Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley (92) Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Connor Bedard's biggest competition to win Calder Trophy revealed

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 10/9/23

Any sports fan will tell you that preseason guesses for who will win Rookie of the Year don't always age well, but that hasn't stopped NHL faithful from projecting that Connor Bedard will win the Calder Trophy after the 2023-24 season has concluded.

Expectations surrounding the first overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft are high, so it's no surprise Bedard is the -140 favorite (roughly 5-7 odds) at DraftKings to win the Calder next June.

After an exciting round of preseason games, though, there is one player who has quickly become Bedard's biggest competition to snag those honors.

Logan Cooley's certainly turned some heads this preseason.

: Catch the start of the regular season on October 10 at 5:30p ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @TVASports, and @Sportsnet! #NHLFaceOff

(via @NHLNetwork) pic.twitter.com/JMFp1nXsXP
— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2023

When we last checked in on the betting odds at DK to win the Calder Trophy , Logan Cooley rounded out the list of favorites at 12-1 odds. Things have certainly changed after the preseason, however, and the third overall pick from the draft is now listed at 8-1 to be deemed the league's best rookie.

The 19-year-old center registered four goals in five preseason games for the Arizona Coyotes and added two assists in his first looks on NHL ice. The Yotes haven't made the playoffs since 2020 and haven't gotten past the first round since 2012, but Cooley is one reason this Pacific Division team is looking more competitive and listed at 5-1 to play past the regular season.

Logan Cooley also likes hockey. pic.twitter.com/5gwogqcGOV
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 6, 2023

Fans won't have to wait long to see how Bedard and Cooley match up in their rookie seasons. The Coyotes will host the Blackhawks twice in the 2023-24 season, with the first of those games taking place on Oct. 30.

Other rookies who still have good odds of winning the Calder are defenseman Luke Hughes (9-1), forward Adam Fantilli (11-1) and goaltender Devon Levi (12-1).

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