New Jersey Devils' Luke Hughes' 2023-24 Season Deserves Calder Trophy – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils
The NHL has announced that New Jersey Devils rookie defenseman Luke Hughes has been named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to “the most professional player in his first year of competition.” Hughes joins Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard and Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber on the list of winners.
Hughes made his debut with the Devils at the tail end of the 2022–23 season, scoring one goal and one assist in two games. In addition, he joined New Jersey in their playoff run last season, where he solidified his roster spot for the 2023-24 season. Quinn and Luke Hughes became the first brothers to be voted Calder Trophy Finalists in NHL history.
Hughes' 2023-24 Rookie Season
Hughes had a record-breaking season with the Devils during his rookie campaign. In 82 games, he scored nine goals and added 38 assists for 47 points, setting the Devils' record for points by a defenseman. Among rookies, he ranked second in points and led rookie defensemen in goals.
Despite being a rookie, Hughes received the most playing time among the Devils, averaging 21:28 of ice time. He also ranked first in 22-plus mile per hour burst by a defenseman with 25. His top speed this season was 24.19 mph. In addition, Hughes ranks second in power play points with 25, behind only his brother, Jack Hughes.
Hughes' 2023-24 campaign was impressive and allowed him to gain valuable experience that will greatly improve his overall performance. The Devils have a special player who will help the team in the near and far future and the Calder Trophy nomination is a fitting end to his rookie campaign.
Hughes' competition
Brock Faber
The Minnesota Wild defenseman finished his rookie campaign with the same number of points that Hughes did. He registered eight goals and 39 assists for a total of 47 points. He also appeared in all 82 games for the Wild. Faber averaged 24:58 in time on the ice, nearly three and a half minutes more than Hughes. In addition, the native Minnesotan was heavily used on the power play, finishing with 16 power play points. Still, Hughes registered nine more points on 25 power plays.
The comparison between Faber and Hughes is very close. However, Hughes is a year younger than Faber and stepped into a role no one expected him to fill due to injuries in New Jersey. Faber was also thrust into a position where he had to play more minutes than expected due to injury. The difference between Hughes and Faber is in the numbers below.
Related: Bedard, Faber and Hughes Named Calder Trophy Finalists
According to Natural Stat Trick, Hughes ranks first in Corsi % among rookies with 200 minutes played. He registered an impressive 60.70 CF%. Faber registered a 47.71 CF%, which ranked him 23rd. On defense, Hughes also beat Faber in expected goals against percentage. Hughes registered a 91.2 xGA% while Faber registered a 107.61 xGA%.
Despite better base numbers, the Calder Trophy is mostly awarded to the rookie who accumulates the most points throughout their rookie season. Hughes and Faber are both eligible for the trophy, although Hughes has passed, but Connor Bedard is the heavy favorite to win it.
Connor Bedard
The 2023 first-round pick did not disappoint in his rookie season, finishing the season with 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. He played 68 games and averaged 19:47 on the ice. There is no denying that Bedard will have a successful and long NHL career. However, he was arguably not the best player to play this season. His CF% was a weak 44.8%, worse than Hughes. Blackhawk registered more points than Hughes and Faber, but that was mostly because of his position. He is the only striker nominated for this award and will probably win because of his points total.
Entering the 2023-24 season, the Calder Trophy was Bedard's prize to beat. The hype, expectations, and excitement surrounding the forward thrust him into the NHL spotlight. He's definitely deserving of the nomination and in fact, all three rookies are having Calder-Trophy worthy seasons.
Unfortunately, only one rookie can win the Calder Trophy. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and while points are usually the deciding factor, it can be refreshing to see a player recognized for their overall performance. Considering position, impact, points, durability, impact, basic stats, and circumstances, Luke Hughes deserves the Calder. However, we will have to wait until June 27 to see who will be going with it.
Source link
