Calder Trophy winner debated by NHL.com

The three finalists for the Calder Trophy are a diverse group.

Michael Bunting, the late-blooming forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, came from off the grid to have an award-worthy season.
Moritz Seider, widely regarded as a generational defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings, made an impact quicker than many imagined possible. The 21-year-old, taken by Detroit at No. 6 in the 2019 NHL Draft, became his team's best defenseman in the first month of the season and never looked back.
Trevor Zegras, the human highlight reel for the Anaheim Ducks, continued an upward trajectory that began when Anaheim took the center three picks after Seider in the 2019 draft. He introduced himself to the NHL with a 24-game trial last season before taking the hockey world by storm, particularly with his lacrosse-style goals and assists.
But who is the player selected to be most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association? We'll find out when the winner is announced during the 2022 NHL Awards in Tampa on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS), but in the interim, NHL.com asked a writer to make a compelling argument for why each finalist should win.
Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs
Bunting is fine example of a player worth fighting for despite the odds against him when it comes to the NHL's top rookie this season. In addition to being one of the finest competitors in the game, the 26-year-old helped linemates Auston Matthews (106 points; 60 goals, 46 assists in 73 games) and Mitchell Marner (97 points; 35 goals, 62 assists in 72 games) to their most productive seasons in the NHL. Bunting led NHL rookies with 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) and 58 even-strength points (21 goals, 37 assists) in 79 regular-season games. He also led rookies with 45 penalties drawn and averaged 15:33 of ice time as a full-time member of Toronto's top line. Bunting was tenacious on pucks, ranking sixth among rookies in takeaways (36). Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round (No. 117) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Bunting played 26 games (five in 2018-19, 21 in 2020-21) with the Coyotes before signing a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 28. I'd call it the most underrated offseason signing of any team. The Maple Leafs controlled 57.2 percent of all shots attempted (5-on-5) when Bunting was on the ice, which ranked third on the team (minimum six games played) behind Matthews (59.7) and Marner (57.8). His on-ice goals-for percentage (59.8) ranked first among Toronto skaters who played at least 21 games. The 21-year-old's statistics speak volumes when it comes to what I'd consider the most productive line in the NHL. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
I can't argue with you there: Bunting is certainly a deserving recipient of the Calder Trophy. But not this season. This season, it's got to be Seider. Though Bunting topped NHL rookies in points, Seider wasn't that far behind, in fourth with 50 (seven goals, 43 assists) as a defenseman. He had 21 of those points (two goals, 19 assists) on the power play, most among rookies, and had four game-winning goals, tied for second among rookies. Seider led NHL rookies in averaging 23:02 of ice time per game this season across 82 games, a feat for any player, and more so for one learning the NHL while playing in all situations as a No. 1 defenseman. That's impressive, especially for a player who didn't turn 21 until April 6. It's clear that the other Calder candidates are flashier. Who doesn't like the points scored by Bunting and his high-flying line? Who doesn't like the creativity and flair of Trevor Zegras and his lacrosse-style goals? But, to me, what Seider has done is more remarkable and more worthy. He has been tasked with defending some of the best the NHL has to offer, in Matthews and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. And he's not only stood up to the challenge, he's shined. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks
I hear you on Bunting and Seider. If I had to choose between just one of them it would be Seider for many of the same reasons Amalie laid out. But let's not overlook the impact a rookie has on an entire team. Zegras ignited the Ducks this season. He made them fun. He made them a team you had to watch, even if you're in the East. I stayed up late many a night during the regular season just to see what Zegras would do next. He delivered in a big way. Zegras was second to Bunting with 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 75 games but wasn't playing with Matthews and Marner. Among rookies, he was first in power-play goals (nine), tied with three players for first in game-winning goals (five) and second in points per game (0.81) to Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy (0.83). He scored 12 go-ahead goals, five more than any other rookie. Let's not forget his prowess in the shootout, where he led the NHL with six goals. Those points matter too. And, of course, he had the two lacrosse-style goals: at the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 27 and at the Coyotes on April 1. He also had the lacrosse-style alley-oop assist on forward Sonny Milano's goal at the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 7. That goal quickly went viral. The Ducks said it was viewed more than 50 million times on various social and digital platforms from Dec. 7-9. Zegras did it all while taking you out of your seat in the process. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer