Seider claims Calder Trophy as NHL's top rookie

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 2022.

The only blue-liner among this year's finalists, Seider dazzled on a struggling Red Wings squad. He led all Detroit skaters in average ice time (23:02) while appearing in all 82 games in 2021-22.

The 21-year-old German became just the third rookie defenseman to reach 50 points in the salary-cap era, joining Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. Seider also paced the rookie class in assists (43), power-play points (21), and blocked shots (161) while ranking third in shots on goal (187).

Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks and Michael Bunting of the Toronto Maple Leafs were the other two finalists.

Here's how the vote broke down:

Zegras tied for second in the rookie class with 23 goals - including five game-winners - and his 61 points trailed only Troy Terry on the Ducks' roster. The forward also set a franchise record for most points by a rookie.

If there were a trophy that rewarded virality, Zegras would have it in the bag. The 21-year-old quickly became known for his ability to execute highlight-reel plays with alarming consistency.

Bunting topped all rookies with 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) after thriving on the Maple Leafs' top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for much of the 2021-22 campaign. Fifty-eight of those points came at even strength, which led the rookie class by a substantial amount: Zegras was a distant second with 44.

The 26-year-old Bunting was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, making him the only 2022 finalist who wasn't a first-round pick.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes annually to determine the Calder Trophy finalists and winner.

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