With the 2016 draft over, many fans and journalists will pick recently drafted players like Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine as early Calder favorites. Year after year, people tend to forget about players who have taken more time to develop, and haven’t been able to make the jump to the NHL yet. As we saw last season, it wasn’t Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid who dominated the Calder race. Instead, 24 year-old Artemi Panarin ran away with the award, and he was closely follow by Shayne Gostisbehere, who had been brewing in the AHL and NCAA for years. There are numerous players who were drafted before 2016 who have a good shot at winning the Calder next season, so don’t be surprised if Laine and Matthews aren’t even nominated for the award. Here are ten players drafted prior to 2016 who have a good shot at winning the 2017 Calder Trophy.

Ryan Pulock, D, New York Islanders

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 51GP 7G 17A 24Pts +6(+/-)

NHL 15GP 2G 2A 4Pts +1(+/-)

Drafted 15th overall in 2013, Pulock has steadily developed into a very promising two-way defenseman. Since he was drafted in 2013, Pulock has refined his defensive play, and has proven that he is effective on both ends of the ice. Pulock posses a booming slap shot from the point, and could be an important fixture on the Islanders’ power play. He is better offensively than he is defensively, so if he does earn the opportunity to play a full 82 games next season, he could put up some Calder-worthy numbers.

Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 52GP 24G 36A 60Pts +20(+/-)

NHL 9GP 0G 0A 0Pts -7(+/-)

A product of SM-liiga, Rantanen was rushed to the NHL at the start of the season, and he didn’t perform too well. He simply wasn’t ready to play at the NHL level, so Colorado sent him down to the AHL, which proved to be a wise decision. Rantanen absolutely tore it up in the AHL, leading his team in both goals and assists. Standing at 6’4, Rantanen is massive, but he isn’t a very physical player. Instead, he relies on his elite hands and passing to generate scoring chances. Rantanen was excellent in the AHL, and if he can translate his AHL performance to the NHL, then he’ll have a good shot at winning the Calder.

Kevin Fiala, C, Nashville Predators

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 66GP 18G 32A 50Pts -19(+/-)

NHL 5GP 1G 0A 1Pts 0(+/-)

Kevin Fiala is not a complete player, but he oozes talent. With his shifty hands, blazing speed, and incredibly accurate shot, he is an offensive powerhouse. Last season, he lead Nashville’s AHL affiliate in points, while still managing to post a -19 plus/minus rating. Defensively, Fiala is unimpressive, but he wins coaches over with his offensive ability. Next year, provided that he works on his defensive game a bit, Fiala will probably make the Nashiville Predators on opening night. If he can manage to translate his offensive skills to the NHL, then he could put up some huge numbers next season, and receive some serious Calder consideration.

Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

2015-2016 Stats: OHL 57GP 39G 77A 116Pts +45(+/-)

A co-captain of the London Knights, Marner lead his team to their first Memorial Cup Championship since 2005. Marner was a dominant force throughout his team’s playoff run, and was named the tournament’s MVP. Though he is slightly undersized, Marner has incredible offensive instincts that will undoubtedly translate to the NHL. He is a superb skater, and he is the kind of player that makes the players around him better. Marner is capable of generating some insane numbers, and he will probably play in the NHL next season. He has certainly outgrown the OHL, and is a skilled enough player that he should be able to make the jump from the OHL straight to the NHL.

Dylan Strome, C, Arizona Coyotes

2015-2016 Stats: OHL 56GP 37G 74A 111Pts +23(+/-)

Dylan Strome is the kind of player you build a team around. Both offensively and defensively, he works tirelessly to do whatever it takes for his team to win. A big-bodied player, Strome isn’t the quickest guy on the ice, but he doesn’t need to be because other aspects of his game are so refined. His passing ability is sublime, and he shoots the puck well. Strome has the potential to be a number one center, and after posting back to back 100 point seasons in the OHL, he should be ready to play in the NHL next season. If he’s given the opportunity to center Max Domi and Anthony Duclair next season, he will generate some massive numbers.

Kyle Connor, C/LW, Winnipeg Jets

2015-2016 Stats: NCAA 38GP 35G 36A 71Pts +34(+/-)

An offensively gifted native of Michigan, Kyle Connor was utterly dominant at the collegiate level last season. He arguably was robbed of the Hobey Baker Award, which was award to Jimmy Vesey of Harvard. In the OHL, top prospects are expected to score at over a point per a game, whereas in the NCAA, it’s considered impressive when a prospect scores at over a point per a game. Connor scored at well over a point per a game playing for the University of Michigan, posting numbers far larger than even Dylan Larkin posted playing for the same school at the same age. Connor is quick, smart, and he has a deadly shot. He should make the NHL next season, and will be a strong Calder candidate if he can translate his scoring to the NHL.

Christian Dvorak, C, Arizona Coyotes

2015-2016 Stats: OHL 59GP 52G 69A 121Pts +56(+/-)

The second co-captain of the London Knights, Dvorak had an outstanding season last year, proving that he is ready to step away from the OHL. Dvorak was an offensive machine, leading his team in both goals and points. A quick, creative centerman, Dvorak might be better suited at wing in the NHL, especially because he proved last season that he is capable sniping pucks past goalies. If Dvorak can seize a roster spot at wing in Arizona, his offensive instincts will shine, and he will generate scoring on an Arizona team that is absolutely brimming with young offensive talent.

William Nylander, C/W, Toronto Maple Leafs

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 38GP 18G 27A 45Pts +7(+/-)

NHL 22GP 6G 7A 13Pts +1(+/-)

When Nylander was drafted, some scouts expressed concerns that he was a little too creative with the puck, and that it was at times difficult for his teammates to anticipate what he was going to do. Since then, those concerns have vanished, and Nylander’s creativity has translated extremely well to both the AHL and NHL. He put up some monstrous numbers in the AHL last season, showcasing his passing and puck handling skills. Nylander is a highlight reel player who can score at an alarming rate, and he has already proven that he is capable of scoring at the NHL level. Nylander will start next season in Toronto, and provided that he can keep scoring at the pace he did last year, he should be a favorite to win the Calder.

Shea Theodore, D, Anaheim Ducks

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 50GP 9G 28A 37Pts -3(+/-)

NHL 19GP 3G 5A 8Pts +7(+/-)

Throughout last season, Theodore got some decent playing time in the NHL, and he performed well for a 20 year-old. Though his play time was decreased significantly in the playoffs, Theodore played over 20 minutes on multiple occasions throughout the regular season. It’s very impressive for such a young defenseman to get that much playing time, and Theodore should get to play even more next season. A product of the WHL, Theodore is an offensive defenseman with tremendous upside. He has an excellent shot from the point, and he is a good skater, making him a valuable asset on the power play. Though he isn’t quite as impressive defensively as he is offensively, Theodore has shown some promise in his own end, and provided that he continues to develop steadily, Theodore should pan out to be an excellent two-way defenseman.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

2015-2016 Stats: AHL 51GP 17G 12A 29Pts 0(+/-)

NHL 12GP 4G 4A 8Pts +6(+/-)

At the end of last season, Bjorkstrand played 12 games for the Jackets, and he didn’t look out of place. Bjorkstrand is ready to play in the NHL, and because he is so good on both ends of the ice, he could play some big minutes next season. He posses a lethal shot, and has a knack for putting himself in position to score goals. Despite the fact that he weighs under 180 pounds, Bjorkstrand plays a fearless game, and he isn’t afraid to battle for pucks in the corners. Bjorkstrand’s game is so refined on both ends of the ice that he should easily make the Blue Jackets’ roster next season, and he could play top six minutes. If Bjorkstrand can keep putting pucks in the net, he could run away with the Calder at the end of next season.

Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Vesey (BUF), Drake Caggiula (EDM), Anthony Mantha (DET), Pavel Zacha (NJ), Julius Honka (DAL), Sonny Milano (CLS), Nick Schmaltz (CHI), Ville Pokka (CHI), Brock Boeser (VAN), Ivan Provorov (PHI), Jakub Vrana (WSH), Timo Meier (SJ), Sebastion Aho (CAR), Pavel Buchnevich (NYR), Kevin Labanc (SJ).