Is Cale Makar going to be the 2019 Calder Trophy Award winner? Photo by Brandon Zeman (Wiki Commons) [ CC License

The 2020 NHL Rookie of the Year odds favor the top-two picks from the 2019 draft

#1 Jack Hughes is expected to play a big role on an improving Devils team

#2 Kaapo Kakko had just one point (no goals) in preseason play for the rebuilding Rangers

Elias Pettersson was the preseason favorite to win the 2019 Calder Trophy and he pretty much ran away with the award by the end of the season. Guys like Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov were expected to compete, but none were close.

This year’s favorite is New Jersey’s Jack Hughes, the first-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Is he a good bet at short odds, or is the better value elsewhere on the board?

Odds

Player Odds Jack Hughes (Devils) +250 Kaapo Kakko (Rangers) +260 Cale Makar (Avalanche) +500 Eeli Tolvanen (Predators) +750 Filip Zadina (Red Wings) +1100 Quinn Hughes (Canucks) +1200 Alex Texier (Blue Jackets) +1800 Erik Brannstrom (Senators) +1800 Martin Necas (Hurricanes) +2000 Max Comtois (Ducks) +2000

*Odds as of 10/02/19.

Hughes Favored To Win Calder Trophy

As the reigning no. 1 pick, it’s no surprise that Hughes is the favorite in the early Calder Trophy odds. We’ve seen a few brief flashes from him in preseason action and he’s looked like a natural goal scorer. What’s more is that the Devils’ roster is not as barren as it once was, so Hughes should have help on an improving team.

He could play alongside 2018 MVP Taylor Hall, like he did in Friday’s preseason game when he had a goal and an assist. He could also play alongside Nikita Gusev, a talented KHL import, and power forward Wayne Simmonds.

Either way, he will be in New Jersey’s top six and have decent linemates.

One thing to note is that he’s just 18 years old and traditionally, teens win this award less often. However, the game has changed as Auston Matthews (2017), Aaron Ekblad (2015) and Nathan MacKinnon (2014) have showed. They were all no. 1 picks, just like Hughes.

Is Makar A Good Bet?

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is among the favorites to win the award because he’s already showed that he belongs. The 2019 Hobey Baker Award-winner was called up to the Avs last postseason, compiling six points in 10 games while averaging 17:22 of ice time.

The front-office clearly has a ton of confidence in Makar, to the extent that they traded number-one defenseman Tyson Barrie in the offseason. The departure of Barrie clears a path for Makar to skate on the first power-play unit, where he’ll be flanked by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

The big concern with Makar’s Calder hopes is that defensemen don’t often win this award. Forwards have won it four straight years and eight of the last nine seasons.

Kaapo Kakko Figures To Be In The Conversation

Kakko was the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but one of the main differences between him and some of his competitors is that he has an NHL body already. He played against grown men in the top Finnish league last year, notching 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games.

But Kakko is also on a Ranger team that’s not very good on paper – especially up front. Yes, they did sign Artemi Panarin, but Kakko is reportedly going to start the season playing with Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil. I’ll pass on him as one of the favorites.

Where Are The Odds On Nylander?

I would love to take a flier on Alexander Nylander of the Chicago Blackhawks but his odds aren’t on the board. He was drafted in 2015 and has played games in each of the last three seasons, but he still qualifies as a rookie.

The reason why Nylander would be a good sleeper pick is because he’s the early favorite to be on the top line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Chicago is known for developing young talent up front and Nylander could be the next stud. The no. 8 pick in 2016, Nylander is viewed as a bust by some, but many people thought Dylan Strome was too before the Blackhawks got him.

Keep an eye on Nylander even though he’s not on the board right now.

What’s The Best Bet?

There are a lot of guys in the mix, but I’m up for betting the favorite in this spot. Defensemen don’t win this award frequently while Kakko just doesn’t have as much talent around him as Hughes does.

Sure, Hughes (5’10, 170 lbs) is undersized, but I think the Devils are going to be smart and put him alongside a power forward like Simmonds.

We’ve already seen what Hughes can do in the preseason, notching four points in his first three games. Kakko failed to score a goal in the preseason and had just one assist. It’s a bit of a telling sign that Hughes is both (a) in a better situation and (b) a little more offensively gifted.

I’d go with Hughes for this award at +250.