Ranking the Top Candidates for the Calder Trophy in the 2014-15 NHL Season

The Calder Trophy cream has risen to the top. 

With just a few weeks remaining in the NHL regular season, the rookie race is down to a quartet of favorites and a few more longshots. Since the last ranking, players like Winnipeg Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson, who has seen his numbers fall slightly in a time share with Ondrej Pavelec, are off the radar.

There are a couple of newcomers worthy of mentioning, but it's really a four-horse race barring a spectacular finish for one of the outsiders.

Click ahead to see the new No. 1.

7. Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators

Andre Ringuette/Getty Images

Previous Ranking: Unranked

By the Numbers: 67 games, 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, plus-14, 114 shots, five game-winners

Bottom Line: Stone is third in rookie scoring and has seen his role on the team rising over the past couple of months. Now firmly entrenched in the top-six group of forwards on a line with the flashy Kyle Turris and veteran Milan Michalek, Stone uses his hockey intelligence and vision to make up for a lack of dynamic foot speed and flashy hands. He leads all rookies with 79 takeaways—20 more than his closest competitor.

6. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Previous Ranking: Unranked

By the Numbers: 66 games, 23 goals, 15 assists, 38 points, plus-15, 175 shots, six game-winners

Bottom Line: Lee is a bit of a late bloomer in the rookie race. He's behind the top candidates in points and started out the year with a demotion but was named the NHL's rookie of the month for February with 15 points in 15 games. He's the oldest on this list at 24 after going to college at Notre Dame for three years, and his maturity shows on the ice, where his 6'3" frame can often be found around the net.

5. Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators

Al Bello/Getty Images

Previous Ranking: Sixth

By the Numbers: 66 games, 24 goals, 18 assists, 42 points, plus-22, 164 shots, four game-winners

Bottom Line: Like teammate Mark Stone, Hoffman has become an integral part of the Senators offense. He leads the team in goal scoring and his plus/minus rating is 11th best in the NHL and tops among rookies. His 1.50 goals per 60 minutes is also best among all freshmen. With the Sens streaking toward the playoff picture, his efforts are becoming much more evident to the voters.

4. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Previous Ranking: Second

By the Numbers: 69 games, 11 goals, 23 assists, 34 points, plus-seven, 148 shots, four game-winners

Bottom Line: Ekblad is the youngest member of the group, having turned 19 in February. He has averaged more than 22 minutes per game, second among the rookie crop behind the New Jersey Devils' Damon Severson. Ekblad's 70 blocked shots are the second most by a rookie so far this season. If there's a negative keeping him from the top three, it's that he starts more in the defensive zone and is somewhat sheltered from top competition at even strength.

3. John Klingberg, Dallas Stars

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Previous Ranking: Fifth

By the Numbers: 53 games, 10 goals, 26 assists, 36 points, plus-five, 81 shots, two game-winners

Bottom Line: Although currently injured, Klingberg leapfrogs Aaron Ekblad thanks to numbers just as good as the Florida Panthers teenager in a slightly smaller sample size. The lanky 6'2", 180-pounder has adapted quickly to the North American game after coming over from Sweden. He got into the lineup six weeks into the season, but his .68 points per game is fourth best among rookies regardless of position.

2. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: First

By the Numbers: 72 games, 21 goals, 34 assists, 55 points, plus-13, 213 shots, five game-winners

Bottom Line: Forsberg has led or been tied for the rookie point lead all season long but finds himself in a tight race with a a month to go in the regular season. He's had two four-game point droughts in the past 11 games after previously going just two games consecutively without one. Despite the slight cooling, he's still the Predators' most dynamic player. He needs to finish atop the scoring race to win the Calder.

1. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

Gerry Thomas/Getty Images

Previous Ranking: Third

By the Numbers: 69 games, 19 goals, 34 assists, 53 points, plus-five, 138 shots, three game-winners

Bottom Line: Gaudreau has been electric for the Flames and a big reason the team is still somehow in the playoff picture this late in the season. He's formed a strong two-way top line with sophomore Sean Monahan and veteran Jiri Hudler, and the wee winger has not wilted despite the fact he's played more hockey in one season than ever before.

He leads all rookies with .77 points per game, and sits second in takeaways and first in average ice time among freshman forwards. His 22 primary assists are also tops among the Calder candidates, and if you ignore secondary helpers, he leads Forsberg by three points. He's gained a lot of steam with the voters after a strong trip out East.

All stats via NHL.com.