from Jared Clinton of The Hockey News,

Ahead of the 2017-18 NHL season, it was fair to suggest there was no clear-cut frontrunner for the Calder Trophy. No Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. No Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine. In fact, despite both being near locks to make their respective NHL clubs, it was believed Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick would be in the running for the trophy without actually taking home the hardware.

That said, it was fairly common to hear Clayton Keller’s name mentioned among the handful of true Calder hopefuls. Keller had popped up with the Arizona Coyotes at the tail end of the 2016-17 campaign, skating in three games and registering two assists, but it was his play at the World Championship that really made him stand out. Only 18 at the time of the tournament, Keller skated big minutes for Team USA and put up five goals and seven points in eight games. Among his American teammates, only Anders Lee, Dylan Larkin and Johnny Gaudreau had more points.

It was a sign of things to come, too, and Keller hasn’t slowed in the slightest through the first month of the campaign. In 17 games, he’s been absolutely dynamite, scoring 11 goals and 17 points, with only three of those points — two goals and one helper — coming on the power play. Every shift he has played, and he’s played a lot of them given Derek Stepan is the only Coyotes forward with more ice time, Keller has looked dangerous, using his speed and playmaking prowess to prove he’s more than ready for the big leagues.

read on plus other Calder candidates...