Trophy Tracker: Calder

To mark the quarter point of the 2021-22 regular season, NHL.com is running its second installment of the Trophy Tracker series. Today, we look at the race for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the best rookie in the NHL as selected in a poll by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Lucas Raymond is on a rookie scoring pace unlike anything the NHL has seen the past four seasons.
The Detroit Red Wings forward has scored 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 22 games, averaging 0.95 points per game. The last rookie to finish a season on that type of pace was New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year in 2017-18 after scoring 85 points (22 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games (1.04 points per game).
Forward Kirill Kaprizov scored 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) in 55 games with the Minnesota Wild when he won the Calder Trophy last season (0.93 points per game).
"Lucas is dangerous; he's someone that is incredible to play with because he's going to make plays," Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin told The Detroit News. "He's crafty and he's going to get the puck to you."
Raymond is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy according to a panel of 17 writers for NHL.com, receiving 10 first-place votes and 77 points in the poll. The 19-year-old didn't receive a vote in NHL.com's preseason poll in October.

Raymond's teammate, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, is second in the poll with six first-place votes and 71 points, followed by New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer with 38 points (one first-place vote), Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras with 35 points and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram with 12 points.
It's the first time in the history of NHL.com's Trophy Tracker series that two Red Wings players are No. 1-2 among the top five in voting for the Calder Trophy. Additionally, Detroit goalie Alex Nedeljkovic is tied for seventh with Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale, each with four points.
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he's excited to have a rookie at each position in his lineup playing a key role. He said he has been especially impressed with the way Raymond has adapted in his first professional season in North America.
Raymond joined former NHL center and current general manager Steve Yzerman (17 games, 1983-84) as the second Red Wings teenager to score his first 20 NHL points in 21 games or fewer.
"[Raymond's] game was pretty complete right away," Blashill said. "His game was probably transferable in the sense he does it right and he doesn't cheat for offense. He didn't have a huge learning curve that way. When young players are coming over from the American [Hockey] League, you kind of know what to expect. It's different to predict in terms of scoring (in the Swedish Hockey League)."
Raymond scored 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 34 games last season for Frolunda of the SHL, the top professional men's league in Sweden.
"I know there are positives and negatives with young players playing in a men's league," Blashill said. "But generally, they come over and have a good, complete game. They've been forced to have that because of the level they play at.
"[Raymond] creates chances without giving much. He's been efficient that way, and I don't see a reason he can't continue it."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings, 77 points (10 first-place votes); Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings, 71 (six); Dawson Mercer, New Jersey Devils, 38 (one); Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks, 35; Bowen Byram, Colorado Avalanche, 12; Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames, 8; Alex Nedeljkovic, Detroit Red Wings, 4; Jamie Drysdale, Anaheim Ducks, 4; Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers, 3; Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2; Jonathan Dahlen, San Jose Sharks, 1