The Chicago Blackhawks have been shut out of NHL Awards voting thus far, but they’re finally on the board on Monday night as Artemi Panarin has been named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
The trophy, given to the league’s best rookie, is a highly prestigious one, and Panarin will have some stiff competition as he will go up against Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Panarin led all NHL rookies in scoring this season, notching 77 points in 80 games. He finished in the top 10 among all NHL players in scoring, and he helped Patrick Kane to the best season in the veteran winger’s career.
No Blackhawks player has won the Calder Trophy since Kane won it in the 2008 season. The last Blackhawks player to be named a finalist for the award was Brandon Saad, who was in the top three in voting in 2013.
