Macklin Celebrini among Calder Trophy finalists after standout rookie season

Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, and Dustin Wolf are named finalists for the 2025 Calder Trophy after exceptional rookie performances this season.

San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (71) skates during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 14, 2025. Photo by Bob Frid/Imagn Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The NHL announced on Monday that forward Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Calder Trophy. This recognition, awarded to the league's rookie of the year, highlights Celebrini’s rapid rise in his first season with the San Jose Sharks.

Joining Celebrini in the running for the award are defenseman Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames. The trio's exceptional rookie seasons have made them stand out as the top first-year players of the 2023-2024 season.

Macklin Celebrini's remarkable debut season

At just 18 years old, Macklin Celebrini wasted no time making a splash in the NHL. The young forward, who was selected first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, made an instant impact on his debut, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on October 10.

His goal, which came at 7:01 of the first period, was the second-fastest ever scored by a player picked first overall in NHL history. The record for the fastest debut goal was set by Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who scored just 2:59 into his debut on October 11, 1984.

Throughout the season, Celebrini continued to impress, appearing in 70 games for the Sharks. He scored 25 goals, which ranked second among rookies behind Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers. Celebrini also tallied 63 points, tying Michkov for second in that category. His stellar performance solidified his place as a Calder Trophy finalist.

Lane Hutson’s record-breaking rookie season

Lane Hutson, another standout rookie, has also been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy. The 21-year-old defenseman played in all 82 regular-season games for the Montreal Canadiens, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top first-year players. Hutson led all rookies with 60 assists and 66 points, setting a franchise record for rookie defensemen in Montreal.

Hutson's impressive stats came as a result of his exceptional playmaking abilities and steady presence on the ice. Selected by the Canadiens as the 62nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Hutson has exceeded expectations in his inaugural season, becoming a key player for Montreal.

Dustin Wolf's stellar goaltending for the Flames

Dustin Wolf, the 24-year-old goaltender for the Calgary Flames, completes the trio of Calder Trophy finalists. Wolf, who was drafted by Calgary in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft, posted an impressive 29-16-8 record during the regular season. He also recorded a 2.64 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Wolf’s strong performance in net helped the Flames remain competitive throughout the season. Despite the challenges of being a rookie goaltender, he demonstrated poise and resilience, making key saves and providing stability for Calgary.

The last time a goaltender won the Calder Trophy was in 2009, when Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets took home the award. Wolf will be hoping to end the 14-year drought and claim the prestigious honor.

The Calder Trophy: A prestigious award for NHL rookies

The Calder Trophy is one of the NHL’s most coveted awards, given annually to the league’s top rookie. The winner is selected through a vote conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. This year’s finalists – Celebrini, Hutson, and Wolf – each had standout seasons that made them worthy contenders for the honor.

As the NHL continues to evolve, young stars like Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, and Dustin Wolf represent the future of the league, with their impressive performances marking the beginning of what could be long and successful careers.

The winner of the 2025 Calder Trophy will be announced at a later date, with hockey fans eagerly awaiting to see which of these three rising stars will take home the prestigious honor.