The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.
The award is usually voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, but will be subject to our panel today.
The winner of the Calder Trophy as judged by the panel is the Minnesota Wild’s Jonas Brodin. Brodin was given five first place votes by the panel, but zero second or third place votes. This means that he was either regarded as the best rookie of the year, or not regarded at all.
Brodin beat out the Florida Panthers‘ Jonathan Huberdeau for the award, who was on nearly everyone’s ballot but received only two first place votes.
Brodin’s season has seen him outplay his defense partner in tough even strength minutes, which is impressive enough, but his partner is prize free agent signing Ryan Suter. The 19 year old Swede hasn’t shot the lights out offensively, but in today’s game a strong puck possession defenseman who can hold his own against top competition is even more important.
