It’s time for the first edition of the Calder Trophy tracker for the 2023-24 season. We’ve already looked at the Calder Trophy race a couple of times this season, but let’s update the race with the All-Star break approaching, as there have been some changes. Connor Bedard once looked like the front runner, but his injury has opened up the race.
Brock Faber
With Bedard missing 6-8 weeks with a broken jaw he suffered in a game against the New Jersey Devils, that’s put Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber in the Calder spotlight. He’ll never have the points to match Bedard, but his production has been respectable, with 29 points in 49 games.
While Faber’s offensive game has been a pleasant surprise, his defensive performance has caught everyone’s attention. On some nights, he’s logging close to 30 minutes a game for the Wild. Of course, it’s important what you do in those minutes, and his results have warranted the attention he’s gotten.
Related: 2023-24 Vezina Trophy Tracker: Midseason Update
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Faber’s even-strength defense has been worth an expected goals above replacement (xGAR) of 2.1. His overall game has been worth an actual GAR of 10.1, ranked 13th among all defensemen in the NHL, not just rookies. He’s been one of the Wild’s best shot suppressors, averaging 2.24 expected goals against per 60 minutes when on the ice at five-on-five.
I’d say Faber is the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy at the moment, even though his play has dropped off just a tad in recent weeks. But I wouldn’t call him a shoo-in for the award yet, as the race is pretty wide open and will pose some competition for him.
Connor Bedard
Even though Bedard could miss nearly two months with a fractured jaw, I wouldn’t count him out of the Calder race. He had 15 goals and 33 points in 39 games at the time of the injury — a 31-goal, 69-point pace over 82 games. And while his on-ice impacts weren’t great, that was more a product of his team than Bedard’s individual performance.
Even then, some metrics paint a favorable portrait of Bedard’s play. His even-strength offense was worth an xGAR of 7.9, ranking him 30th among all forwards, not just rookies. That’s where it still sits with him already missing a few weeks with a broken jaw, too.
Bedard also remains the Blackhawks’ most efficient five-on-five scorer, averaging 2.25 points per 60…
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