NHL awards 2021-22: Odds, best bets, predictions for the Calder Trophy

The 2021-22 NHL season is just about the corner and, whilst the awards will never be handed out for a handful of months, the discussion is already raging about who will consider residence the components.

Past yr saw a handful of envisioned names in Connor McDavid (Hart Trophy), Auston Matthews (Rocket Richard Trophy) and Aleksander Barkov (Selke Trophy). There ended up a bunch of surprises this kind of as Marc-Andre Fleury winning his first job Vezina (and then, um, being traded) and sophomore defenseman Adam Fox winning the Norris. A couple of guys went wire-to-wire as nicely, this kind of as Kirill Kaprizov’s Calder Trophy twirl.

What the impending season delivers is anyone’s guess, but anticipate those people names mentioned previously mentioned — and a couple a lot more — in the discussions. Sporting Information breaks down the dialogue heading into the new season with predictions, odds and the most effective bets.

Extra: Stanley Cup odds

Calder Trophy most effective bets

The rookie course for 2021-22 is almost nothing shorter of stupendous. Talent oozes out of this team, from the guys manning the web to the ones trying to conquer them. A number of American rookies will purpose for the coveted trophy, such as Cole Caufield and his gold-medal winning teammates Trevor Zegras and Spencer Knight. A single exciting contender is Red Wings backstop Alex Nedeljkovic, who was in fact a finalist for the trophy in 2021. As a member of the Hurricanes, he failed to perform enough games previous yr (performed in 23 with the cutoff being twenty five). He is nevertheless underage (he’ll be 26 in January a participant cannot be 26 by Sept.15 of the impending season), and he failed to perform enough games the two prior seasons. Translation: contender.

Major five most effective bets:

SN’s Calder Trophy darkish horse prediction: Bowen Byram

Expectations are higher for the Avalanche defenseman, whom numerous pegged as “the male” moving into previous season. But 2021 failed to go specifically as prepared as he dealt with injuries that held him to just 19 NHL games. He has the talent, which he showcased at the 2021 Globe Juniors for the silver-medal winning Canadians, actively playing solid in the defensive stop whilst chipping in five details in seven games. Byram is slotted into the 2nd pairing, so some strain will be off him to be “the male.” Additionally, it would not hurt that he is bought a teammate in 2020 Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar to master from.

SN’s Calder Trophy prediction: Cole Caufield

The Calder is Caufield’s to drop. It really is that easy. Just after a gold medal at Globe Juniors in January and a Hobey Baker-winning overall performance at Wisconsin, Caufield connected up with the Canadiens and, whilst it truly is a tiny sample size, he potted four aims and just one guide whilst averaging thirteen:58 of ice time in ten typical-season games.

“He’s assured. He’s a objective-scorer, man. Give me the puck, I’m heading to shoot it in the web. He’s usually been that way,” Wisconsin coach Tony Granato mentioned in April when he talked to SN in progress of Caufield’s first NHL sport.

Then, the Canadiens went on a Stanley Cup tear. Caufield, at just 20 several years previous, finished tied for 19th in the league (third on the Canadiens) in details with twelve (four aims, 8 helps). He set up significant-time additional time aims, was a crucial cog in the team’s offensive gameplan and showcased a comprehensive two hundred-foot sport.

Extra: Why Caufield can be America’s up coming star

“It really is tricky to do what he did. I don’t know if folks know that or not he did it so easily,” mentioned ex-United states Hockey teammate Jack Hughes, who also threw his hat in the Caufield 4 Calder chat. “He did a terrific playoff run and I believe he is founded himself as a leading-line participant and I believe he and (Nick) Suzuki have a seriously fantastic factor heading.”

In 2021-22, Caufield is envisioned to slot in among the the leading-6 and on the Canadiens’ leading electrical power-perform device. He’ll have enough opportunities to create a Calder Trophy-worthy resume and is projected to accumulate 40-50 details on the season.

2021-22 Calder Trophy winner odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings.