The Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's best rookie, makes for one of the best subplots of the 2021-22 NHL season. A combination of the abbreviated 2020-21 season plus a number of top players making the journey over from Europe and college hockey at the right time has resulted in one of the deepest pools ever.
No candidate has dominated the rest of the field, either. A lengthy list of worthwhile players plus a lack of real separation means there is so much room for analysis and debate. Some rookies having successful seasons, such as Anton Lundell, Lucas Raymond and Jeremy Swayman, would be surefire finalists in many other seasons, yet they are on the outside looking in this season.