Calder Trophy: What It Is + Every Winner

The Most Impressive Calder Campaigns

Teemu Selanne holds the most impressive Calder campaign in history, scoring 76 goals as a rookie in 1992-93 for the Winnipeg Jets. This record seems untouchable in the modern NHL, where defensive systems and goaltending have evolved to limit offensive explosions.

Other legendary winners include Bobby Orr (revolutionizing defense as a rookie), Mario Lemieux (100 points in his first season), Patrick Kane (leading Chicago's resurgence), and Auston Matthews (four goals in his NHL debut). Some all-time greats finished as runners-up, most notably Sidney Crosby losing to Alexander Ovechkin in 2006.

Now that you know the trophies, try using them in a real puzzle. Gridzy Hockey uses awards like the Hart, Norris, and Vezina in a daily NHL grid game.

Complete List of Calder Trophy Winners (1933-2026)

1930s-1940s: Foundation Years

1933: Carl Voss (Detroit Red Wings/New York Rangers/Ottawa Senators) The first recipient of what would become the Calder Trophy played for three teams in his rookie season.

1934: Russ Blinco (Montreal Maroons) Blinco scored 13 goals in 48 games during his Calder-winning campaign.

1935: Dave "Sweeney" Schriner (New York Americans) Schriner's 18 goals and 40 points led all rookies in 1934-35.

1936: Mike Karakas (Chicago Black Hawks) The goaltender won the Calder and helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup.

1937: Syl Apps (Toronto Maple Leafs) Apps became the first winner under the official "Calder Trophy" name after Frank Calder's death.

1938: Cully Dahlstrom (Chicago Black Hawks) Dahlstrom's 10 goals helped Chicago reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

1939: Frank Brimsek (Boston Bruins) "Mr. Zero" posted 10 shutouts in his rookie season, an astounding achievement.

1940: Kilby MacDonald (New York Rangers) MacDonald scored 14 goals in his Calder-winning season.

1941: John Quilty (Montreal Canadiens) Quilty's 18 goals led all rookies in 1940-41.

1942: Grant Warwick (New York Rangers) Warwick scored 16 goals during his Calder campaign.

1943: Gaye Stewart (Toronto Maple Leafs) Stewart's 24 goals set a new rookie record at the time.

1944: Gus Bodnar (Toronto Maple Leafs) Bodnar scored 22 goals and added 40 assists in his rookie year.

1945: Frank McCool (Toronto Maple Leafs) The goaltender won the Calder and helped Toronto win the Stanley Cup.

1946: Edgar Laprade (New York Rangers) Laprade's 15 goals and playmaking ability earned him the Calder.

1947: Howie Meeker (Toronto Maple Leafs) Meeker scored 27 goals, including five in one game during his rookie season.

1948: Jim McFadden (Detroit Red Wings) McFadden's 24 goals led all rookies in 1947-48.

1949: Pentti Lund (New York Rangers) Lund became the first European-born Calder winner.

1950s: Post-War Excellence

1950: Jack Gelineau (Boston Bruins) The goaltender posted a 2.81 GAA in his Calder-winning season.

1951: Terry Sawchuk (Detroit Red Wings) Sawchuk's rookie season foreshadowed one of the greatest goaltending careers ever.

1952: Bernie Geoffrion (Montreal Canadiens) "Boom Boom" scored 30 goals and pioneered the slap shot.

1953: Gump Worsley (New York Rangers) Despite playing for a weak Rangers team, Worsley's goaltending earned the Calder.

1954: Camille Henry (New York Rangers) Henry scored 24 goals in his Calder campaign.

1955: Ed Litzenberger (Chicago Black Hawks) Litzenberger's 23 goals led Chicago's offense.

1956: Glenn Hall (Detroit Red Wings) Hall's Calder win began a Hall of Fame goaltending career.

1957: Larry Regan (Boston Bruins) Regan scored 14 goals and added 19 assists.

1958: Frank Mahovlich (Toronto Maple Leafs) "The Big M" scored 20 goals in his Calder-winning rookie season.

1959: Ralph Backstrom (Montreal Canadiens) Backstrom's 18 goals helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup.

If you can name trophy winners off the top of your head, you'll crush Gridzy. Today's grid might literally be built around what you just read.

1960s: Expansion Approaches

1960: Bill Hay (Chicago Black Hawks) Hay's 18 goals and 37 assists made him Chicago's top rookie.

1961: Dave Keon (Toronto Maple Leafs) Keon's two-way play began a Hall of Fame career with Toronto.

1962: Bobby Rousseau (Montreal Canadiens) Rousseau scored 21 goals in his Calder campaign.

1963: Kent Douglas (Toronto Maple Leafs) The defenseman won the Calder at age 26, the oldest rookie winner at the time.

1964: Jacques Laperriere (Montreal Canadiens) Laperriere's defensive prowess earned him the Calder from the blue line.

1965: Roger Crozier (Detroit Red Wings) The goaltender won despite Detroit's struggles, showcasing individual brilliance.

1966: Brit Selby (Toronto Maple Leafs) Selby scored 14 goals in his rookie season.

1967: Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) Orr's revolutionary rookie season changed hockey forever, scoring 13 goals and 41 points from defense.

1968: Derek Sanderson (Boston Bruins) Sanderson's two-way play complemented Orr's offensive brilliance.

1969: Danny Grant (Minnesota North Stars) Grant scored 34 goals in expansion Minnesota's first season.

1970s: Expansion Era Rookies

1970: Tony Esposito (Chicago Black Hawks) Esposito posted 15 shutouts in his Calder-winning season at age 26.

1971: Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres) Perreault's 38 goals as the first overall pick launched Buffalo's franchise.

1972: Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens) Dryden won the Conn Smythe before winning the Calder due to limited prior games played.

1973: Steve Vickers (New York Rangers) Vickers scored 30 goals in his rookie campaign.

1974: Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) Potvin's offensive ability from defense began the Islanders' dynasty.

1975: Eric Vail (Atlanta Flames) Vail scored 39 goals, still an impressive rookie total.

1976: Bryan Trottier (New York Islanders) Trottier's 95 points signaled the arrival of an all-time great.

1977: Willi Plett (Atlanta Flames) Plett's physical play and 33 goals earned him the Calder.

1978: Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) Bossy's 53 goals set a rookie record that stood for decades.

1979: Bobby Smith (Minnesota North Stars) Smith's 74 points led all rookies.

Want a fun way to turn NHL awards knowledge into a challenge? Play Gridzy Hockey and see how many trophy-based squares you can solve.

1980s: Gretzky Ineligible, But Stars Emerge

1980: Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins) Bourque's 65 points from defense began a Hall of Fame career.

1981: Peter Stastny (Quebec Nordiques) The Czech defector scored 109 points, the second-highest rookie total ever.

1982: Dale Hawerchuk (Winnipeg Jets) Hawerchuk's 103 points at age 18 were remarkable.

1983: Steve Larmer (Chicago Black Hawks) Larmer scored 43 goals and began an ironman streak.

1984: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres) Barrasso won the Calder and Vezina in the same season at age 19.

1985: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) Lemieux's 100 points announced the arrival of a generational talent.

1986: Gary Suter (Calgary Flames) Suter scored 68 points from defense in his rookie season.

1987: Luc Robitaille (Los Angeles Kings) Robitaille's 45 goals began a Hall of Fame goal-scoring career.

1988: Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary Flames) Nieuwendyk scored 51 goals, joining elite rookie goal-scoring company.

1989: Brian Leetch (New York Rangers) Leetch's skating and offensive skills from defense earned him the Calder.

1990s: International Stars Arrive

1990: Sergei Makarov (Calgary Flames) Makarov won at age 31, prompting age restriction rule changes.

1991: Ed Belfour (Chicago Black Hawks) Belfour's goaltending excellence launched a Vezina-caliber career immediately.

1992: Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) "The Russian Rocket" scored 34 goals in 65 games.

1993: Teemu Selanne (Winnipeg Jets) Selanne's 76 goals and 132 points remain the greatest rookie season ever.

1994: Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) Brodeur's Calder win began the greatest goaltending career in NHL history.

1995: Peter Forsberg (Quebec Nordiques) Forsberg's complete game showcased his future superstar potential.

1996: Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators) Alfredsson scored 26 goals and became Ottawa's franchise player.

1997: Bryan Berard (New York Islanders) Berard's offensive skills from defense earned the Calder.

1998: Sergei Samsonov (Boston Bruins) Samsonov's skating and skill brought excitement to Boston.

1999: Chris Drury (Colorado Avalanche) Drury won the Calder and Stanley Cup in the same season.

Read more: NHL Injury Report Heading Into the 2025-2026 Season

2000s: Modern Rookie Excellence

2000: Scott Gomez (New Jersey Devils) Gomez's playmaking earned him the Calder on a defensive-minded team.

2001: Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks) Nabokov's goaltending transformed San Jose into a contender.

2002: Dany Heatley (Atlanta Thrashers) Heatley's 26 goals and 67 points showcased offensive potential.

2003: Barret Jackman (St. Louis Blues) The defensive defenseman won the Calder with solid two-way play.

2004: Andrew Raycroft (Boston Bruins) Raycroft's 29 wins earned him the Calder as a goaltender.

2005: (Lockout, no winner)

2006: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) Ovechkin's 52 goals and electrifying style beat Sidney Crosby for the Calder.

2007: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) Malkin's 85 points continued Pittsburgh's youth movement.

2008: Patrick Kane (Chicago Black Hawks) Kane's 72 points began Chicago's championship run.

2009: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets) Mason's 33 wins carried Columbus to the playoffs.

2010s: The Modern Game

2010: Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres) The 6'8" defenseman scored 48 points in his Calder season.

2011: Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes) Skinner's 31 goals at age 18 were impressive.

2012: Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche) Landeskog became the youngest captain in NHL history after his Calder win.

2013: Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers) Huberdeau's 31 points in 48 games (lockout-shortened) earned the Calder.

2014: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) MacKinnon's 63 points foreshadowed superstar potential.

2015: Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers) Ekblad won the Calder at age 19 as a defenseman.

2016: Artemi Panarin (Chicago Black Hawks) Panarin's 77 points at age 24 (just under the limit) were remarkable.

2017: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) Matthews scored four goals in his NHL debut and finished with 40.

2018: Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders) Barzal's 85 points led all rookies by a wide margin.

2019: Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) Pettersson's skill and hockey IQ earned him the Calder.

2020s: Next Generation

2020: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) Makar's dynamic play earned the Calder in the playoff bubble.

2021: Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild) Kaprizov's 51 points in 55 games showcased elite talent.

2022: Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) Seider's two-way defensive play earned him the Calder from the blue line.

2023: Matty Beniers (Seattle Kraken) Beniers' complete game helped Seattle's playoff push.

2024: Connor Bedard (Chicago Black Hawks) Bedard's generational hype was justified with an outstanding rookie campaign.

2025: Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) Celebrini's offensive explosion gave San Jose hope for the future.

2026: [Current season; update when announced]

Notable Trends and Records

Most goals by a rookie: Teemu Selanne (76, 1992-93)

Most points by a rookie: Teemu Selanne (132, 1992-93)

Most points by a rookie defenseman: Brian Leetch (71, 1988-89)

Oldest winner: Sergei Makarov (31 years old, 1990) - led to age restriction

Youngest winner: Multiple players at 18 years old

The Calder's Predictive Power

The Calder Trophy celebrates breakout talent and often predicts future Hall of Fame careers. Winners like Orr, Lemieux, Selanne, Ovechkin, Crosby (runner-up), Kane, and MacKinnon all became generational talents. While not every Calder winner reaches superstardom, the trophy has an impressive track record of identifying players who will define their era.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

Play Gridzy Hockey Free Every Day

Gridzy Hockey is Shurzy's daily NHL grid game where you pretend you're "just messing around" and then suddenly you're 15 minutes deep arguing with yourself about whether some 2009 fourth-liner qualifies as a 40-goal guy.

You get nine guesses to fill a 3×3 grid, you can't reuse players, and every pick is either a genius flex or instant regret. So yeah, it's basically hockey trivia with stakes.

New grid drops every day at 6:00am ET, which is perfect because nothing says "healthy morning routine" like panicking over who won the Lady Byng in 1998. If you think you know puck, prove it.

Go play Gridzy right now!

‍