Five under-the-radar rookies making noise in the 2026 NHL Calder Trophy race
With more than half the NHL season done and dusted, we have a pretty clear picture as to whom the true Calder Trophy contenders are.
Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke look like near-locks to be named finalists for the award. Jesper Wallstedt, Alexander Nikishin and Ryan Leonard continue to put up strong arguments, while a handful of others have made their presences known this season.
But today, we’re looking at guys who won’t receive much Calder Trophy love but still deserve some attention. Most of them are third-line NHLers, but you still need guys who can fill roles and make an impact further down the lineup.
Let’s check out five underrated freshmen making impacts this season:
Fraser Minten, C (Boston Bruins)
The Toronto Maple Leafs wanted a two-way center at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, so they acquired Scott Laughton. They then wanted some defensive depth, and traded away Fraser Minten – projected to be the team’s long-term No. 3 – to get Brandon Carlo. Laughton has been fine, but the Leafs probably wish they still had Minten in their stable.
The 21-year-old is projected to finish with just under 40 points, which, given his role as Boston’s No. 3 middleman, is fantastic. He’s playing with so much confidence, and he has been one of the team’s top two-way forwards. In fact, he’s one of the NHL’s top defensive rookie forwards, and he’s clearly finding success around the net. Minten isn’t projected to be a big-time offensive threat, but he does an excellent job of winning individual battles and getting the puck close to the crease. He’s physically strong, too, often overpowering bigger opponents to win pucks.
Alex Steeves, LW (Boston Bruins)
Once a star college winger, Steeves continued that by dominating with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for close to half a decade. By all accounts, he had nothing left to prove in the AHL. He has 224 points in 256 career games, including eight in nine outings this season. But Steeves never managed to stick with the Leafs, rarely getting him any time outside a fourth-line role.
But it’s a tale as old as time: once he left Toronto, Steeves found his game. Steeves is pacing for more than 30 points on Boston’s third line, providing excellent value at just $850,000 on a one-year deal. The 26-year-old won’t blow you away with his pure skill, but he is a proven contributor at every level and can even play on the power play, if needed. These are the types of low-risk signings that can thrust a team into the playoffs – inexpensive scoring depth is extremely important.
Benjamin Kindel, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Kindel went from a surprise pick at No. 11 by the Penguins to an everyday fixture in the team’s lineup immediately out of training camp. He has seen time with both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but has settled in primarily on Pittsburgh’s third line. He’s not blowing the doors off the league offensively by any means, but he’s tracking for about 15 goals and 36 points.
Kindel has found ways to impress scouts and fans alike with his work ethic, his pace, his hockey sense and playmaking abilities. He was a dominant offensive threat in the WHL and has carved himself a spot on Pittsburgh’s power play, where he often creates havoc around the net. It’s hard for an 18-year-old to crack the NHL and be an impact player. But in Kindel’s case, the puck typically finds its way towards the opposing team’s net more often than not when he’s skating around.
Linus Karlsson, RW (Vancouver Canucks)
It’s been a… rough season for the Canucks, to say the least. So the fact that Karlsson has been on the top line shows a lack of true depth with this squad. Still, Karlsson has taken the opportunity by the horns, and a 40-point rookie campaign is not out of the cards right now.
Karlsson has been in the top 10 in rookie scoring for quite a while now, while showing some good hands and defensive acumen. He had a good taste of the NHL a year ago, but was more important with Abbotsford, where he helped lead the team to its first Calder Cup championship. Karlsson took a while to establish himself as an NHLer – he was drafted eight years ago – but he has earned every opportunity so far.
Justin Sourdif, C (Washington Capitals)
The Florida Panthers seemingly gave Sourdif away for free last summer, moving on from one of the team’s top prospects. But in actuality, it was to give him a chance to prove he can be an NHLer – something he has done exceptionally well for the Capitals. He has bounced around the lineup, but has played his best hockey as Washington’s No. 3 center. He’s tracking for around 16 goals and 34 points, which would match his output in the AHL last year.
Sourdif has a good shot, is good in transition and plays with pace. His skating has always been positive, not because of pure speed, but because he never stops moving. Sourdif’s all-around game needs work, but it’s easy to like how hard he works to win battles and get himself into scoring lanes. With an expected goals-for percentage of 53.0, the puck is in the attacking zone with Sourdif on the ice much more consistently than it isn’t. That’s exactly what you’re hoping to see out of a third-liner.
Other notables: Ryan Greene, C (Chicago Blackhawks); Danila Yurov, RW (Vancouver Canucks); Braeden Bowman, RW (Vegas Golden Knights)
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