Making The Case: Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.
Now that the NHL has released the top three vote getters from the 2013-14 NHL season, here's a look at a case to be made for each.
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon, 18, led all rookies in points with 63, tying Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning for goals scored by first-year players with 24 and leading all rookies in assists (39) and shots on goal (241). He also registered a point in 13-straight games, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the longest point streak by an 18-year-old.
MacKinnon played a major role in Colorado's turnaround, helping the team earn a Central Division championship after finishing 29th overall last season. He appeared to earn the trust of head coach Patrick Roy as the season went on, averaging just under 20 minutes per game over the last six weeks of the regular season.
To top it off, MacKinnon started only 50.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone and finished the season with a plus-20 rating.
Add it all up and it will be hard to argue that anyone but MacKinnon should win this award.
Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning
The 23-year-old native of the Czech Republic was drafted 208th overall in 2011, but proved to be a diamond in the rough by recording 23 goals, 36 assists, 165 shots on goal and a plus-32 rating in 81 games for the Lightning.
Palat was a bit more sheltered than MacKinnon, with an offensive zone start rate of 53.8 percent, but demonstrated an ability to be trusted in all situations by leading all rookie forwards in shorthanded ice time (over 167 minutes as compared to just under six for MacKinnon) while also seeing over a minute and a half of power-play time per game.
Head coach Jon Cooper took advantage of Palat's skills in the absence of Steven Stamkos, and was rewarded with a tremendous overall performance. He may not win the Calder, but The Frank J. Selke Trophy could be in his future.
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
Not to be outdone by his teammate, Johnson - a 23-year-old signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay in March 2011 - finished third in rookie scoring with 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists). Most impressively, Johnson finished the year in a tie for first among all NHL players with five shorthanded goals and six total points on the penalty kill.
Johnson began 56 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone, putting his offensive success and a plus-23 rating in proper context. He also led all rookies in total ice time (1,540:20) and faceoffs (1,275), and, along with Palat, was a major factor in Tampa Bay's regular season success.
Johnson is the first undrafted Calder finalist since Chicago goaltender Ed Belfour won the award in 1991.
The NHL awards will be handed out June 24 in Las Vegas.
(Zone start information via Extra Skater)