Connor Bedard and Luke Hughes revealed as Calder Trophy Finalists

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Tyler Ball
April 30, 2024 (1:56 PM)

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Today the NHL continued with announcing the finalists for various NHL Awards. Today was the turn of the rookies as the NHL and PWPHA revealed their finalists for the Calder Trophy.

Each season the NHL presents the Calder Trophy to the most outstanding rookie player in the league. This season there are three finalists who all have compelling cases to take home the award.

First of course is rookie phenom and generational talent Connor Bedard. Next is the third of the illustrious Hughes brothers Luke Hughes. Finally, do-it-all defenseman for the Minnesota Wild Brock Faber got the nod as a finalist as well.

Calder Trophy finalists, as voted by @ThePHWA: Connor Bedard (CHI), Brock Faber (MIN) and Luke Hughes (NJ).

Connor Bedard, Brock Faber and Luke Hughes are the three finalists for the 2023-24 Calder Memorial Trophy.

The presumptive favorite to take home the award is Connor Bedard. Despite a major jaw injury that stole over a month of his season Connor Bedard was by far the best player on a Chicago Blackhawks team that was virtually unwatchable without him.

Brock Faber likely brings the best challenge to Connor Bedard's claim. In 82 games Brock Faber finished with 39 points while averaging over 25 minutes a night of ice time.

Finally, Luke Hughes had a bit of an up-and-down rookie season. His high-end flashes were incredible and showed why he was drafted in the top 5. However, some defensive struggles and offensive droughts likely keep him from winning the award.

We will have our answer in a few weeks as to who will be immortalized in hockey history as the 2023-24 Calder Trophy recipient.