Cale Makar’s insane, glimmering start to the season has muted any Quinn Hughes Calder Trophy buzz.



For now, anyway.



The Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s “most proficient” first-year player under the age of 25, is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Two months into the 2019-20 campaign, Makar has emerged as the clear frontrunner. He won rookie of the month honours for November, and when NHL.com asked their writers to name a Calder winner based on the first quarter of the season, Makar was the unanimous pick, receiving 20 out of 20 first place votes.



Makar is a special player who is authoring an incredible rookie year. A mobile defenceman with an advanced two-way game and a wrist shot that’s a wholly unique weapon, Makar has eight goals and 27 points in 27 games going into Thursday night’s slate of games.



It’s a big if with so much road left to run, but if Makar can keep up...