Calder Memorial Trophy

Calder Memorial Trophy. Awarded annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. The trophy is named in honor of Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL, who served from 1917 until his death in 1943. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious individual awards in professional hockey, symbolizing the emergence of the league's future stars.

History

The trophy was originally donated in 1936 by Frank Calder, then president of the National Hockey League, to honor the league's top rookie. Following Calder's death in 1943, the trophy was permanently renamed the Calder Memorial Trophy. Early winners included notable figures like Syl Apps of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Milt Schmidt of the Boston Bruins. The award has been presented every NHL season since its inception, with the exception of the 2004–05 season which was canceled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The legacy of the trophy is deeply intertwined with the history of the NHL itself, chronicling the arrival of generational talents who often go on to define eras, such as Terry Sawchuk, Bobby Orr, and Mario Lemieux.

Eligibility and voting

Eligibility for the award is strictly defined: a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season, nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons, in any major professional league. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of the regular season by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Members of the PHWA submit ballots ranking their top five choices, using a weighted points system (10-7-5-3-1). The player with the highest point total is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, joint winners are declared, a rare occurrence that has happened only once, in 1990, between Sergei Makarov and Mike Modano.

Winners

The list of winners includes many players who became legends of the sport and members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The first winner was Syl Apps in 1937. Other iconic winners include goaltender Terry Sawchuk (1951), defenseman Bobby Orr (1967), and centers Mario Lemieux (1985) and Sidney Crosby (2007). More recent winners who have become franchise cornerstones include Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (2014), Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (2017), and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (2020). The 2024 winner was Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Multiple winners

No player has ever won the Calder Memorial Trophy more than once, due to its specific designation for a player's first year of NHL eligibility. However, several franchises have had multiple players win the award while with their team. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins lead all franchises with ten winners each. Other teams with a strong history of producing top rookies include the New York Rangers with eight winners, and the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings with seven each. The Montreal Canadiens have had six winners.

See also

* Hart Memorial Trophy * James Norris Memorial Trophy * Vezina Trophy * Lady Byng Memorial Trophy * Jack Adams Award * NHL All-Rookie Team * List of NHL awards

Category:National Hockey League trophies and awards Category:National Hockey League awards