This week, the NHL is revealing the finalists for its end-of-season awards. On Wednesday, the Calder Trophy was front-and-center. The league announced that the finalists for its top rookie are Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power and Seattle Kraken center Matthew Beniers.
Skinner came into the season as the presumptive backup to Jack Campbell, Edmonton’s big summer signing intended to help shore up its goaltending. It did not take long for him to start pushing for playing time, though, eventually taking over as starter ahead of Campbell. That promotion helped him earn an All-Star nod midseason.
Skinner led all rookie netminders with 29 victories this season, likewise with his 50 games played. He also ranked second among qualifying rookies (at least 25 GP) with a 2.75 GAA and a .914 SV percentage. While his playoff performance does not factor into the voting -- which is done at the end of the season -- Skinner has started all six postseason games for the Oilers, who will kick off their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night. Skinner is looking to become the first goalie to win the Calder Trophy since Steve Mason achieved the feat in 2008-09.
Power, the first-overall selection in 2021, got his feet wet in the NHL down the stretch last season. 2022-23 was his first full NHL campaign. It was an impressive one for the 20-year-old, too, as he led all freshman rearguards in scoring with 35 points in 79 games. Power additionally logged nearly 24 minutes a night, ranking him second on the team behind Rasmus Dahlin and inside the top 20 league-wide among all players -- not just rookies. Buffalo’s last winner of the Calder Trophy was defenseman Tyler Myers, back in 2009-10.
As for Beniers, the second-overall pick in 2022 followed the same path as Power, playing late last season before entering his first full NHL campaign in 2022-23. The 20-year-old led all rookies in scoring with 24 goals and 33 assists in 80 games while ranking fourth among first-year forwards in ATOI at just over 17 minutes a night.
Beniers only recorded one penalty all season, making him just the fourth player in NHL history to play in at least 80 games and have two penalty minutes or fewer. He will be looking to become the first player from an expansion franchise to win the Calder Trophy within his team’s first two seasons since Peter Stastny (Quebec) won back in 1980-81.
The winner of the award will be revealed at the NHL Awards ceremony on June 26th. Up next on the awards announcement docket, the finalists for the Norris Trophy on Thursday.
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