Players That Will Challenge Connor Bedard For The Calder

Connor Bedard is the easiest player to consider a generational talent in recent memory since Connor McDavid. Without question, he will be shoehorned into the top spot for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. But there is a massive slew of rookies this upcoming season that could give Bedard some competition. Whether recently drafted, or rookies marinating a couple of seasons in Junior, the AHL, or College, there are a ton of exciting prospects to tune into this year. 

Many will probably just hand Bedard the Calder without even thinking, but adjusting to the NHL is easier said than done. Plenty of first-overall picks have struggled in recent years out of the gate. Later on, these talents blossomed into the superstars they were drafted to become. Bedard’s skill set, and raw talent alone put him in a class above. Dan Ivan and Liam Livingstone pick three rookies that could challenge Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy next season.

Daniel Ivan’s Picks:

Luke Hughes

Luke Hughes put on a spectacle in his NHL debut with his three-game stint in New Jersey at the end of the regular season. The youngest of the elite Hughes brothers, Luke Hughes has already shown flashes of excellence at the highest level, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Hughes is arguably the most exciting prospect outside of Bedard this season, especially among defensemen. He was graced with elite skating, just like all of the Hughes brothers, and is extremely mobile. His skill and speed with the puck on his stick make him a supreme offensive engine on the backend while being able to move the puck North-South with ease. With a full season to come, he can easily solidify himself as the potential second defenseman behind Dougie Hamilton. Luke Hughes has the skills of a forward with the true defensive responsibility of a defenseman. 

His talent is undeniably there, he has the ability to score and can automatically join either of New Jersey’s power play units. He will have free rein to do whatever he wants in the free-flowing offense the Devils have. And best of all, he has already earned a ton of trust from head coach Lindy Ruff and his teammates. Will he be able to match the production of Connor Bedard? That remains to be seen. No rookie has surpassed 70 points, or even come close, since Mathew Barzal did it in 2017-2018. So it will be quite the spectacle to see if Bedard can reach that milestone so early in his career. Hughes could have a chance to break a record himself, since no rookie defenseman has surpassed 55 points in a rookie campaign. Cale Makar (50 points), Moritz Seider (50 points), and his brother Quinn Hughes (53 points) all came close.

Shane Wright

Shane Wright will get a chance to reset the clock, as he technically will be a rookie this season if he plays the full season. Wright had a bit of a tumultuous start to his NHL career, playing eight games in the NHL and scoring only two points. After that, he only played in eight games in the AHL before being eligible to be sent back to the OHL, where he would be an important player for the Windsor Spitfires. It’s crazy to think we are only a year removed from when Shane Wright fell to fourth overall to the Seattle Kraken. A highly touted player poised to be the first overall pick now coming to make a comeback this season for the Kraken? I see a perfect revenge arc for Shane Wright. Suiting up at the center position behind Matty Beniers, Wright is in the perfect position to be an impact player right out of the gate for Seattle. If he takes over Alexander Wennberg’s spot as the 2C, he’ll play alongside Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky. 

These two will put him in the best position to not only score but show off his excellent playmaking skills. He already has a ton of experience in just one year.  He’s an excellent transition player on a team that thrives in that environment and wins by committee, so Shane Wright could really rise above the rest in this rookie class. There is no guarantee he cracks the opening night roster, either. There will also be a ton of expectations placed on his shoulders after the amazing Calder-winning season Beniers had this past year. But it would only make sense if he takes the next steps and follows in his footsteps to put on a show his rookie season to contend with Bedard.

Devon Levi

It’s always interesting trying to pit goaltenders against skaters in any comparison or award category. Arguably goaltenders are the most confusing yet most valuable position in the sport of hockey. It’s easier to quantify and explain how good a forward or defenseman is solely based on their counting stats and their underlying analytics. For a goalie, it’s a ton more complicated. They could have terrible numbers, but also have a terrible team in front of them. Does that mean the goaltender is a bad prospect? That may not be the case for Devon Levi. Toward the end of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres gave Devon Levi seven starts in the NHL. Compared to his peer, who was or is supposed to be the more highly touted prospect of the two, Levi had earned more starts. In those seven games, Levi notched a .905 SV% and a 2.94 GAA with a 5-2-0 record. Not bad.

Although those numbers don’t scream out to be anything special, . He’s stolen the spotlight from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and proved he could be trusted with starts. Levi will most likely be the start for the Sabres next year with the recent retirement of Craig Anderson. Levi, like Logan Thompson for Vegas last year, could be a major key to winning next year. The signs look to show that he is going to be one of the premier goaltending prospects in the NHL. And if he proves to have an outstanding season where the Sabres finally break their playoff drought, there can be a serious case for Levi becoming the first goalie to win the Calder since Steve Mason in 2009.

Liam Livingstone’s Picks:

Adam Fantilli

I’ve already written about my love for Fantilli as a player in my “top options outside of Bedard” piece. I believe Fantilli is a legitimate first-line center with an exceptionally well-rounded and complete game. He has excellent puck skills, is a natural skater, and has uncanny intelligence for his age. Fantilli was able to consistently dominate at Michigan while facing players older and more experienced than himself. His complete, well-rounded game saw him light up the competition with almost a goal AND assist each game. On top of that, Fantilli has an ideal NHL frame, something Bedard doesn’t, and will instantly find himself competing for a spot in Columbus’s top two lines. 

The hard part for Fantilli will be how quickly he can crack into the first line. Columbus has some solid center options, but they don’t have a genuine number-one guy yet. This opening gives Fantilli a legitimate shot to find himself on the top line early in the year. The opportunity is essential when looking at his Calder odds; playing on the top line for Columbus not only gives Fantilli more time on the ice, but it would also pair him with the Blue Jackets’ elite winger Johnny Gaudreau. Playing alongside Johnny Hockey is Fantilli’s best chance of outperforming Bedard, as the proven winger is just one year removed from a 115-point season. For Fantilli to capture the Calder, he must earn his keep quickly for the Blue Jackets. This involves beating out the other center options for the first-line center role and establishing an elite connection with Columbus’s top winger in Gaudreau. For Fantilli, a player who has constantly played up to competition, this is an achievable goal, and I fully expect him to give Bedard a legitimate run for his money.

Logan Cooley

Logan Cooley just recently signed his entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes, choosing to opt out of another year at Minnesota, thus catapulting himself into Calder Trophy consideration. Cooley bolsters an exceptional offensive skill set, with his playmaking ability standing as his best trait, alongside great puck skills and shooting ability. Cooley’s offensive upside will blend perfectly with the Yotes elite winger, Clayton Keller, who has been one of hockey’s most consistent first-line wingers. Despite this, Cooley will likely start the season on the Coyotes second line and be flanked by talented youngster Dylan Guenther and veteran Jason Zucker. Well, this second line offers some exciting upside and could perform at a high level; his ability to crack the top line will determine Cooley’s Calder run. Surpassing current top-line center Barrett Hayton is an achievable goal, but Hayton has developed good chemistry with both Keller and Nick Schmaltz, meaning it will be a challenging task. If he can find himself on that top line early in the season, Cooley’s playmaking ability would mesh perfectly with Keller’s elite offensive game, and he could easily put together an impressive rookie year. 

Cooley has proven his offensive upside consistently, finishing second regarding scoring in both the NCAA and the World Juniors. However, second place won’t be enough for him to beat out Bedard and win the Calder. His Calder campaign will rely on his game meshing perfectly with Keller’s on the Coyotes top line; however, if the two form a dynamic connection, Cooley may have a better shot than anyone of coming out on top. 

Matthew Knies

Of all the skaters on this list, Matthew Knies stands out from the rest of the pack. For starters, Knies wasn’t considered a blue-chip offensive prospect. Drafted with the 57th pick in the 2021 draft, Knies was seen as a solid prospect with decent upside, though far from a game-changer. But he exploded onto the scene in 2023. Due to his exceptional play at Minnesota, Maple Leafs fans quickly became excited about their budding talent. Knies is a perfect compliment to the top-heavy Leafs offense, with his large frame and physical game meshing in perfectly with more of the finesse players found on the Leafs top line. Knies saw time in the NHL at the end of last season, bouncing between lines as Keefe tried to find a good spot for him to settle. Among these lines, one stood out, with Knies drastically improving these linemates’ Corsi percentages when he was paired with him. Luckily for Knies, this was the Maple Leafs top line of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Although he isn’t a bruiser, his large frame, good skating, smooth hands, and high-level offensive IQ meshed perfectly with the premier talents for the Buds. The offseason signing of Bertuzzi brings in some potential competition for Knies, with the veteran winger being the most talented option for the first-line LW spot. But Knies has already shown the Leafs, albeit in a small sample size, that he pairs exceptionally well with Matthews and Marner. 

The importance of playing alongside these two, especially if Knies aims to win the Calder, can’t be understated. Well, the Leafs second line of John Tavares and William Nylander is also elite, players like Matthews and Marner have proven that whoever plays alongside them will put up great numbers. Take Michael Bunting, for example; he struggled mightily to produce in Arizona but put up exceptional numbers once he became paired with Matthews and Marner; and Knies advanced metrics show him being a substantially better fit than Bunting. Realistically, Knies could open the season on the Leafs top line as a premier compliment to the best players. If this does happen, Knies will gain a substantial head start over every other rookie, including Bedard, due to his pre-established chemistry and perfect fit with the Leafs superstars. Knies could put together an exceptional season in the coming year due to his current situation, placing him in a great position to hoist the Calder at the end of the season.