Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 1, 2018.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Vancouver Canucks right-winger Brock Boeser, New York Islanders centre Mathew Barzal and Arizona Coyotes centre Clayton Keller were named the three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy on Sunday by the NHL.
The Calder Trophy is awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.”
Boeser, the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, ranked second among rookies with 29 goals and fifth with 55 points despite appearing in only 62 games. Only two rookies have scored more goals in one season for the Canucks (Pavel Bure: 34 in 1991-92 and Trevor Linden: 30 in 1988-89), while just six have collected more points — each while playing more games.
Barzal, the 16th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, led all rookies with 22 goals and 63 assists in 82 games, 20 points more than the next-closest rookie. He became the seventh rookie in League history to record at least 20 goals and 60 assists in one season — and first to do so since 2005-06 (Sidney Crosby with Pittsburgh).
Keller, the seventh overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft, placed second among rookies with 23 goals and 42 assists while skating in all 82 games. His 65 points were the most by a Coyotes rookie since the club relocated to Arizona in 1996-97.