Who Will Be the 2023-24 Calder Trophy Winner?

insidersbettingdigest.com

31 July 2023

As the National Hockey League scoots closer to dropping the puck for the first time, we spend some time looking at the awards for the league. The award we are looking at today is the Calder Memorial Trophy.

This has been given out since 1937, and it goes to the National Hockey League player that’s judged to have had the best season in his first year in the league. In 2022, Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken won the award.

Let’s look at the top candidates for the 2023-2024 Calder Trophy winner!

Bedard just turned 18 years old in July. The top pick in the 2023 NHL draft is expected to bring an immediate impact to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bedard is skilled, plays a smart game, and should have free reign in a Blackhawks offense that is desperate for some skill and excitement. The Blackhawks sent Patrick Kane off toward the trade deadline a season ago, and Jonathan Toews is done with the franchise.

The Blackhawks are hoping Bedard can be the new face of the franchise in 2023-2024 and many years down the road. Bedard is the favorite to be the Calder Trophy winner.

Another youngster here. The 19-year-old from the New Jersey Devils was the 4th overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Hughes played in two regular season games at the end of the season and then got into three postseason games. During those two regular season games, Hughes recorded a goal and an assist.

During the three postseason games, he dished out two assists. The Devils and Hughes have high hopes for him to put up Calder Trophy statistics in 023-2024.

The Buffalo Sabres netminder will turn 22 once the season is underway. He was able to get into seven games a season ago and was sharp in those games. He allowed just 21 goals during that time.

Levi finished the final month of the season 5-2, with a 2.94 goals against. The Montreal native appears to be ready to take over as the starting goaltender in front of the 42-year-old Craig Anderson.

Looking at his past NHL team stats, Anderson did start 24 games last season, while Eric Comrie made 19 starts. Buffalo needs to get clarification right away as to who is going to get the starting role, and if it’s Levi, he would be in line to contend with his 8/1 Calder Trophy odds.

Fantili comes into the season at 10/1 odds to win the award. He was the third overall pick in the 2023 draft. Fantilli is just 18 years old but expects to get plenty of center time for a Columbus team that could use the help.

The Canadian played his college hockey at Michigan and was the Hobey Baker Award winner, and led in goals and points. When you look at the end-of-the-year NHL player stats – Fantili’s will impress you.

Another youngster from the New Jersey Devils. The 2nd overall pick in the 2022 draft. The 19-year-old from the Czech should get an opportunity this season.

Do not be surprised if the Devils open up the ice to give their young guys scoring opportunities.

Playing out in the Los Angeles market is going to be a lot for this defenseman. This 20-year-old may not look like sexy numbers when it’s all said and done, but this kid can play. The Ottawa native is going to be a big part of the Kings’ defense in 2024.

Clarke played in nine games in 2023 and finished with two points, both assists. He has not played an NHL game since November 1st. While he is a long shot for the award, consistent minutes will help his play.

The leftwinger will turn 21 early in the season. Knies was the 57th overall pick back in 2021. The Phoenix, Arizona native played in three regular-season games and seven postseason games for the Maple Leafs last year. He actually recorded four points during those games.

With some movement on the Maple Leaf’s roster, Knies could be in a good position to put some good numbers up, as we expect his minutes to rise to 18+.

David Jiricek +2000
Logan Cooley +2000
Leo Carlsson +2800
Dustin Wolf +2800
Simon Edvinsson +2800
Shane Wright +2800
Luke Evangelista +2800

In the end, we are not going to take Bedard as our winner. Odds would show he is the massive favorite, but our pick to be the Calder Trophy winner is goaltender Devon Levi. Levi wins the battle and gets a bunch of starts, leading the Sabres to a playoff spot in 2023-2024.