This year’s NHL Awards Show was notable for how much of its hardware was up for grabs. The races for the Hart and Norris Trophies in particular had been debated for what feels like the entire season, and held some mystery going into Wednesday night’s spectacle in Las Vegas.
The Calder Trophy was not among those mysteries.
Islanders center Mathew Barzal was named the 2018 NHL Rookie of the Year, capping off one of the most spectacular first year campaigns in decades.
This was an especially strong year for rookies, making Barzal’s dominance even more special.