After 40-goal rookie season, Scottsdale’s Matthews wins NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has won the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Matthews was a near-unanimous selection, receiving 164 of 167 first-place votes and three second-place tallies for 1,661 points. Second-place Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets, who also was named on all 167 ballots, collected 1,106 voting points. Third-place Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets garnered 711 voting points.
The top pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews paced rookies with 40 goals and 69 points while appearing in all 82 games. His 40 goals also shared second place in the entire League, highlighted by a historic debut in which he became the first player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score four times in his first game. Matthews, who set franchise rookie records for goals and points, also ranked in the top 10 among first-year players in game-winning goals (1st; 8), shots on goal (1st; 279), power-play points (t-2nd; 21), power-play goals (3rd; 8), power-play assists (4th; 13), shooting percentage (7th; 14.3%) and assists (7th; 29).
The 19-year-old Scottsdale native was Toronto’s first Calder Trophy finalist since 1992-93 (Felix Potvin) and becomes the first Maple Leaf to win the award since 1965-66 (Brit Selby).