UPDATED WITH MAKAR QUOTES
As expected, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named a finalist Wednesday for the Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s best rookie as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
The other finalists: Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes and Chicago forward Dominik Kubalik.
Makar, 21, was the Avalanche’s second-leading scorer with 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games. He missed 13 games with separate upper-body injuries.
"I’m very honored and humbled to be on this stage with these guys here," Makar said during a Zoom call with Hughes and Kubalik. "It was such a great group of rookies this year and I think we’re all honored to be on this call."
Makar, the Avalanche’s first-round pick (No. 4) in the 2017 NHL draft, made his pro debut last spring in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against Calgary and scored the winning goal – on his first shot – in a 6-2 win at the Pepsi Center. He had six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 playoff games.
"It was an incredible experience for me, just being able to come in and kind of see the atmosphere in the room," he said. "It was really nice coming into my second year being able to know the guys a little already and being able to have a comfortable relationship. I think that kind of edge of the game was taken off for me.
"That was kind of the main thing coming into playoffs, just being able to get accustomed to the system and being accustomed to being around the team in Denver in general. For me, I feel like you want to take the same intensity into every game, that’s kind of the mentality I have. But I know everything’s ramped up come playoff time. It’s going to be an exciting time."
ðŸ—£ï¸ CALDER TROPHY FINALISTS
— NHL (@NHL) July 15, 2020
Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar (@Cmakar16) and Dominik Kubalik, but who will win? #NHLAwards
MORE: https://t.co/YAl04TkcKw pic.twitter.com/JZ4nb67r4N
The Calgary native played two years at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and won the Hobey Baker Award as a sophomore when he had 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 41 games. He joined the Avalanche 72 hours after winning the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the NCAA’s best player.
"I haven’t really thought about the comparison between this and the Hobey Baker," Makar said. "I think they’re two completely different things; they honor two completely different people. We’re all here because we have such a great supporting cast and that’s what was able to give us all success this year." Makar averaged 0.88 points per game this season, tops among all rookies. Only three other rookie defensemen in NHL history have averaged as many points per game in a single season: the New York Rangers’ Brian Leetch in 1988-89 (1.04), Los Angeles’ Larry Murphy (0.95) in 1980-81, and Calgary’s Al MacInnis (0.88) in 1983-84.
“He’s definitely a big part of our team," fellow defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "He's our engine, our offensive defenseman engine. He’s a great player. It’s exciting to see the kid come up, first year, and absolutely destroy the league. For sure we’re lucky to have him on our team.…
Makar tied for first among rookies with four game-winning goals, was second in assists with 38 and in points with 50, second in power-play assists with 15 and power-play points with 19. He averaged 21:01 in ice time.
“He’s been amazing all year," Andre Burakovsky said. "I mean, I don’t know when the last player coming up as a rookie dominates the game as he does. The way he skates, the way he handles the puck, his vision, his shot, everything. I think he’s been absolutely outstanding for us this year and hopefully he can pick it up like he’s been playing, that he can play like that in the playoffs.…
Said Joonas Donskoi: “He makes a huge difference. Its just crazy how good of a skater he is, good hands, good vision. He can make plays. He can be first coming into the offense and then he’s always first coming back to the D-zone. I sometimes feel like he’s all over the place. Super fun to watch.…
Three Avalanche players have won the Calder Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon (2013-14), Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12) and Chris Drury (1998-99). Peter Forsberg (1994-95) and Peter Stastny (1980-81) won the trophy with the Quebec Nordiques before the franchise moved to Denver in 1995.
2019-20 Calder Memorial Trophy finalist: Cale Makar
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 15, 2020
@Cmakar16’s 0.88 P/GP in 2019-20 was the highest in a season by a rookie defenseman since Brian Leetch’s 1.04 P/GP in 1988-89 (min. 10 GP). https://t.co/VlqtIs9RXe #NHLAwards #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/LH6LYpStf6
Hughes had 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) in 68 games. He was the third defenseman in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to lead all rookies in scoring, joining Leetch (1988-89) and Boston’s Bobby Orr (1966-67).
Kubalik had 46 points (30 goals, 16 assists) in 68 games. He led all rookies in goals.
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One camp session today. How lines, pairings looked:
Burakovsky-MacKinnon-Rantanen Landeskog-Kadri-Nichushkin Namestnikov-Compher-Donskoi Calvert-Bellemare-Nieto-Jost
Graves-Makar Girard-Johnson Cole-Zadorov Barberio-Connauton
Grubauer Francouz