Pettersson, Binnington, Dahlin named Calder Trophy finalists

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin have been named finalists for the 2019 Calder Trophy given to the league's top rookie, the NHL announced on Saturday.

Pettersson lived up to some enormous hype, netting 10 goals in his first 10 games and going on to break the Canucks' rookie scoring record that Pavel Bure previously held. The 20-year-old finished his debut campaign with 66 points in 71 games, establishing himself as the face of the franchise.

Binnington came out of nowhere and played a significant role in saving the Blues' season. From Jan. 1 onward, the 25-year-old owned a 24-5-1 record with a .930 save percentage and five shutouts. His emergence thrust St. Louis into a playoff spot, and he's maintained his form in the postseason, helping the Blues past the Winnipeg Jets in Round 1.

Dahlin, the first overall pick in 2018, was sensational for the Sabres, immediately becoming the team's top blue-liner in his first year. He appeared in all 82 games and tallied 44 points - the second-highest total for an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.

The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards show on June 19 in Las Vegas.

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