New York, NY – Montreal's Brendan Gallagher, Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago's Brandon Saad have been named the finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
Gallagher was second among rookies with 15 goals and fourth with 28 points in 44 games this season. The 21-year-old 2010 fifth-round draft pick helped the Canadiens win the Northeast Division.
Huberdeau notched 14 goals and 17 assists in playing all 48 games this season. His 31 points tied for first among NHL rookies. The 19-year-old was chosen with the third overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft and recorded the most points by a teenager in Panthers history.
Saad led all first-year players with a plus-17 rating to help Chicago earn its second Presidents' Trophy in team history. The 20-year-old 2011 second-round pick ranked among the top five rookies in all major scoring categories, notching 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 46 games.
Edmonton's Nail Yakupov had a late-season surge to lead all rookies in goals with 17 and tie for the top spot in points with 31, but was not among the top three in the balloting.
The winner will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals.
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