It’s assumed each year that the first overall pick from the most recent NHL draft has the best chance at winning the Calder Trophy, however history has proven otherwise.
Since the first NHL Amateur Draft took place in 1963, the amount of first overall picks to earn rookie of the year honours in the same year they were drafted is surprisingly low. In 54 drafts since, only nine times has a first overall pick won the Calder in the season they were drafted in, a total which comes to 17%.
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The nine players include: Gilbert Perrault, Denis Potvin, Bobby Smiuth, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Patrick Kane, Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad and Auston Matthews. Recent players who missed out on the honour include superstars Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. So in the grand scheme of things, who wins the award doesn’t really appear to matter.
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2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier showed well in the preseason and will be one of the frontrunners to win the award, but the Switzerland native will have some stiff competition. Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy looked impressive during his short stint with the team last season, and Joshua Ho-sang should make a case if he continues his strong play from 2016-17.
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Before you start thinking that the first-overall pick has the award locked down, think again, because it’s clearly not an easy task.
(H/T r/Hockey)
