<p>It’s almost time to put the pencils down, class.</p>



<p>The Calder Trophy race has been one for the ages. It’s one thing to get one franchise player at the top of a rookie fight. But this year’s has an elite defenseman, a No. 1 goaltender, a star center and a future superstar winger. And that’s just scratching the surface –&nbsp;about 20 names have appeared on Daily Faceoff’s monthly Calder Trophy lists this year.</p>



<p>The NHL regular season ends a week from now, and then it’ll be time for ballots to get cast. Again, like we say every time, anyone who says there’s an absolute clear No. 1 is lying. But that isn’t saying there isn’t someone with a slight advantage with just a handful of games left to go:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Lane Hutson, D (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations">Montreal Canadiens</a>)</h2>



<p>Hutson recently became just the 10th rookie defenseman in league history to register 60 points, and he is on pace for 60 assists, as well. He already has the most points of any rookie, regardless of position, since Elias Pettersson put up 66 in 2018-19. Hutson is tracking to do something only seven defenders have ever done, and that’s lead all rookies in scoring. Other notables to do so? Quinn Hughes, Brian Leetch and Bobby Orr. Hutson’s defensive game has been criticized quite often this year, but if you’ve watched him on Montreal’s recent two-month stretch, you know it has taken steps forward. Montreal wouldn’t come close to tasting the playoffs if it wasn’t for Hutson’s high-end play. Seriously, he has never put up these numbers at any other level –&nbsp;not junior, not college, nothing. Hutson is having a special season.</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="270"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Dustin Wolf, G (<a href="http://flamesnation.ca">Calgary Flames</a>)</h2>



<p>The Flames aren’t giving up in the Wildcard race, but they’re still the first team out with little room for error. Wolf has come back to Earth a little bit since March 1, with a 6-4-4 record. But he’s still one of the biggest reasons why the Flames are in the playoff push, and that can’t be understated. Wolf boasts the third-best goals saved above expected at 5-on-5 this season at 24.92, and he’s probably going to earn some Vezina Trophy votes for it. If the Flames get back into the playoffs, Wolf might get the bulk of the first-place Calder Trophy votes, too. It’s extremely difficult to be a rookie starting goalie, but Wolf has stood up to the challenge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Macklin Celebrini, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations">San Jose Sharks</a>)</h2>



<p>Celebrini at No. 3 is wild, given he’s a No. 1 center. But the Sharks have never remotely been close to playoff contention this year, so his play hasn’t been as impactful as that of the two potential playoff-bound guys in front of him. That doesn’t take anything away from the season he’s had –&nbsp;he could have had 70 points had he not dealt with an injury to open the season. Going from a young 17-year-old in college (he had to fast-track to play a year early) to the NHL as an 18-year-old and playing the minutes he has is a major accomplishment. He’s the youngest rookie in this draft class, and he’s been mightily impressive on a poor Sharks team. I can’t wait to see what he can do once this team becomes competitive.</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="256"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Matvei Michkov, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a>)</h2>



<p>Michkov should finish with more than 60 points, with his recent play over the past month and a half keeping him in the Calder Trophy finalist conversation. Most other years, he’d have an extremely strong case. But with Philly nowhere to be found in the playoff picture, Michkov’s impact has been muted a bit. Still, after years of watching him crush it in the KHL, it’s been great to see him become a rock star in Philly – a market craving a game-changing star. Better years are coming, Philly fans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Cutter Gauthier, LW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/anaheim-ducks/line-combinations">Anaheim Ducks</a>)</h2>



<p>Gauthier just broke the 40-point barrier and is one of the few rookies who hasn’t missed a game this year. Given that the Ducks are bottom feeders again, it’s easy to call this a solid freshman campaign. Gauthier is in the top five in most statistical categories among rookies and has been dynamite at even strength since the end of the 4 Nations Face-Off –&nbsp;both with and without the puck. You can tell the confidence is there after a bit of a slow start, and that’s going to make him extremely dangerous moving forward.</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="184"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Will Smith, RW (San Jose Sharks)</h2>



<p>The 20-year-old former college star recently cracked the 40-point mark and has played at an 82-game pace of just under 50. And that’s after taking into account that he had just three points in his first 14 NHL games. Smith has established himself as a future star in San Jose, and, honestly, it feels like he’s not getting enough love. That’s partly because he’s not even the best freshman on his own team, and also because his team is dead last, but Smith has played some really impressive hockey in the second half. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him crack 70 points next year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Marco Kasper, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/detroit-red-wings/line-combinations">Detroit Red Wings</a>)</h2>



<p>It’s been a fantastic season for Kasper, who turned a slow start into a few hot months. For context: Kasper registered an assist in his first game with Detroit on Oct. 19. He then went without a point for more than a month and entered December with just five points in 19 games. But since Jan. 1, he’s been one of the NHL’s most productive rookie forwards, especially at 5-on-5. Kasper will fall just short of 20 goals, but it’s been great seeing him thriving in Detroit’s top six. </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="197"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. Logan Stankoven, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/line-combinations">Carolina Hurricanes</a>)</h2>



<p>The last time we looked at the rookie crop, he was a Dallas Star. But a trade sending Mikko Rantanen to Texas suddenly made Stankoven a Hurricane, where he’s had some mixed results so far. He has seemingly gotten more comfortable in recent games with Carolina, which is a great sign. He’s 21 and still adjusting to life in the NHL as a smaller player – and for the most part, there are signs to suggest he’ll be a legit top-six threat for years to come. He’ll just fall short of Calder Trophy consideration after many had him as one of the pre-season favorites.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. Maxim Tsyplakov, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders</a>)</h2>



<p>While Tsyplakov’s numbers won’t make you lose your mind, his season is exactly what you’re looking for out of a KHL free agent. He should crack the 35-point barrier while making $950,000 and providing some serious toughness. You combine that together and it was an absolute slam dunk of a signing by Lou and the gang. We’ll see what he gets on his next deal, but he’s a solid middle-six player who started to play some of his best hockey in recent weeks – that’s a good sign.</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="192"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. Zack Bolduc, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">St. Louis Blues</a>)</h2>



<p>The Blues have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL in recent weeks, and they’ve done so without bringing in a big-name acquisition through the trade market. Instead, Bolduc has been one of the guys who really stood up, playing at a rate of just under half a point per game on St. Louis’ third line. Drafted 17th overall in 2021, Bolduc had a decent rookie campaign in the AHL last year but seemingly played better with the big club. This year, he’s tracking for just fewer than 40 points while showing increasingly improving hockey sense and pro-level tools.</p>



<p><em>Other notables: Jiri Kulich, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/line-combinations">Buffalo Sabres</a>); Jackson Blake, RW (Carolina Hurricanes); Frank Nazar, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/line-combinations">Chicago Blackhawks</a>); Mavrik Bourque, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a>); Mackie Samoskevich, RW (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a>); Emil Heineman, LW (Montreal Canadiens)</em></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="133"></div>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recent Articles from Steven Ellis</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-10-nhl-prospects-2025-ncaa-frozen-four-hutson-devine-buium-eiserman-bump">Top 10 NHL prospects to watch at the 2025 NCAA men’s Frozen Four</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/scouting-reports-nhl-ncaa-signings-free-agents-ryan-leonard-sam-rinzel-gabe-perreault">Scouting reports on more than 20 notable NHL signings from the NCAA</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/208987-2">Top five late-round steals from the 2020 NHL Draft so far</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-five-late-round-steals-from-the-2021-nhl-draft-jackson-blake-joshua-roy">Top five late-round steals from the 2021 NHL Draft so far</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-draft-top-10-prospects-ushl-usntdp-usa-hockey">2025 NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects from the USHL you need to know</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-trade-deadline-acquisitions-struggling-bunting-laughton-bjorkstrand">Three 2025 NHL Trade Deadline acquisitions who need to step it up</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/milestone-watch-2024-25-ovechkin-letang-mcdonagh-bobrovsky">Milestone Watch: Five NHLers tracking to hit big marks to finish 2024-25</a></li>
</ul>
