Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, the 2019 Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s best player, won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year on Monday.
The 21-year-old from Calgary is Colorado’s fourth Calder winner and first defenseman, joining forwards Nathan MacKinnon (2014), Gabe Landeksog (2012) and Chris Drury (1999). Forward Peter Forsberg also won the Calder in 1995 for Quebec, months before the Nordiques relocated to Denver.
MacKinnon also was a finalist for the major NHL awards announced Monday but he was beaten out by Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl for the two league MVP awards — the Hart Trophy (voted on by writers) and the Ted Lindsay Award (players).