NHL awards: Red Wings' rookie Moritz Seider named 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner

Detroit Red Wings' defenseman Moritz Seider has been named the 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie, beating out Trevor Zegras and Michael Bunting for the award.

Seider, the lone defenceman of the group, was an absolute beast in his rookie year with the Red Wings, logging just over 23 minutes per night (most among all rookies) while carrying top-pair responsibilities on Detroit's thin blue line.

The 21-year-old German topped all first-year blueliners with 53 points and 40 assists, and his seven goals were good for second among that group. He also ranked No. 1 among rookie d-men in power-play points (21), game-winning goals (4), and shots on goal with 187. Seider finished fourth on his team in points and became just the third rookie Red Wings blueliner to bag 50 or more points in a season, and the first since Nicklas Lidstrom tallied 60 in 1991-92, according to NHL.com stats.

Zegras caught the attention of the hockey world — and John Tortorella — with a series of ridiculous lacrosse-style goals and assists, but the rookie's game is much more than just flash. The Ducks forward led all first-year skaters in power-play goals (nine) and tied for first with five game-winning goals. The 21-year-old finished second among freshmen in points (61), third in assists (38), and tied for No. 2 in goals with 23 in 75 games with the Ducks in 2021-22.

Bunting, the most polarizing finalist due to the fact he's 26 years old, led all NHL rookies with 63 points while primarily playing an important glue-guy role on the Maple Leafs' top line for the majority of last season. He finished second in both rookie goals (23) and assists (40), posted 14 multi-point games, and was plus-27 with 175 shots on goal while averaging 15:33 of TOI per game with Toronto.

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