With every part that’s occurred to date this yr, it’s changing into clear that NHL followers are having fun with a really particular period of expertise in skilled hockey. The 4 Nations event, the place the championship recreation turned one of the watched hockey video games ever, spotlighted the ‘Golden period’ of gamers within the league proper now.
The expertise on this yr’s Calder Trophy race, the award given every year to the NHL’s finest rookie, proves that the elite gamers from each the collegiate and worldwide ranges are going to maintain coming.
With a number of months to go till the Calder Trophy winner is introduced, right here’s a have a look at the place the chances stand for this yr’s finest rookie.
Calder Trophy Odds
Calder Trophy Favourite
Macklin Celebrini, C, Sharks (-190)
San Jose’s Celebrini has been the chances favourite for a lot of the season, and with good motive. He’s tied with Flyers ahead Matvei Michkov for first in targets for rookies with 20, and he’s second in factors with 48.
Celebrini performed one season at Boston College final yr, successful the Hobey Baker award, school hockey’s equal of the Heisman. His BU squad additionally made it to the Frozen 4, dropping to Denver, the eventual Nationwide Champions.
He might grow to be the third participant to win a Hobey Baker award and Calder Trophy in back-to-back seasons because the Baker award was first handed out in 1981. The primary two have been BU’s Chris Drury, who received the Calder with the Colorado Avalanche in 1999, and UMass defenseman Cale Makar, who received the Calder with the Avalanche in 2020.
2024-25 Calder Trophy Contenders
Lane Hutson, D, Canadiens (+200)
Hutson, who was teammates with Celebrini final yr in Boston, is constructing a powerful case to be thought-about for the Calder Trophy. He’s already grow to be one of many league’s finest offensive defensemen. He leads all rookies in factors with 51, and he’s doing all of it along with his passing, scoring solely 4 targets this yr.
Hutson’s case might enhance if the Canadiens’ playoff standing improves. Montreal’s just one level out of the ultimate Japanese Convention Wild Card spot. Perhaps Calder voters could be extra inclined to help Hutson over Celebrini if the previous helped his staff into the playoffs.
Dustin Wolf, G, Flames (+850)
A rookie goalie hasn’t received the Calder since Steve Mason in 2009, but when the Flames make the playoffs, there may very well be an opportunity for Wolf to interrupt the drought.,
Wolf is in a category of his personal with regards to rookie goalies, and he’s even within the prime echelon of goalies total. He’s at the moment thirteenth in targets towards common with 2.53 and eighth in save proportion with .915.
Positive, there’s an opportunity Wolf sneaks in there, however it might take a fairly large streak of shutouts and an enormous enchancment within the Flames’ report for him to leap over Hutson and Celebrini.
Who Will Win the 2025 Calder Trophy?
It’s extra probably than not that Celebrini will maintain on to win the Calder Trophy, however Hutson’s case will get stronger because the playoffs strategy.
The Sharks are what they’re at this level within the season: a bottom-of-the-league staff with good vibes and lots of promising prospects. However the Canadiens have an actual shot at being a playoff staff this yr.
Celebrini’s lead within the betting markets has been shrinking lately, and a run in direction of the playoffs for the Canadiens might enhance standing much more.
As a Boston College graduate, selecting between Celebrini and Hutson is unattainable for me. Celebrini is extra of a surefire star within the NHL, however Hutson is a extra ‘particular’ participant. He’s undersized however nonetheless manages to play nice protection, passes like an elite heart, and has strikes on the ice that appear like an Allen Iverson crossover.
If I had a vote, I feel I’d have to choose Hutson.
