Calder Trophy Power Rankings: Seider separating from pack

We have a debutant and a new No. 1 in our sixth edition of the 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings. With less than a month to go in the regular season, this campaign's freshmen are running out of time to establish themselves as worthy finalists for rookie of the year honors.

5. Cole Caufield, Canadiens

Previous rank: N/A

Not many people would have expected Caufield to make his debut on this list in April considering he was the favorite for the award at the start of the season. After a shockingly slow beginning to his first full NHL campaign, Caufield has caught fire under new head coach Martin St. Louis. He's a long shot to be a finalist, but his recent torrid stretch deserves recognition.

Since our last edition of these rankings on March 1, Caufield leads all rookies with eight goals and 16 points in 16 games. He finally appears to be playing with confidence and is commanding a central role in the much-improved Canadiens attack. While Caufield's hopes of winning a Calder are all but dashed, Habs fans must be loving what they're seeing from their most dynamic building block.

4. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings

Previous rank: 4th

Raymond continues to put together a strong rookie campaign but hasn't outplayed the three players inside the finalist cutline on our list. His age might work in his favor in the eyes of voters, but so would a strong final month of the season.

The 20-year-old trails only Caufield with seven goals over the last month, but he's added just three assists and is a minus-16 in that span. Raymond hasn't always consistently produced since flying out of the gates in October. That's expected for a rookie playing top competition, but it's a key problem in his case to bring home the hardware.

3. Michael Bunting, Maple Leafs

Previous rank: 3rd

Bunting's candidacy will be a hot-button issue up until voters make this season's finalists official, but the Maple Leafs' top left-winger continues to prove he's worthy of serious consideration. He's tied for second in rookie points (12) since our last edition, and he now leads the first-year scoring race overall (55). Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bunting's breakout campaign is his even-strength production as he leads his peers with 51 points on the year - 15 clear of second place.

Tie in his sterling underlying numbers and the fact he's the only player on our list positioned to help his team make the playoffs, and it's difficult to form an argument against Bunting outside of his age. League rules that he has no power over shouldn't be held against him.

2. Trevor Zegras, Ducks

Previous rank: 1st

A modest showing since our most recent rankings dropped Zegras out of the top spot for the first time in months. Sure, he completed another Michigan, but the Ducks superstar has managed only 0.73 points per game in 15 contests since March 1, a lower clip than what he previously produced. Zegras is still very much in the race and can reclaim the top spot with a strong finish to the season.

Outside of his Calder case, Zegras deserves credit for calling out Jay Beagle after last week's scrum between the Ducks and Arizona Coyotes escalated and left All-Star Troy Terry injured. It takes courage as a first-year player to speak as candidly as Zegras did, and he appears cognizant of his platform as a budding superstar looking to inspire change.

1. Moritz Seider, Red Wings

Previous rank: 2nd

Seider seems to have discovered that maybe the best way to get voters in your corner is to physically dominate your opponents regularly. Detroit's 20-year-old stalwart has been a wrecking ball on the ice lately. His imposing nature has him on track to be the first Red Wings player to win the Calder since Roger Crozier earned the honor in 1965.

Of course, big hits aren't all it takes to win the award. However, it's easy to foresee Seider winning the Calder when you combine his physicality with 44 points, ice time that's on par with the best veteran defensemen, and a poise that can only be fully appreciated by watching him play.

Honorable mentions: Matt Boldy (MIN), Tanner Jeannot (NSH), Jeremy Swayman (BOS)

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)