Gavin McKenna headlines early field of Calder Trophy contenders for 2026‑27

As the 2026‑27 NHL season sits just a day away, attention is already turning to the rookie class and the race for the Calder Trophy. Sportsnet has identified five first‑year players who stand out as early candidates for rookie of the year, blending recent high draft picks with prospects who have already dipped a toe into NHL waters.

Spotlight on McKenna in Toronto, Hutson chasing unique family milestone

In Toronto, expectations are centred on Gavin McKenna. The 18‑year‑old forward joined the Maple Leafs after the club won the 2026 draft lottery despite long odds and a rare playoff miss. He arrives in one of hockey’s most scrutinized markets with a scoring track record that has been overwhelming at every level.

McKenna’s final WHL season with the Medicine Hat Tigers produced 41 goals and 129 points in 56 regular‑season games, followed by 38 points in 16 playoff contests as the Tigers fell just short of a Memorial Cup berth. He then moved to Penn State, where he finished with 51 points in 35 NCAA games after a slow start. New head coach Jim Hiller is expected to slot him in prime offensive situations, including power‑play time and top‑six minutes, surrounded by elite talent such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

In Washington, Cole Hutson is viewed as another serious Calder threat after an impressive late‑season cameo. The American defenceman played 14 games for the Capitals once his Boston University team’s season ended, scoring in his NHL debut and finishing with three goals and 10 points — a 0.71 point‑per‑game pace as a teenager on the blue line. Hutson already owns the Tim Taylor Award as the NCAA’s top freshman in 2025 and wrapped his college career with 80 points in 74 games. A Calder win for Cole would follow his brother Lane’s triumph in 2025, marking the first time in NHL history a set of brothers both captured rookie‑of‑the‑year honours.

Stenberg, Martone and Frondell bring production into first full seasons

San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg forced his way into the conversation with a standout pre‑season. The 18‑year‑old Swede collected five points in three exhibition games for the Sharks, including a hat trick in a 10‑0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. While pre‑season numbers are no guarantee, Stenberg already has a full season against men under his belt, having scored 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games in the Swedish Hockey League last year. He now joins a Sharks lineup expected to surge in the Pacific Division behind Macklin Celebrini and an emerging young core.

In Philadelphia, Porter Martone provided a strong first impression last spring. The 2025 sixth‑overall pick debuted for the Flyers on April 18 and put up four goals and six assists over nine regular‑season games, then added five points in 10 playoff outings. His first NHL goal stood out as an overtime winner in his debut. After amassing 89 goals and 204 points across 178 CHL games, Martone transitioned to Michigan State University, where he produced 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games. Even with just a single assist in three pre‑season appearances, he has already earned Rick Tocchet’s trust and is projected to open the year on Philadelphia’s top line, as no Flyers rookie has ever claimed the Calder.

Chicago’s Anton Frondell rounds out the early group of contenders. Selected third overall in 2025, he crossed to North America late last season and appeared in 12 games for the Blackhawks, logging three goals and nine points while averaging 17:42 of ice time. In his post‑draft season back in the SHL, he hit the 20‑goal mark as an 18‑year‑old, underscoring his finishing ability. With Connor Bedard sidelined to begin the campaign, Frondell will have a chance to assume a larger offensive role, benefiting from the guidance of returning franchise icon Patrick Kane, himself a past Calder winner.

Only three first‑overall picks have captured the Calder in the past decade — a group that includes Matthews, Connor Bedard and 2026 winner Matthew Schaefer — and the last two winners have been defencemen. Against that backdrop, McKenna, Hutson, Stenberg, Martone and Frondell enter opening night carrying a rare mix of pedigree, opportunity and early production for NHL rookies.