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Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider was named the 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s top rookie, beating Trevor Zegras and Michael Bunting for the award.
Seider, the lone defenseman in the group, was an absolute beast in his rookie year with the Red Wings, logging just over 23 minutes a night (most among any rookie) while taking on first-pair responsibilities on Detroit’s thin blue line.
The 21-year-old German led all freshman defensemen with 53 points and 40 assists, and his seven goals earned him second in this group. He also ranked No. 1 among D-Men rookies in power-play points (21), game-winning goals (4), and shots on goal with 187. Seider finished fourth on his team in points and became just the third rookie Red Wings defenseman to score 50 or more points in a season, and the first since Nicklas Lidstrom had 60 in 1991-92, according to NHL.com stats.
Zegras captured the attention of the hockey world – and John Tortorella – with a series of ridiculous Lacrosse-style goals and assists, but the rookie’s game is more than just a flash. The Ducks forward led all freshman skaters in power-play goals (nine) and tied for first with five game-winning goals. The 21-year-old was second among freshmen in points (61), third in assists (38) and tied for second in goals with 23 in 75 games for the Ducks in 2021-22.
Bunting, the most polarizing finalist due to being 26, led all NHL rookies with 63 points while primarily playing an important stickman role on the Maple Leafs’ first line for most of last season. He was second in rookie goals (23) and assists (40), had 14 multi-point games and was plus-27 with 175 shots on goal while averaging 15:33 of YOU per game with Toronto.
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