Calder Memorial Trophy: History, Montreal Canadiens Past Winners

The NHL will award the Calder Memorial Trophy on Thursday, June 27th, in Las Vegas, Nevada, before the NHL Draft begins Friday night. The Calder Memorial Trophy goes to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition. The nominees for this award are Connor Bedard, Brock Faber, and Luke Hughes.

The award honors the first president of the NHL, Frank Calder. It began being awarded for the 1936-37 season, making it one of the longest-running trophies. Professional Hockey Writers' Association members vote on the winner after the regular season.

The award recipient cannot play in more than 25 regular season games in the previous season or six or more games in each of the two previous seasons. The rules also changed, so the player had to be 26 years or younger after 31-year-old Sergei Makarov won the award.

The first winner from the Montreal Canadiens was in 1940-41, and there have been six winners in the long history. No Montreal Canadiens have won the award since Ken Dryden in 1971-72. Let's take a look at the Canadiens' winners of this award.

1941 - Johnny Quilty

Quilty recorded 34 points in 48 games to win the first Calder Memorial Trophy in Canadiens' history. He played two seasons with the Canadiens before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he played on the RCAF teams.

Quilty returned to the Canadiens in the 1946-47 season, playing 23 games over two seasons before leaving to play with the Boston Bruins. After six games in the Bruins organization, Quilty suffered a compound fracture in his leg and had to retire from the NHL.

1952 - Bernie Geoffrion

"Boom Boom" was a staple on the left wing of Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau, but he got his start in the 1950-51 season. Geoffrion played just 18 games, recording 14 points, but played under the limit of games which allowed him to return the following season and be eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Geoffrion tallied 54 points in 67 games, cementing his place as one of the top players on the Canadiens. The Calder was his first accolade, but he eventually won six Stanley Cups and two Art Ross Trophies.

1959 - Ralph Backstrom

Backstrom may not be the most remembered player on the Canadiens in that era, but he was a big part of six Stanley Cups and went to six All-Star games.

Backstrom debuted in the NHL after winning the Memorial Cup in 1958, making an immediate impact as a 40-point getter. He ended his career with 639 points in 1,032 NHL games and 214 points in 234 WHA games.

Backstrom also excelled at coaching, leading the University of Denver to an NCAA National Championship during the 1985-86 season.

1962 - Bobby Rousseau

Rousseau recorded just three points in 15 games during his inaugural NHL season, but a lack of games allowed him to be eligible for the Calder the following season. He exploded for 21 goals and 24 assists, an impressive mark for a rookie.

Rousseau nearly won an Art Ross Trophy in 1965-66, finishing in second to Stan Mikita with 78 points. He won four Stanley Cups and attended three All-Star Games, but the Canadiens traded him to the Minnesota North Stars in 1970.

Rousseau played five more seasons, finishing with 703 points in 942 games.

1972 - Ken Dryden

Dryden has the rare honor of winning a Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup before winning the Calder Memorial Trophy. He played just six games during the 1970-71 regular season, winning all six games and allowing just nine goals. He was given the starting role for the playoffs and led the Canadiens to his first Stanley Cup.

Dryden was lights out in his rookie season, owning a 2.24 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, unprecedented numbers for the era. Dryden had a short career but crammed in six Stanley Cups, five Vezina Trophies, and a Summit Series championship in 1972.