Lane Hutson won the Calder Memorial trophy last season. Will his Montreal Canadiens’ teammate Ivan Demidov take precedence in the upcoming campaign?
For those who wish to lower a few dollars on this bet, the chances are in their favor. Demidov, the fifth overall choice of the 2024 draft, gave an overview of the future when he joined the Canadians at the end of last season and scored a goal and help in a pair of regular season clashes. He added two assists in five playoffs.
But the list of potential winners of the Calder Memorial trophy is long, with a litany of players very touted on the verge of becoming a full -time NHLER.
Here is an overview of the candidates to watch when the season starts:
Alexander Nikishin, Hurricanes de Caroline
A great defender capable of collecting points, Nikishin will be 24 years old before the start of the season. The choice of third round of 2020 entered the Caroline programming for the playoffs and recorded a decisive pass in four games.
Jimmy Snugdoud, St. Louis Blues
April 15, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, United States; The right wing of St. Louis Blues Jimmy Snuggerud (21) and goalkeeper Jordan Binnington (50) celebrate a victory against the Utah hockey club at the Enterprise Center to win a place in the playoffs. Compulsory credit: Jeff le-Imagn images After completing his junior year at the University of Minnesota, the 23rd overall choice of 2022 joined the Blues at the end of last season. The right wing scored a goal and three assists in seven regular season games and added two goals and two assists in seven qualifiers. Snuggerud is fixed to enter a high -level role.
Michael Misa, San Jose Sharks
The second overall choice of 2025 can go to Penn State instead of becoming a professional, but the Sharks would like the center to join a squad by loading young talents. Misa was appointed MVP from the Ontario hockey league after having collected 62 goals and 134 points.
Ryan Leonard, Washington Capitals
The eighth choice in total in 2023, Leonard became pro after his second season at Boston College and marked once in nine regular season games. He added a decisive pass in eight playoffs. It will probably start on the third line on the right but could go up.
Zeev Buium, Minnesota Wild
The defender resulted in 12th in 2024 jumped at the NHL after his second year at the University of Denver and recorded a decisive pass during four releases in the playoffs. He will probably be a blue-bound of the first four right away.
Zayne Parekh, Calgary Flames
Another defender who had an immediate impact, the ninth choice of 2024 marked during his beginnings in the NHL. His defensive game needs work, but after having accumulated 107 points last season in junior, Parekh will have an ample opportunity on the flames of reconstruction.
Isaac Howard, Oilers d’Edmonton
The Hobey Baker 2025 prize winner was acquired via the Tampa Bay Lightning trade. Howard scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 NCAA games and will be considered for a role among the six tops with the high scores.
Matt Savoie, Edmonton Oilers
Despite the end of the Stanley Cup final in the consecutive years, the Oilers must integrate young people, with Howard and Savoy likely to benefit. Savoie, the ninth overall choice of Buffalo’s sabers in 2022, spent last season to perfect his job with minors.
Gabriel Perrault, New York Rangers
The Rangers essentially put a third line place available for Perrault, the 23rd choice of 2023, by exchanging Chris Kreider. Perrault played five regular season games after leaving the Boston College after his second year.
Easton Cowan, Toronto Maple Leafs
After winning Ontario consecutive titles and MVP honors in the playoff series on the complaint of the Memorial Cup of this year, the 28th choice in 2023 will become pro. Toronto has a major hole to fill out on the second line after the departure of Mitch Marner, and Cowan has the tools to score 30 goals in this role.
