Ranking the Top Candidates for the 2014-15 Calder Trophy

It looks like a three-horse race, but the Calder Trophy candidates are really neck and neck a couple of months into the 2014-15 NHL season.

Things have changed fairly dramatically in the top 10 or so, with some new faces rocketing up out of nowhere with a few strong weeks of play in bigger roles on their respective teams.

Points, ice time, plus/minus and how important they are to the team's success all factor into where these candidates land. Click ahead to see what the rookie race looks like right now.

Keep Your Eye on ...

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Michael Hutchinson, Winnipeg Jets: The goaltender's face is prominently featured atop both the save percentage and goals-against average categories on NHL.com's leaders page. He's earned more ice time with his strong performances and is one to watch going forward to see if he can steal the starting job away from Ondrej Pavelec.

Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators: Hoffman has had plenty of AHL seasoning and is making his NHL time count this year with a plus-10 rating and a dozen points (including eight goals) in 24 games. The 25-year-old has been given a great opportunity playing alongside Bobby Ryan.

Damon Severson, New Jersey Devils: He was fourth on this list a month ago but has seen his offensive numbers take a massive dip with just two points in his last 17 games. He still leads all rookies in average ice time per game.

7. Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Previous Ranking: Sixth

By the Numbers: 20 games, one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, 21 shots, minus-one rating

Bottom Line: The preseason favorite hasn't lived up to the high expectations put on him by prognosticators, but he's still in the hunt—although now as more of a long shot. Drouin isn't playing big minutes alongside captain Steven Stamkos, instead filling in anywhere from the second to fourth lines. His points per game are seventh among rookies and his total is good for a tie for ninth. He's only got one goal, but his 10 assists are fourth most among freshmen.

6. Tanner Pearson, Los Angeles Kings

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Previous Ranking: Third

By the Numbers: 27 games, 10 goals, three assists, 13 points, plus-12 rating, 45 shots, three game-winning goals

Bottom Line: Pearson was the rookie of the month for October with seven goals and nine points but had a much less impressive November with just three goals and four points. He's tumbled from third to sixth as a result but still has respectable numbers in the race. His plus/minus is still third best among rookies and he's tied for fourth in the points race.

5. Vincent Trochek, Florida Panthers

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Previous Ranking: Unranked

By the Numbers: 17 games, two goals, nine assists, 11 points, 41 shots, plus-seven rating

Bottom Line: The Florida Panthers took a risk signing injury-prone Dave Bolland to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million, but the biggest return they've received so far is the knowledge that his early-season replacement is ready for a longer look in the NHL.

When Bolland hurt his groin in October, the Panthers brought up Vincent Trocheck. The 21-year-old has been incredible and leads the team in plus/minus through more than a month of play. His point-per-game average is fifth among freshmen who have played in more than 10 games.

It would be tough for the Panthers to send the former third-round draft pick back to the AHL right now. If he sticks and keeps up his current level of play, he could finish in the top five in voting.

4. John Klingberg, Dallas Stars

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Previous Ranking: Unranked

By the Numbers: 13 games, three goals, six assists, nine points, 20 shots, plus-eight rating, 21:52 average ice time

Bottom Line: The Dallas Stars' back end was a mess to start the year. They decided to make some moves and give an opportunity to 22-year-old Klingberg, and it looks like a brilliant decision. In just a few weeks of action, he has taken the lead in plus/minus on the team and has become a staple on the first power-play unit. He's also impressive in the advanced stats world with a third-place rating on the team in relative Corsi behind Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza, via BehindTheNet.ca.

3. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

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Previous Ranking: Second

By the Numbers: 27 games, five goals, 16 assists, 21 points, 50 shots, plus-10 rating, two game-winning goals

Bottom Line: Johnny Hockey is hot on the heels of the rookie scoring leader with an impressive stretch that saw him score two goals and nine points in his last nine games. Of all the Calder candidates, Gaudreau might be the most dynamic. He doesn't have size (5'9", 150 lbs) but has speed to burn, vision that is second to none and an ability to make a scoring chance out of nothing every time he hits the ice. His ice time is on the rise as he's earned his coach's confidence.

2. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

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Previous Ranking: First

By the Numbers: 26 games, 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points, 78 shots, plus-21 rating, three game-winning goals

Bottom Line: Forsberg has been the model of consistency and earned rookie-of-the-month honors for November for his efforts. His plus/minus rating is tops in the entire league and he leads the rookie points race with a total that puts him in the NHL's top 20. Forsberg is a special combination of size and speed and has shown a knack for scoring big goals. Three of his nine goals in the month of November were game-winners.

1. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers

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Previous Ranking: Seventh

By the Numbers: 26 games, five goals, 13 assists, 18 points, 53 shots, plus-six rating, 21:46 minutes per game

Bottom Line: The NHL's reigning third star of the week has looked like a once-in-a-generation defenseman. It's hard to believe he's just 18 years old considering the poise he has shown against the other teams' top players. Defensemen aren't typically the leading candidates for the Calder Trophy, with just three blue-liners taking home the hardware in the last 25 years.

Ekblad was strong in his own end out of the gates, but the offensive numbers are skyrocketing as well, which bodes well for his chances. Because of the difficulty of his position and the all-around strong numbers he's putting up—top 11 in all NHL defensemen in points and top 30 in plus/minus—he leapfrogs the top forwards on this list.