Gostisbehere, McDavid, Panarin named Calder finalists

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid and Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin were named as finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the top rookie in the NHL.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted on the award, which will be presented during the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on June 22.
Gostisbehere, 23, scored 17 goals, the most by a rookie defenseman since Dion Phaneuf had 20 in 2005-06. He led rookie defensemen this season in goals, assists (29), points (46), power-play goals (eight) and power-play points (22) in 64 games. He also scored four overtime goals, setting a League rookie record and tying for the most ever in a season by a defenseman. Gostisbehere also had a 15-game point streak, a League record for a rookie defenseman and a Flyers record for rookies.

No Flyers player has won the Calder; he's their first finalist since forward Mikael Renberg in 1994.

McDavid, 19, was fourth among rookies with 48 points despite playing 45 games because of injury; he missed three months with a fractured left clavicle sustained Nov. 3. His 1.07 points-per-game average was third among all players to skate in at least 40 games. The first pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, McDavid, had 12 multipoint games, including a five-point game (two goals, three assists) Feb. 11 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. At age 19 years, 29 days at the time of the game, he was the ninth-youngest player ever with a five-point game.
No Oilers player has won the Calder; he's their first finalist since center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2012.
Panarin, 24, signed with the Blackhawks on May 1, 2015 after seven seasons in Russia, and led rookies and was tied for ninth in the League with 77 points. He also led rookies in goals (30), assists (47), power-play points (24) and game-winning goals (seven). He became the fourth Blackhawks rookie with 30 goals and first since Eric Daze in 1995-96. He also had a hat trick Feb. 17 against the New York Rangers, the first Blackhawks rookie with one since Tyler Arnason during the 2002-03 season.
He is looking to become the Blackhawks' first Calder Trophy winner since Patrick Kane in 2008.