Award Prediction: Calder Tophy

The Calder Trophy. This is an award given at the end of each season to the rookie judged to be the most proficient in his first year of competition. Sometimes it is obvious who is going to win (i.e. when Teemu Selanne scored 76 goals in his rookie year), but often it is a very close race.

This year there are three very good rookies up for the honor. The first is Gabriel Landeskog. He was the second overall draft pick in this past draft by the Colorado Avalanche, and he did not disappoint. He finished the year with 52 points. He was a rock for Colorado, playing in all 82 of the team's games.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was taken with the first pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, one pick before Landeskog. He battled through an injury plagued season, playing in only 62 games, but still finishing with 52 points. Had he been healthy the wholeyear, it is almost certain that he would take home the Calder.

Adam Henrique. He was the definition of clutch for the New Jersey Devils on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. He ended the Devs first series with a double overtime goal against Florida in game 7, and sent the Rangers home after scoring an overtime goal in game 6. He also scored the winning goal in game 4 against Los Angles to keep New Jersey alive (although they would loose to LA in 6 games).

All three of these players are deserving of the award, but we determined the winner to be...

GABRIEL LANDESKOG