“2023 Calder Trophy Finalists: Matty Beniers, Owen Power, and Stuart Skinner”

Matty Beniers, Owen Power and Stuart Skinner are this year’s finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

The Calder Trophy is awarded annually to the player deemed to have performed best in their first season in the National Hockey League, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The winner will be announced in connection with the NHL Awards gala in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville on June 26.

Beniers, 20, led all rookies in scoring in 2022-23 with 57 points (24+33) in 80 games for the Seattle Kraken. The center’s 24 goals were tied for the most of any rookie, along with the Dallas Stars Wyatt Johnston. Benier’s 33 assists were second most by any rookie, behind the Arizona Coyotes Matias Maccelli (38). Beniers had the best plus/minus of any rookie at +14, logged only two ejection minutes and averaged 17:06 of ice time – second most of any rookie forward who played at least half of his team’s games.

Beniers was drafted by the Seattle Kraken as the second player overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. The forward, if he wins, would become the first Kraken player to win the award.
Power, 20, averaged by far the most ice time of any rookie outfielder in 2022-23; 23:48 per game for the Buffalo Sabres. The defender recorded 35 points (4+31) in 79 games and thus became the best scorer among all rookie defenders. His 31 assists were also the most of any rookie back in the league. Power posted a +10 plus/minus rating, third best among rookies behind Benier and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s defense Nick Perbix (+11).

Power was drafted by the Buffalo Sabers as the first overall player in the 2021 NHL Draft. The running back, if he wins, would become the first Sabers player since Tyler Myers (2009-10) to win the award.

Skinner, 24, started the most games of any rookie goaltender (48), recorded the most wins (29), second-best save percentage (91.4) among goaltenders who started at least 20 games behind the Vegas Golden Knights Logan Thompson (91.5), kept one clean sheet and recorded two assists (!) – most among all rookie goaltenders and tied for second most among all goaltenders in the league behind the New Jersey Devils Vitek Vanecek (tre assist).

Skinner was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, as the 78th player overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The goaltender, if he wins, would become the first Oilers player to win the award.

Last season, the Detroit Red Wings took back Moritz Seider took home the award after recording 50 points – the best among all rookie guards – on seven goals and 43 assists.