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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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Toronto Maple Leafs
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a first period goal by Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Michael Bunting – Toronto Maple Leafs Left Winger

Age: 26
Goals: 19
Points: 42
Games: 54
Draft: 4th Round (117th Overall) in 2014 (Arizona Coyotes)

As a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I’m cheering for Michael Bunting to win the Calder trophy, but the odds are not in his favour.

Analytically, he has a great chance at the Calder as he leads all NHL rookies in goals and is second in points.  He’s also heating up as he led all NHL rookies in goals and point during the month of February with seven goals and 14 points in 12 games.

The problem is his age.  At 26 years old, he’s seven years older than some of the players on this list and barely qualifies for the Calder.  In my eyes, it shouldn’t matter, but I feel that those voting for the Calder trophy will favor younger players in a close race.

I know Kirill Kaprizov won the Calder last season at 24, but he had 10 more goals and six more points than runner-up, Jason Robertson, who is three years younger.  It wasn’t as tight a race as this season so far.

If Michael Bunting can keep his pace from February through to the end of the season and can get a convincing led of his competition, he may have a chance at the Calder.

It’s a tough pace to keep, but it helps to be on a line with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Both of whom are two years younger than Bunting and enjoying their sixth NHL seasons.

If Michael Bunting wins the Calder trophy, he’d be the oldest player to win the award since Sergei Makarov (31) in 1990.  The only other player the win the Calder trophy that was older that 26 was Jim McFadden (27) in 1948.

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