Forwards Trevor Zegras and Michael Bunting, along with defenseman Moritz Seider, are the three Calder Trophy finalists this year, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Wednesday.
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The only contender who makes the 2022 playoffs, Bunting could emulate teammate Auston Matthews, the only Toronto Maple Leafs player to win the NHL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award since the 1967-68 expansion. . During the regular season, he led freshmen with 63 points, including 23 goals, in 79 games. The left winger had more than one point in 14 games and posted a 27 differential, second best among rookies.
For his part, Zegras has stunned many fans and infuriated his rivals with his spectacular Michigan-style goals. Able to place the puck inside the net like a lacrosse player, he scored 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points in 75 outings. He is the third Anaheim Ducks skater to be among the three candidates for the Calder, the others being Paul Kariya (1994-1995) and Bobby Ryan (2008-2009). The center established a Bettman League rookie high with nine power-play goals.
Finally, Seider had 50 points in 82 games for the Detroit Red Wings. His 43 assists are the most for a rookie this year. The sixth pick in the 2019 Entry Draft played 1,889 minutes, the highest total among first-year players. No one on the Wings side has pocketed the trophy since Roger Crozier in 1964-65.
The identity of the winner will be revealed later in the playoffs.
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