NHL issues a statement on Blackhawks rookie forward Connor Bedard

Kraken center Matty Beniers claimed the Calder in 2023, but the question remains: Who will emerge victorious in 2024?

This year, the spotlight shines on two standout rookies: Connor Bedard and Brock Faber, as announced in the NHL's statement released this morning, as they are 2 of 3 nominees.

The debate over the deserving winner has been ongoing for months, with fans and analysts weighing in on the merits of each candidate.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard has maintained a focused mindset amidst the Calder Trophy discussions. In a recent interview, Bedard stated:

The 18-year-old Bedard showcased his talent throughout the season, leading all rookies with an impressive 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games, despite missing 14 games due to a broken jaw mid-season.

On the other hand, Brock Faber, 21, brings a wealth of experience, having completed three NCAA seasons with the University of Minnesota before joining the NHL. The defenseman, standing at 6 feet and weighing 200 pounds, played a big role for his team, averaging a team-leading 24 minutes and 58 seconds of ice time per game, but is a whopping 3 years older than Connor Bedard.

Faber concluded the season with eight goals and 39 assists. Despite facing a minus-1 goals differential on a team with a minus-12 goal differential, Faber's impact was beyond his stats.

Bedard faced a more challenging season statistically, registering a minus-44 goals differential on a team with a minus-111 goal differential.

As the anticipation builds leading up to the Calder Trophy announcement, hockey fans await the verdict.

Will it be Bedard or Faber who claims the honor as the NHL's top rookie of the season?