Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Wins 2023-24 NHL Calder Memorial Trophy as Best Rookie
June 27, 2024
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is the winner of the 2023-24 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.
The honor, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, was announced Thursday during the annual NHL awards.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils blueliner Luke Hughes finished as runners up.
Bedard is the first Blackhawks rookie to win the honor since Artemi Panarin claimed the trophy in 2016.
Missing 14 games after undergoing surgery on a broken jaw in January didn't stop Bedard from living up to the hype surrounding his selection at the top of the 2023 draft.
It took the Blackhawks phenom just 68 games to lead all NHL rookies with 22 goals, 61 points and 47 takeaways.
He quickly established himself in Chicago as a driver of play both at even strength and on the man advantage, leading the Blackhawks with 17 power-play assists and ranking second on the team with 18 even-strength goals.
Bedard scored the first goal of his NHL career just under three months after his 18th birthday with a wraparound tally against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 11, making him one of the 25 youngest first goal-scorers in NHL history.
Two months later, Bedard became one of the only players in NHL history to score on a lacrosse-style Michigan goal during a game against the St. Louis Blues.
He became the fifth 18-year-old to record five points in a single game with one goal and four assists against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12.
Bedard's production rate would have put him on pace for 73 points during an 82-game season.
Chicago will now hope he is able to stay healthy in 2024-25 as the reigning Calder Trophy winner looks to combine with the Blackhawks' upcoming No. 2 pick to lead the team back into playoff contention.