<p>It took <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations">Montreal Canadiens</a> blueliner Lane Hutson 32 games this season to score his first NHL goal. It wasn’t due to a lack of trying –&nbsp;he was playing well.</p>



<p>Since then, he’s added another two. But he’s also been one of the most productive defensemen in the NHL, period. There were legitimate questions about whether his game would translate to the big leagues because he’s such a unique specimen with the way he reads plays and generates chances with the puck. But clearly, the heavy responsibilities haven’t stopped him from being so important for the Canadiens as they rise up the NHL standings – and, dare we say it, into a playoff spot?</p>



<p>For now, Hutson might be the top candidate for the Calder Trophy – but we’ll let the numbers speak for themselves. Here’s how the rookie of the year battle looks as we enter the second half. Fortunately, it’s a tight race – and we love to see that:</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="161"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Lane Hutson, D (Montreal Canadiens)</h2>



<p>Hutson isn’t Montreal’s time-on-ice leader – Michael Matheson leads the way at 24:28. But Hutson’s 22:38 still puts him 44th among all NHLers, which is absurd as a rookie. He’s averaging more than 18 minutes a night just at 5-on-5 while also sitting in a tie with Nick Suzuki with a team-leading 13 power-play points. No matter the situation he’s thrown into, Hutson finds a way to be effective – and Since Dec. 1, Hutson is fourth in scoring among all defenders with 17 points in 17 games despite playing the 52nd-most minutes. He’s having such an outstanding season as a minute-munching defenseman, and that should earn him some serious Calder consideration if he can keep things rolling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Macklin Celebrini, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations">San Jose Sharks</a>)</h2>



<p>Celebrini is on track to crack the 30-goal mark despite missing 12 games right at the start of the season. And he’s doing it on the team sitting second-last in the NHL, too. Crazy, right? The most recent No. 1 pick has been tremendous for the Sharks, using his combination of pure strength and hockey IQ to be so effective. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Celebrini’s first half has been so impressive and he deserves all the praise he’s getting.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="202"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Matvei Michkov, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a>)</h2>



<p>Michkov is on pace for a whopping 25 goals and 60 points – fantastic numbers for a first-year player. There’s still some concern about his play away from the puck, but he’s a first-year NHLer tasked with being a driving force of a rebuilding team’s offensive core. He’s playing as well as anyone could have hoped and is firmly in the Calder Trophy race. Hutson’s great numbers as a blueliner and Celebrini’s production, despite missing a large chunk of the season, have given them the edge for now, but Michkov is looking like a true, certified NHL star already.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Dustin Wolf, G (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/calgary-flames/line-combinations">Calgary Flames</a>)</h2>



<p>Not only has Wolf been the best rookie goaltender this year, he’s actually been one of the hottest in recent weeks. He’s 5-1-1 since the start of December, and while he has had a few stinkers in the goals-against department, he almost always gives the Flames a chance to win. Wolf is still splitting starts with Daniel Vladar, with coach Ryan Huska not wanting to rush Wolf too much. And that’s fine –&nbsp;Wolf is getting results. The question, though: with Vladar a UFA and potentially on the trade block, will Wolf be the undisputed No. 1 by the March 7 trade deadline?</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="201"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Logan Stankoven, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a>)</h2>



<p>Stankoven hasn’t produced at the level many were hoping he would. He had a prominent role with the Stars right from the get-go but also missed a couple of games with an injury. He has just three points since the start of December, with his ice time bouncing around a bit on a game-by-game basis. Still, it’s good he’s getting opportunities in the middle six, especially alongside his trusty sidekick, Mavrik Bourque (who is also having a quiet season). Dallas doesn’t necessarily need either of them to have monster seasons to win games – but when they do, it’s great.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Maxim Tsyplakov, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders</a>)</h2>



<p>Nobody was expecting crazy numbers from Tsyplakov, who is producing at just less than half a point per game. He’s in the midst of an offensive slump, but it’s everything else he brings to the table – from physicality to defensive awareness – that has allowed for him to stick around in the Calder Trophy race. He won’t win it, but the 26-year-old makes himself hard enough to play against to suggest he’ll stick around in the NHL for the next few years.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="183"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Cutter Gauthier, LW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/anaheim-ducks/line-combinations">Anaheim Ducks</a>)</h2>



<p>Gauthier started off with just four points in his first 13 games, and consistency has been a bit difficult. But as the Ducks continue their rebuild, Gauthier has started to look a bit more comfortable. We could see him with around 40 points in a top-six role, which is solid, given the team’s lack of scoring help. It feels like Gauthier is getting better the more he plays, especially as he adjusts from playing about two games a week in college hockey to the rigors and grind of a full NHL campaign.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. Emil Heineman, LW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations">Montreal Canadiens</a>)</h2>



<p>Heineman’s advanced analytics look solid, with his <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/skater_gar/?_inputs_&amp;gar_sk_team=%22All%22&amp;gar_sk_pos=%22All%22&amp;gar_sk_base=%22Replacement%22&amp;gar_sk_type=%22Totals%22&amp;gar_sk_col=%22Basic%22&amp;gar_sk_info=%22No%22&amp;gar_sk_status=%22Rookie%22&amp;gar_sk_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;gar_sk_season=%2220242025%22&amp;gar_sk_span=%22Regular%22&amp;gar_sk_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;gar_sk_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;gar_sk_age1=%2217%22&amp;gar_sk_age2=%2250%22&amp;gar_sk_players=null&amp;gar_sk_toi_all=%2250%22&amp;gar_sk_toi_ev=%220%22&amp;gar_sk_toi_pp=%220%22&amp;gar_sk_toi_sh=%220%22">5.7 goals above expected </a>placing him second among all rookies. He’s also fourth among all Canadiens’ players with a 5-on-5 points-per-60 of 2.01, with his 1.08 goals-per-60 being a driving force there. The 23-year-old winger is on pace for more than 20 goals and nearly 40 points, which is quite impressive for a bottom-six forward on a bottom-half team.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="158"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. Yaroslav Askarov, G (San Jose Sharks)</h2>



<p>A bit premature after seven games? Maybe. But Askarov has been San Jose’s top goalie by a mile ever since they shipped out Mackenzie Blackwood and brought in Alexandar Georgiev. Askarov has a .941 save percentage at 5-on-5 and <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%2250%22">7.28 goals saved above expected </a>to put himself in the top 20 of all goaltenders this season. Askarov started the season as one of the top goalie prospects in the world, and after a few starts with the Nashville Predators the past few years, Askarov is starting to finally prove why he’s so highly touted. Even though they’re still at the bottom of the league, the Sharks are a fun team to watch – and Askarov is a big reason why.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. Justus Annunen, G (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a>)</h2>



<p>Since his trade to the Predators on Dec. 1, Annunen sits second among all goalies with at least five starts with a .962 save percentage. It’s not a huge sample size, but he’s putting up similar numbers to that of his short run with the Avalanche last year that essentially ensured him a full-time NHL gig for 2024-25. He struggled for the Avs before the trade, but he’s been outperforming Juuse Saros as of late with some big wins in recent weeks. Will it be enough for Annunen to see more ice time? Probably not – Saros is their guy. But after trading Askarov over the summer, it’s good to see another young netminder come in and perform.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="238"></div>



<p><em>Other notables: Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks), Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (San Jose Sharks), Zack Bolduc, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">St. Louis Blues</a>), Jackson Blake, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/line-combinations">Carolina Hurricanes</a>), Mackie Samoskevich, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a>)</em></p>



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