Chicago Blackhawks’ Artemi Panarin wins Calder Trophy
By Leah Smith
Which NHL rookie won the Calder Memorial Trophy at the 2016 NHL Awards?
Since 1933, the NHL has awarded the best rookie in the league with the Calder Memorial Trophy. Named after former NHL president Frank Calder, the award was originally called simply the Calder Trophy, with Memorial being added after his death in 1943.
Some notable winners in recent years have been Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Kane, Nathan MacKinnon, and last year’s winner, Aaron Ekblad. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the record for most players to win the Calder with nine, but a Leaf has not won the award since Brit Selby won it in 1966.
To be eligible for the award, a player must have appeared in less than 25 games during the previous season and no more than six games in each of the two preceding years in any North American professional league. These rules meant that Wayne Gretzky was never eligible for the award, despite scoring 137 points in his first year in the NHL, because he had previously played in the WHA.
Similar to most of the NHL awards, the winner is chosen from a field of three finalists. This year those finalists were:
Artemi Panarin – Chicago Blackhawks: From 2008-2015, Panarin played in the KHL before making the jump to the NHL for the 2015-16 season. The 24-year old left winger played in 80 games, scoring 30 goals and adding 47 assists for a total of 77 points.
Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers: Due to injury, McDavid only played in 45 games this season. But he made the most of those 45 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 32 assists for 48 points.
Shayne Gostisbehere – Philadelphia Flyers: Gostisbehere played in 64 games this season scoring 17 goals and adding 29 assists for 46 points.
So who won the Calder Memorial Trophy? None other than Artemi Panarin.
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