3 Dark Horse 2027 Calder Trophy Candidates – The Hockey Writers – Previews and Predictions

With just 13 days until the regular season begins, everyone under the sun is predicting this year’s NHL award winners. With a plethora of young talent in the league, one of the best trophy races of the 2026-27 season could be the Calder Trophy race for rookie of the year.

The Calder Trophy odds will show you the favorites, but the real question is: which under-the-radar names could make a case for Rookie of the Year? Three players, in particular, have longer odds but could find themselves on the ballot by season’s end.

3.) Jacob Fowler, G, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have an enviable goalie situation. Jakub Dobes took hold of the starting job last season, but the overwhelming consensus is that the job will be Jacob Fowler when he is ready, and the 21-year-old third-round pick may be ready as soon as this season.

Fowler got a few games during the 2025-26 season and looked solid in 17 starts, posting a 2.43 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He will have every opportunity to take the starting job in 2026-27 or at least turn it into a platoon situation.

History is against Fowler, however: the last goalie to win the Calder Trophy was Steve Mason for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009. The Canadiens are strong enough that if Fowler can wrestle starting duties away from Dobes, he could put up the kind of numbers needed to win the award.

2.) James Hagens, C, Boston Bruins

There was considerable excitement in Boston when James Hagens fell to seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The hype continued in the waning stages of the season, when he played two games with the Bruins before getting into three playoff games.

This season, Hagens is expected to play with Fraser Minten on the team’s third line given his strong skating and exceptional hockey sense. The question is whether he can hold up physically and show consistency in his decision-making.

If he does, he could move up the lineup and even earn some power-play time. Playing alongside David Pastrnak, for even a little bit, could push him into the rookie scoring race and put his name on the Calder Trophy candidate shortlist.

1.) Konsta Helenius, F, Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have a bit of a logjam at forward as they try to figure out where to slot in all their young talent, which includes Konsta Helenius. The 14^th overall pick in 2024, Helenius has the “It Factor” and has showcased it throughout his career. His gold medal-winning goal for Finland at this summer’s World Championships underscored that.

Helenius fits in well with the Sabres’ new culture: he plays with a bit of jam despite his 5-foot-11 and 190 lb frame, is a strong skater, and shows tenacity in all three zones. He is also a deft playmaker, which will suit the team’s style.

Though there is some question about whether Helenius will fit better at center or on the wing, it is clear Buffalo has high hopes for him. He will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact during training camp, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he began the season at the top of the lineup.

Who Will Challenge the Big Names?

Though there is a clear trio of favorites for the Calder, namely Porter Martone, Gavin McKenna, and Ivar Stenberg, there could be many options to choose from when it’s time to name the Calder Trophy winner.

In addition to Fowler, Hagens and Helenius, the Chicago Blackhawks have a couple of youngsters – Roman Kantserov and Anton Frondell – who could impress enough to make the ballot; the same for the Washington Capitals with Ilya Protas and Cole Hutson. Sometimes the top pick runs away with it, but plenty of out-of-nowhere candidates have won the Calder in the past. Whoever emerges victorious will have their team feeling pretty good about the future.