Calder Trophy Odds & Prediction: Martone Leads Stacked Class of NHL Rookies for 2026-27

I'm breaking down the latest Calder Trophy odds to provide my prediction and best bet to win the award ahead of next season.

Flyers forward Porter Martone is the current favorite to claim the Calder Trophy at +250 odds. He's one of three top contenders for the award who debuted last season but appeared in fewer than 25 games, making them eligible for Rookie of the Year in 2026-27. The loaded rookie class also includes the Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna and Sharks' Ivar Stenberg, the top two picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

📊 Calder Trophy Odds

Calder Trophy odds courtesy of FanDuel, as of July 30.

🏆 Calder Trophy favorites

There are five players who currently have odds shorter than +1000 to win the Calder Trophy.

Porter Martone, RW, Flyers (+250)

Martone is the Calder Trophy favorite after he acclimated quickly to his first taste of NHL action with the Flyers earlier this year, showcasing incredible promise down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs. Martone tallied six goals and 15 points in 19 games, including 10 postseason contests in which he made the most of his steady ice time for Philadelphia.

He's proven he's a winning two-way player at multiple levels (OHL and NCAA), and he will have the opportunity to get major minutes for a Flyers squad that needs more scoring (finished bottom-third in the NHL in goals last season). The proof of concept is already there for what Martone could look like as a full-time fixture in Philly's lineup. Can he come out of the gate strong and pick up where he left off?

Gavin McKenna, LW, Maple Leafs (+270)

McKenna, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, lucked out in terms of getting a soft landing spot to begin his NHL career - at least, on the ice that is. The next-level playmaking that made him an elite prospect will be well-suited alongside veteran scorers Auston Matthews and William Nylander. McKenna could be in line for major point production as a freshman if he gets to play with those established stars, as expected.

However, McKenna is the only player of the top five Calder Trophy contenders that will still be 18 years old when the season begins, so don't be surprised if his adjustment to the pro level isn't exactly seamless.

Ivar Stenberg, LW, Sharks (+700)

Stenberg plays a cerebral game and possesses a strong forechecking ability beyond his relatively smaller frame. He also has significant professional experience, playing a season-and-a-half at Sweden's highest level of hockey.

Like McKenna, Stenberg finds himself in an ideal environment with elite top-line talent on his new squad. Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini is a true Hart Trophy odds contender coming off an 115-point season, including 70 assists. How much ice time will Stenberg get with Celebrini at even strength and on the power play? His Calder Trophy case could hinge on how much responsibility San Jose entrusts him with as a rookie.

Cole Hutson, D, Capitals (+900)

Hutson is another player who got his first taste of the NHL at the end of the 2025-26 season with the Capitals. The offensively skilled defenseman logged 10 points in 14 appearances and now looks to become the third consecutive blue-liner to win the Calder Trophy, a group that already includes his brother, Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.

Following a high-spending offseason, Washington is locked and loaded to compete to the fullest in what could be the final campaign of Alex Ovechkin's career. That means Hutson will be playing with a deep, veteran-heavy squad. He will have the opportunity to have a significant role in that. But the presence of elite offensive defenseman Jakob Chychrun on the Caps leads me to believe that Washington won't be as reliant on Hutson, compared to what will be asked of the other rookies on this list.

Anton Frondell, C, Blackhawks (+900)

Given the stiff competition in this stacked rookie class, Frondell is being slept on among the top five Calder Trophy contenders. Like Stenberg, he played with the pros in Sweden before making his NHL debut. Frondell became the fourth 18-year-old ever to score 20 goals in an SHL season.

Now with the Blackhawks, whom he has already played in 12 games with, a lot will be expected of the third overall pick from the 2025 draft. The Blackhawks certainly need more scoring (second-fewest goals last season) and will begin the year without injured star Connor Bedard. Can Frondell provide an instant boost for a Chicago team still mired in the league's cellar?

🔮 Calder Trophy prediction & best bet

Ivar Stenberg is my pick to win the Calder Trophy ahead of the 2026-27 season for multiple reasons. I'm sure the Sharks want to be a playoff team in 2027, but I'd bet that San Jose is prioritizing the long-term development of their young core. I think that results in Stenberg having a longer rope (and consistent ice time), even if he isn't delivering alongside Celebrini early.

When compared to the two players with shorter odds than Stenberg, the Sharks rookie has far more talented forwards to play alongside than Martone does with the Flyers, while his pro experience in Sweden gives him a leg up on McKenna in terms of adjusting to the NHL's size and speed. I expect Stenberg to lead all first-year players in scoring and take home the award as a result.

Calder Trophy prediction: Ivar Stenberg (+700 via FanDuel)