Chicago Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin has won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in the 2015-16 season.
2016 NHL Awards: Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin wins Calder Trophy for best rookie
The 24-year-old took the NHL by storm this year.
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Panarin beat out Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Oilers forward Connor McDavid for the award. Panarin becomes the ninth Chicago player to win the Calder, after Ed Belfour in 1991, Patrick Kane in 2008, and six other players from the 1930s-80s when the team was still known as the Black Hawks.
Panarin led all rookies this season with 77 points and was tops on both the goals and assists columns this season for first-year players. The rookie teamed up with line mate Patrick Kane and finished second on the Blackhawks in scoring. Panarin also played 80 games this season, the most of any of the three nominees.
McDavid, the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, was expected to battle Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel for the Calder Trophy this year. However, an early-season injury kept McDavid out of action for three months and made his road to catch up with Panarin a hard one. Eichel finished with a respectable 56 points.
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