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Toronto Maple Leafs: Michael Bunting and More Calder Trophy Candidates

By Mike Jack

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 16: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his 1st goal as a Maple Leaf against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 16, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 3-1.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 16: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his 1st goal as a Maple Leaf against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 16, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 3-1.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Jamie Drysdale
Jan 14, 2022; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale (34)  Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /

Jamie Drysdale – Anaheim Ducks Defenseman

Age: 19
Goals: 3
Points: 23
Games: 56
Draft: 1st Round (6th Overall) in 2020

Jamie Drysdale is very likely to make the NHL All-Rookie Team, but he’d have to have an astonishing finish to the season to be in Calder contention.

If this were just a list of the top rookies this season, there would be a few more players ahead of him, but they’d be forwards and maybe another goaltender.  I wanted this list to represent an All-Rookie Team, so here’s your second defenseman.

Compared to other rookie defensemen this season, there’s no doubt that Jamie Drysdale has had the second best performance this season and is definitely deserving of being on the NHL All-Rookie Team (the best rookie defenseman is closer to the top of this list).

The next best rookie defensemen would be Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche), Alexandre Carrier (Nashville Predators) and Sean Durzi (drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs but now playing with the Los Angeles Kings).

Bowen Byram may have an outside chance of taking this spot from Drysdale, but he’s only played in 18 games this season, so he may have too small a sample size to be considered.

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