Larkin second in Calder Trophy race per NHL.com halfway mark trophy tracker

By @MichaelCaples –

We have officially hit the halfway point of the NHL season, and that means it’s fair to start looking at the leaders for year-end individual trophies.

It doesn’t come as any surprise for anyone in Hockeytown that Dylan Larkin’s name appears on the list of players currently in contention for the Calder Trophy, presented annually to the NHL’s most impressive rookie.

The Waterford native checks in at No. 2 on NHL.com’s latest look at the Calder race, behind only Chicago forward Artemi Panarin. Larkin’s 29 points and No. 1 ranking in plus-minus (currently stands at +22) has him ahead of other candidates Max Domi (Arizona), Jack Eichel (Buffalo), Anthony Duclair (Arizona), and Shane Gostisbehere (Philadelphia).

Per NHL.com’s Mike Morreale:

The 19-year-old continually finds ways to excel no matter who happens to join him on offense. He has spent a lot of time with center Henrik Zetterberg and right wing Justin Abdelkader, but has proved his versatility recently by playing alongside center Riley Sheahan and right wing Brad Richards.

Larkin’s 29 points on the season puts him 10 behind Panarin and two behind Domi. Meanwhile, Panarin also has the goal-scoring lead, having registered 15 goals to Larkin’s 14.

It should be noted that Larkin is the youngest of the three players listed above. Panarin is 24 years old, while Domi is 20.