This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
As the NHL playoff picture is settling into focus, the Calder Trophy race is still mostly up for grabs. You have your leading candidates, sure, but it seems as though there are at least four guys that have a realistic shot at winning the award with around 13 games left in the season.
Connor McDavid would have to be the frontrunner for the award had he not lost 38 games to a broken collarbone, as he's scored 35 points in 34 games, placing him third in all of the NHL in points per game. In another season, McDavid might still be the leading candidate for the Calder, but there are just too many good rookies in this campaign.
Jack Eichel has hit the 20-goal mark and looks set to break 50 points on the season while playing a strong 200-foot game on a fairly bad Sabres team, but he still likely trails Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Blackhawks left wing Artemi Panarin in the race to be the best rookie. Panarin has been spectacular this season, but he's already 24 years old, has played in a top professional league since 2008-09, and benefits heavily from playing on a line with Patrick Kane.
When taking all of this into consideration, Shayne Gostisbehere has to be the name engraved on the trophy for 2015-16. The former Union College Dutchman didn't begin the season on Philly's roster, but in the 49 games he's played since being recalled on Nov. 14, Gostisbehere has tallied 15 goals and 38 points. When pro-rated for a full season, Gostisbehere would be on pace to bag 25 goals as a rookie defenseman, an amazing stat in today's era of low-scoring games. Meanwhile, Gostisbehere can be looked at as the catalyst for the Flyers' resurgence and playoff push.
These four players have been great and will likely be great for years to come, but other rookies who have had great years include the likes of Detroit's Dylan Larkin and Arizona's Max Domi. When the 2015-16 NHL season is looked back upon in history, one of its defining characteristics will surely be the importance and impressiveness of rookie play.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury) vs. Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 12:30 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) vs. Blue Jackets (Sergei Bobrovsky), 3:00 PM
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) vs. Red Wings (Jimmy Howard), 7:30 PM
For updates on projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News for Teams Playing Sunday
Pittsburgh Penguins
Beau Bennett, RW (upper body) – began skating with the team last Friday
Ben Lovejoy, D (upper body) – practicing in a non-contact jersey
Evgeni Malkin, C (upper body) – to miss the next 6-to-8 weeks
Kevin Porter, C (ankle) – will miss the remainder of the regular season
Scott Wilson, LW (undisclosed) – questionable Sunday
New York Rangers
Tanner Glass, LW (upper body) – will sit out Sunday's game
Dylan McIlrath, D (knee) – could miss multiple weeks
Tampa Bay Lightning
Cedric Paquette, C (lower body) – a doubt for Sunday
Columbus Blue Jackets
David Clarkson, RW (undisclosed) – sat out Saturday's practice
Jack Johnson, D (upper body) – out indefinitely
Toronto Maple Leafs
Brad Boyes, RW (undisclosed) – doubtful Sunday
Tyler Bozak, C (head) – remains without a timetable for his return
Byron Froese, C (hand) – status unclear for Sunday
Matt Hunwick, D (abdomen) – out for the season
Brooks Laich, C (foot) – hit injured reserve Saturday
Viktor Loov, D (undisclosed) – a doubt for Sunday
Joffrey Lupul, RW (abdomen) – to miss remainder of the season
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) – out indefinitely
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) – out for the year
Detroit Red Wings
Johan Franzen, RW (concussion) – out indefinitely
Niklas Kronwall, D (lower body) – unlikely to play Sunday
Drew Miller, LW (knee) – to miss the rest of the season
Hot
Kris Letang, D, PIT – The high-scoring defenseman endured a slow start to the season by his standards, and dealt with a couple of injuries at the time, as well. Despite playing in only 57 games, Letang has rocketed up the charts to place himself as the fourth-highest scoring defenseman in the league with 52 points. Currently riding a three-game point streak, Letang has 12 points in his last 12 games, and a whopping 38 points in his last 32 contests.
Cam Atkinson, RW, CBJ – After scoring 21 goals in 79 games in 2013-14 and 22 goals in 78 games in 2014-15, Atkinson has taken his game to another level this season. Through 67 games, the former Boston College standout has set career-highs in goals (24) and points (44), putting him on pace to finish the year with 29 goals and 53 points. With six points in his last five games, including five goals, Atkinson definitely has a shot to hit the illustrious 30-goal mark this year.
Cold
Victor Hedman, D, TBL – Coming off of a lights-out postseason performance, many looked at Hedman as a potential Norris Trophy favorite. Things haven't panned out for the big Swede, posting six goals and 37 points in 67 games after scoring 10 goals and 38 points in 59 games last season. Hedman has hit a particularly rough patch in recent games, with no point in his last four games, and one (an assist) in his last 11 games.
Recommended Pickup
William Nylander, C, TOR – As one of the most highly-touted prospects in the game playing in hockey's biggest market, the eighth-overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft has two goals through his first seven NHL games. Nylander is an electrifying skater that possesses a deadly release and the nuances of a great offensive player, even if he hasn't exactly filled the net since making his debut with the big team. With an average time on ice of 16:31, Nylander is getting a longer leash than usual for a 19-year-old from head coach Mike Babcock, meaning he could be cashing in on his opportunities sooner rather than later.
