Calder Trophy Odds (NHL Rookie of the Year Odds): Anybody Mak(a)ing Moves?
By: Ryan Gilbert
If you were hoping for some extra names in the 2020 Calder Trophy odds race, well, we’ve got some news for you… kinda; Makar and Hughes are joined by one other rookie with odds on the board, but that is a long – long – shot. So, essentially, it’s still just down to the two defensemen.
Best SportsBooks 2020
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Cale Makar (Calder Trophy odds/NHL Rookie of the Year Odds: -130)
Cale Makar is the favorite – if only a slight favorite – to win the Calder Trophy despite not leading rookies in points. However, that is largely due to his injury that cost him some time earlier this season.
Makar is second in points with 47, second in assists with 35, and sixth in goals with 12. He is sixth among rookies with a plus-minus of plus-11 through 56 games.
He isn’t leading rookies in points, but his points-per-game is pretty impressive. He leads all rookies with a 0.84 points per game played, which is .04 better than Quinn Hughes.
Makar has also done more of his damage at even strength, with 30 even strength points and eight even strength goals. That places him at the top among rookie defensemen.
Makar’s odds have gone from -160 to -130 in the past month.
Quinn Hughes (Calder Trophy odds/NHL Rookie of the Year Odds: +100)
While Cale Makar’s odds have gone down, Quinn Hughes’ odds have remained the same at +100.
Hughes leads all rookies in points with 52 and in assists with 44. He also plays the most minutes per game of any rookie at 21:46. He has been a workhorse for the Vancouver Canucks on the blue line.
Hughes has remained healthy all season and has been a stalwart for the Canucks.
Hughes has also consistently put up points for the Canucks. He had a great February with 15 points in 13 games to bounce back from “only” 14 points in 24 games in December and January.
Hughes had a tremendous stretch from January 29 to February 27, putting up 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in just 13 games played. It’s play like that during important parts of the season that will catch the attention of voters.
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It’s going to be a neck-and-neck race the whole way between these two defensemen. They both have a strong argument to win the Calder Trophy, but Hughes’ consistency on the top pair for the Canucks should give him the edge. And at +100, it’s an even bet for Hughes.
