Makar getting opponents' support for Calder Trophy over Hughes

Cale Makar is getting support for the Calder Trophy from a few of his opponents.

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman is one of the favorites for the award, given to the player voted NHL rookie of the year, with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Makar was second among rookies with 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games when the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Hughes leads rookies with 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) in 68 games.

"I'd go with Makar," Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault said Friday during a video call arranged by the NHL. "I think Makar is surrounded by a slightly better team, but he's proven himself. Quinn also has a good team around him, but this year I'd go with Makar."

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik, who leads rookies with 30 goals, said Thursday that if he couldn't vote for himself, he'd vote for Makar.

"A defenseman to run the power play, very skilled, great shot," Kubalik said. "I like his play a lot."

Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who was part of the call that included Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and Canucks forward Antoine Roussel, said Makar would be his choice and compared him to Panthers teammate Aaron Ekblad and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid. Ekblad was the last defenseman to win the Calder, in 2014-15.

"The two of them are right-handed shots and have a bit of the same style," Huberdeau said. "Cale is definitely a gifted player, he's like a defensive version of McDavid."

Roussel had a different comparison for 21-year-old Makar, who missed 13 games this season with two upper-body injuries.

"For a defenseman, I think he's a bit like (Avalanche forward Nathan) MacKinnon in the sense that he's an insanely good skater," Roussel said. "When you're a winger and you're trying to cover him, it's extremely difficult. He's probably one of the most difficult defensemen to cover, but I think he's a little bit more of an individual player when compared to Hughes, who uses his teammates better, from what I've seen. [Hughes] is more cerebral, he reads the play more, he makes the simpler plays which are more likely to work. In comparison, Makar tries making the more difficult plays."

Roussel credited Hughes with much of Vancouver's success this season. The Canucks (36-27-6) are tied with the Nashville Predators for the second wild card from the Western Conference into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Hughes is the guy who makes our offense run," Roussel said. "Without him we wouldn't be the same team."

Huberdeau also had good things to say about 20-year-old Hughes.

"Quinn, he's such a fast defenseman," Huberdeau said. "A lot of the time when you see them in the 3-on-3 (overtime), he's the one who makes the play that helps Vancouver win."

Makar has helped the Avalanche (42-20-8) get within two points of the first-place St. Louis Blues in the Central Division. He made his NHL debut in the playoffs last season with six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 games.

"I couldn't see myself making my NHL debut in the playoffs; it's a whole other game, it's so intense," Girard said. "And he went out there and proved that he deserved a spot with us, and that's why [this season] he came on board with us right away. Cale's going to be a star in the NHL; he already is one to me."