A new crop of NHL rookies is ready to compete for the Calder Trophy during the 2026-27 season.
Will the winner be a No. 1 overall pick as it was during the 2023-24 (Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard) and 2025-26 seasons (New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer)?
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Will the winner be a defenseman as it was the past two seasons (Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson in 2024-25 and Schaefer)?
Or, will the winner have taken a different path to a strong first full NHL season?
USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the top players who could win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year:
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
The NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who won plus vote totals:
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
The NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who won plus vote totals:
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Hart Trophy (MVP) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, 1,436 points
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Hart runner-up: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, 1,426 points
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Hart finalist: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, 1,297 points
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Garrett Wilson
(Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington
(Connor Hamilton, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: San Jose Sharks goalie Laurent Brossoit
(Walter Tychnowicz, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle
(Matt Blewett, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh
(Keito Newman, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
(Stan Szeto, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen
(Bob Frid, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin
(Danny Wild, Danny Wild-Imagn Images)
NHL Rookie of the Year favorites
Hutson got an audition last season with the Capitals, recording 10 points in 14 games after spending two seasons at Boston University. He’s Lane Hutson’s brother and shows the same skill level. He’ll get opportunites with Rasmus Sandin out.
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He was named the best forward at the world junior championships after winning a gold medal with Sweden. Frondell played in Sweden’s top league and had 12 points in nine games with Chicago at the end of last season. He’ll get his share of ice time, especially with Bedard out early.
The Maple Leafs are giving the 2026 No. 1 overall pick a chance for early success. He has been skating with John Tavares and William Nylander in training camp and is on the second power play unit.
The Sharks jumped up to No. 2 in the 2026 draft during the lottery and grabbed a player who was in the mix for first overall. Stenberg played in the top Swedish league, getting 33 points in 43 games. He also was a standout in the world junior championships, especially in the gold medal game.
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A Flyers player has never won the Calder Trophy, and he could be the first. Martone got solid NHL experience at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing his junior hockey career. He played nine regular season games, recording 10 points. Then he played two round of the playoffs, finishing with five points in 10 games. He’s built for the NHL at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds.
Others to watch: Roman Kantserov, Blackhawks; James Hagens, Bruins; Konsta Helenius, Sabres; Viggo Bjorck, Jets; Ilya Protas, Capitals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL rookie of year favorites as talented group competes for Calder Trophy
