It’s widely expected Mathew Barzal will collect the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie at the league’s awards show in Las Vegas on June 20, becoming the first Islander to earn the honor in 21 years.
Barzal took the final step toward making that a reality on Sunday when he was announced as one of three Calder finalists in voting among members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
The Coyotes’ Clayton Keller and the Canucks’ Brock Boeser are the other two finalists. Barzal, centering the Islanders’ second line, led all NHL rookies with 85 points, 20 more than Keller, his nearest competitor.