Calder Trophy Rankings: 2 Senators make the cut

Though this is the second installment of theScore's 2022-23 Calder Trophy Rankings, it's the first time we've got some actual regular-season games to work with.

Now that we've seen this crop of rookies in NHL action, three new faces make their debuts on this list. Meanwhile, one major name has been omitted from this go-round: Buffalo Sabres defenseman - and surefire Calder Trophy candidate - Owen Power.

Yes, Power leads all rookies in average ice time, but we think five other players made a more significant impact in the early (let us reiterate: early) going. You can bet that you'll see Power on these rankings again, perhaps as soon as December, as he continues adjusting to his big role in Buffalo.

With that caveat out of the way, let's get into it.

5. Calen Addison, Wild Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	G	P	ATOI
9	0	7	18:22

Ah yes, it's Addison, the savior of the Wild's power play so far.

The 22-year-old defenseman is tied for the second-most points by a rookie thanks to his seven assists. Five of those helpers came on the man advantage, which has to be music to the Wild's ears: Last season, Jared Spurgeon led all Minnesota defensemen with a mere 14 power-play assists, while Jonas Brodin ranked second with six.

Addison is clearly thriving while quarterbacking the Wild's top unit, and he's contributing to its success. Minnesota's power play ranks fourth in the league with a respectable 28.1% conversion rate, which is a promising and marked improvement over last season.

Luckily for Addison's Calder Trophy consideration, point totals do a ton of the heavy lifting, since the youngster does need to clean things up in some other areas. The Wild have been outscored 10-2 with him on the ice at five-on-five but, to his credit, the expected goals for and against with him out there are both just over four.

4. Jake Sanderson, Senators Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / Getty

GP	G	P	ATOI
8	0	4	18:57

Sure, Sanderson hasn't been a points machine, but there's something to be said for the blue-liner's poise, confidence, and reliability.

The 20-year-old has averaged the fourth-most minutes on the Senators while spending virtually all his time on the second pair with veteran Travis Hamonic. That level of responsibility has suited Sanderson quite nicely: Among all Senators defensemen to log at least 20 minutes at five-on-five, he leads the way in goals for percentage (69.2%), expected goals for percentage (56.2%), and shot attempts for percentage (53.6%).

In addition, Sanderson paces the entire rookie class in shorthanded ice time per game (2:45) and he's tied for the second-most points by a first-year blue-liner.

The early returns indicate that Sanderson is more than capable of playing with a maturity beyond his years. Time will tell if he can keep it up.

3. Shane Pinto, Senators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	G	P	ATOI
8	6	7	14:28

Pinto forced his way into the Calder conversation after he casually set a Senators rookie record by going on a five-game goal streak - the longest in franchise history, surpassing the likes of Mark Stone, Daniel Alfredsson, and Alexei Yashin.

Pinto leads the rookie goal-scoring race and his two game-winning tallies are the most on the Senators. What's more impressive is that he's been so productive while playing on the third line: He's scoring at a rate of 3.11 goals per 60 minutes, which is the highest clip among all NHLers to log at least 50 minutes in all situations this season. What's more, Pinto might get an even bigger opportunity in the Senators' top six soon because of a long-term injury to center Josh Norris.

One thing to keep an eye on is Pinto's astronomical shooting percentage, which is at 42.9%. There's virtually no doubt that he'll regress, but the 21-year-old has at the very least rebounded spectacularly after a shoulder injury derailed his 2021-22 season.

2. Matty Beniers, Kraken Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	G	P	ATOI
10	4	8	17:40

Beniers has the most points in the rookie class, which probably shouldn't come as too much of a surprise; the 19-year-old center proved he could hang at the very end of last season when he posted nine points in his first 10 NHL games.

Fortunately for the Kraken, Beniers is once again flirting with a point-per-game pace, and he's already enjoyed a three-game goal streak.

The team isn't sheltering Beniers either: He's Seattle's first-line center, he's logged the second-most minutes of all Kraken forwards except Alex Wennberg, and he's seen the most time on the team's power play.

As the Kraken's first-ever draft pick, Beniers is seen as a pillar of the franchise's future. So far, the two-way player is doing all he can to fit the bill, but there's one more rookie who grabbed our attention in the first month of the 2022-23 campaign.

1. Logan Thompson, Golden Knights Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

GP	SV%	GAA	SO
6	.943	1.69	2

A goaltender hasn't won the Calder Trophy since Steve Mason in 2008-09, but Thompson is fortifying an early case to end that drought. When the Golden Knights announced that usual starter Robin Lehner would miss the entire 2022-23 season, much of the pressure landed on the inexperienced Thompson's shoulders. Luckily for Sin City, Thompson has thrived under the weight.

Among all goalies to start at least five games this season, Thompson has posted the third-best save percentage and second-lowest goals-against average while leading all netminders in shutouts. He also ranks in the top six in goals saved above average (4.97) and goals saved above expected (5.21) at five-on-five.

Thompson's playing time might be affected once the injured Laurent Brossoit enters the fold - but Vegas' hopes of a playoff return are exponentially higher thanks in part to the 25-year-old's body of work.

He may not be the only goalie in pursuit of the Calder Trophy: Keep an eye on Stuart Skinner, who has been stellar for the Edmonton Oilers across three starts. It's a small sample size - which is the only reason he was left off these rankings this time - but if Skinner keeps it up, he'll force his way into the conversation.

Honorable mentions: Power (BUF), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Skinner (EDM), Kaiden Guhle (MTL), Jordan Harris (MTL), Cole Perfetti (WPG)

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)

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