Calder Trophy odds: Who could catch up to Bedard this month?
Connor Bedard continues to be one of the biggest names of the 2023-24 season — even as he is sidelined.
The Chicago Blackhawks placed the first overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft on injured reserve over the weekend with a fractured jaw. There is no timetable yet for his return, which is of course causing fans and talking heads alike to question what that means about his odds of winning the Calder Memorial Trophy at the end of the season.
Yardbarker has already done a couple of deep dives into which rookies could challenge Bedard for the Calder. Now that he is sidelined, there are three players in particular to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Bedard may still be the -200 favorite at DraftKings to win Rookie of the Year honors, but these opponents could give him a run for his money.
We previously mentioned that Luke Hughes could catch up to Bedard at sportsbooks. The youngest of the Hughes brothers hockey trio has actually catapulted up the odds list to being the second favorite at +400 (4-1) at DK. Hughes ranks third among rookies in assists (16) and overall points (23) and has totaled six points (2 goals, 4 assists) overall in his last six games. The New Jersey Devils have some tough competition coming up on the calendar — they face the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights before the end of the month — but if Hughes can stay hot, it is very possible he could catch up to Bedard in the Calder Trophy odds.
Another familiar name that has climbed back up the Calder odds list is rookie center Adam Fantilli, who is now listed at +750 at DK. The 19-year-old Ontario native gained attention by being the third overall pick in last year's draft, but has been somewhat overshadowed by his contemporaries since he plays on a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is well below .500 on the season. That being said, Fantilli ranks second among rookies in overall points (24) and third in goals scored (11). Columbus will play a lot of road games through the end of January but the competition is mixed, which gives Fantilli an opportunity to tally more points and improve his Calder Trophy odds.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is also listed at +750 odds at DK, and fans should pay extra close attention to him in the Calder race. The Minnesota native was actually selected by the L.A. Kings in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, but only played two professional games prior to this season. Faber is tied for first among rookies with a plus-minus of nine and recently registered three assists against Fantilli's Blue Jackets. The Wild have a favorable schedule through the end of January that consists of a lot of home games against teams like the Arizona Coyotes and the Anaheim Ducks, so Faber's Calder odds could shorten even more if he stays on the right side of the plus-minus.
Keep an eye on those Calder odds through the end of the month while Bedard is sidelined. He may remain the favorite for a while, but he may not have it locked up forever with how some of his fellow rookies are playing.
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