World Championship with nine points. He has already proven to have success playing against high-end competition, and should that translate to the NHL – he will be a player the Canadiens can rely upon in big moments. The question is whether he makes the team this year. Projection: 10.0 goals and 12.7 assists for 22.7 points.

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