Calder Trophy Power Rankings: How legitimate is Bunting's case?

In our fifth edition of the 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we have a red-hot newcomer in the top three. The list at this point is incredibly tight from top to bottom, and watching this year's group of rookies battle to be finalists at season's end will be one of the most interesting subplots of the stretch run.

5. Matt Boldy, Wild

Previous rank: 5th

Let's make one thing clear off the bat: Boldy is only No. 5 because of his small sample size. With another month playing like he has, the Wild youngster will shoot up our rankings and make the race for the top spot even more intriguing.

Boldy continues to produce and owns the highest point-per-game clip (0.95) of all regular freshmen league-wide. The 20-year-old is a threat as a shooter and a playmaker, and his role in the top-six of a playoff-bound team should carry significant weight for voters at the end of the season.

4. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings

Previous rank: 3rd

Raymond's rank this month is his lowest of the season, which may seem nonsensical considering he's retaken the lead in the rookie scoring race. There's a strong chance Raymond finishes the season as a finalist, but as of late, those ahead of Raymond on our list have outplayed him.

He put up three points in Saturday's 1980s-esque barn burner against Toronto, but he only had four points for the month before the offensive outburst. If that performance is a sign of things to come for the stretch run, Raymond is a virtual lock to jump back into a top-three spot.

3. Michael Bunting, Maple Leafs

Previous rank: N/A

Bunting's Calder eligibility is a controversial topic, and it's bound to cause more divisiveness if he keeps his recent play up. The 26-year-old just barely fits under multiple rookie of the year criteria, and a Calder win would make him the oldest winner since 31-year-old Sergei Makarov in 1990.

While Bunting's age is likely to be a major detractor for voters by season's end, there's no denying his most recent month of play warrants real consideration. Bunting has rocketed to second in rookie scoring and leads his peers in goals and points since our last edition while posting sterling underlying numbers as a key contributor on the Maple Leafs' star-studded top line.

2. Moritz Seider, Red Wings

Previous rank: 4th

Seider is right back in the thick of the race and rapidly closing the gap on the top spot after posting 10 points in February, ranking second among all rookies over that span. He's tied for third in outright rookie scoring and leads first-year players in average ice time by more than two full minutes.

Do-it-all defensemen are immensely valuable in today's NHL, and Seider establishing himself as one as a 20-year-old is no small feat. His reputation is now well known among mainstream media and fans, so Seider should have no shortage of support when it comes time to vote.

1. Trevor Zegras, Ducks

Previous rank: 1st

Zegras hasn't solidified the No. 1 spot due to a torrid stretch by any means, but he also hasn't done anything to warrant falling down the list, either. The Ducks dynamo is going about his business of late with a point-per-game clip over the past month.

He hasn't gone viral for a show-stopping highlight lately (give him time), but he's still consistently finding the scoresheet and maintaining a positive impact in several key underlying metrics. Until Zegras starts getting noticeably out-performed, he belongs in the top spot.

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)