Connor Bedard claims Calder Trophy as NHL's top rookie

Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 2024.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils blue-liner Luke Hughes were the other two finalists. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote on the honor at the end of the regular season.

Here's how the voting shook out:

Connor Bedard wins the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Here are the voting totals. pic.twitter.com/ufmETOBTCA

- Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 27, 2024

Despite missing 14 games with a fractured jaw, Bedard led all first-year players with 22 goals and 61 points - 14 more than Hughes and Faber in second place.

The 2023 first overall pick was the key driver of the Blackhawks' offense, factoring in on 34% of their 178 goals this campaign. Bedard became the third player in NHL history to lead his team in points at the age of 18, joining Sidney Crosby (2005-06) and Steve Yzerman (1983-84).

Bedard also posted the best campaign by a teenage rookie in Chicago's record books since Patrick Kane in 2007-08.

Faber tied Bedard for the most assists in the rookie class (39) and matched Hughes for the most points by a first-year rearguard (47). He also led all rookies and the Wild in average ice time (24:58) while being tasked with shutting down his opponents' top players nightly.

Hughes led all rookie defensemen with nine goals. He also recorded the most ice time (21:28) on the Devils, a role he was forced into due to the amount of injuries on New Jersey's blue line.

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy last season.

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