The NHL rookie class of 2013-14 could be a stellar one. Some players enter the season with boundless potential. Some will be given juicy roles next to star players and plenty of ice time. It could be a hell of a race for the Calder Trophy.

To reset the criteria for the award:

“To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. Beginning in 1990-91, to be eligible for this award a player must not have attained his twenty-sixth birthday by September 15th of the season in which he is eligible.”

Sorry, Mikhail Grigorenko. You played 25 games last season. No Calder for you. (Why can’t he just lie about his games played like he lies about his age?)

Coming up, at look at some of the key rookies for the 2013-14 campaign, and whether or not they will win the Calder …

Sven Baertschi, F, Calgary Flames

Why He Will Win The Calder: Wait, he can win the Calder? Yep. NHL rules dictate that it’s 25 games in a single season or six or more games in any two preceding seasons. Sven played … FIVE games in 2011-12. Whew. Anyhoo, he can win the Calder because he had 10 points in 20 games last season and three goals in five games the year before. If he earns his ice time, he could be among the rookie scoring leaders.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Baertschi has had a brutal preseason that’s sparked talk about sending him to the AHL as a reality check. Did the hype poison his mind?

Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

Why He Will Win The Calder: Because he has a professional year under his belt. Barkov scored 48 points in 53 games in Finland’s top pro league last season. He’s a tremendous offensive talent, and lord knows the Calder loves offense.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: As Jonathan Huberdeau discovered last season, the Panthers don’t exactly have a full cupboard of offensive weaponry to boost a rookie’s scoring numbers. Barkov played with Tomas Kopecky and Tomas Fleischmann in the preseason.

Jonathan Drouin, F, Tampa Bay Lightning

Why He Will Win The Calder: His incredible vision and puck skills, already on display in the preseason, could prove lethal is he sees time with Steven Stamkos and/or Marty St. Louis.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Because as coach Jon Cooper said, “The jump from junior to the NHL is a massive one.” As much as Drouin could thrive in the NHL, the Bolts might be content to send him back to Halifax. But if he stays, there may not be another player better set up to win the Calder.

Filip Forsberg, F, Nashville Predators

Why He Will Win The Calder: Forsberg has earned praise for his play in the open ice and in the “small areas” against the wall, which isn’t always an easy transition for a European rookie star. He’s clicked with David Legwand and Gabe Bourque in the preseason.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Can a Nashville Predators player put up the offensive numbers that are necessary to dazzle Calder voters?

Tomas Hertl, F, San Jose Sharks

Why He Will Win The Calder: The 19-year-old has size and toughness, and has showed some promise in the preseason skating with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. Which is a pretty plum spot for a rookie. Raffi Torres’s injury may have cemented a spot for him on the opening night roster.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Can the No. 17 pick from 2012 make the leap from Slavia Praha HC in the Czech league to the NHL, without AHL seasoning?

Boone Jenner, F, Columbus Blue Jackets

Why He Will Win The Calder: He’s going to get plenty of notice for his physical play, and he’s been skating with the BJ’s top line of Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Coming out of the gate as a top-liner is an accomplishment. Remaining there if the team struggles offensively is a different story.

Seth Jones, D, Nashville Predators

Why He Will Win The Calder: Because he could see significant minutes with the Preds this season, and if he has any semblance of success he’ll be hyped to the moon by the media.

Why He Won’t Win The Calder: Knowing he’s the future of the blue line, the Predators might take his development more slowly than at a ‘winning the Calder’ clip.

Chris Kreider, F, New York Rangers

Why He Will Win The Calder: Because we refuse to believe that 7-point performance in the 2012 playoffs was an anomaly.

Story continues