McKenna, Martone Lead 5 NHL Rookies to Watch

The 2026-27 Calder Memorial Trophy watch is officially underway, and the 2026-27 NHL rookie class is an extremely deep and talented one. Sports betting odds show Toronto’s Gavin McKenna and Philadelphia’s Porter Martone as the early favorites to take home the top rookie award. 

NHL.com had McKenna, Martone, and Anton Frondell among its top rookies to watch entering the season. McKenna is the obvious headliner after Toronto selected him No. 1 overall in June. Martone already has postseason experience with the Flyers, but the class has considerably more depth. Frondell showed some potential in limited action with the Blackhawks last season, tallying nine points over 12 games.

Ivan Stenberg (Sharks) and Cole Huston (Capitals) could easily enter the conversation as the current season progresses. 

We take a closer look at why these five players are worth following over the next several months.

Top NHL Calder Trophy Contenders 

Porter Martone, Flyers

The Flyers have been lacking star power, and the 19-year-old Martone has the makings of being that type of player. During the 2025-26 season, he went from scoring 50 points during his Michigan State freshman year to making Stanley Cup Playoff history with the Flyers. All he did was become the first teenager in league history to score back-to-back game-winning goals in his first two Stanley Cup playoff games. The fact it came against Sidney Crosby and the cross-state rival Penguins was an added bonus. 

Martone’s five points through his first 10 NHL postseason games provided a small sampling of what he is capable of achieving. Martone, who is the other early favorite to take home the Calder Trophy, plays RW on Philadelphia’s third line. 

Gavin McKenna, Maple Leafs

McKenna is one of the big stories of the 2026-27 NHL season as the highly touted NHL prospect is playing left wing on Toronto’s second line. The 18-year-old enjoyed a standout freshman season at Penn State University, highlighted by his 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 NCAA games. He also helped Canada take home the bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

As the No.1 overall pick, it’s not surprising that DraftKings Sportsbook has McKenna listed as the Calder Trophy co-favorite. According to his PuckPedia profile, McKenna “projects to be a top-15 NHL winger upon maturation.”  Being the youngest of the players highlighted, it’s really about how quickly his game adjusts to NHL competition. 

Anton Frondell, Blackhawks

Frondell, who plays center, is another former SHL star. During his 2025-26 season with Djurgardens, Frondell scored 20 goals over 43 games. The No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft also appeared in 12 games with the Blackhawks and finished with nine points. 

Frondell, 19, also played a significant role in helping Sweden take home the gold medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship with five goals and three assists in seven games. The Blackhawks might’ve found their “military tank” of the future. This is how one scout described Frondell’s style of play due to his reputation for being competitive and playing hard.

Frondell is playing on Chicago’s second line. The key will be how quickly the team matures, as the Blackhawks opened the season having the league’s youngest roster with an average age of 26.4. 

Ivar Stenberg, Sharks

Taken one pick behind McKenna, Stenberg showcased his potential playing for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. All he did was tally 33 points in 43 games as an 18-year-old. It was the most points in a SHL season by someone his age since 1998-99, when Daniel Sedin (42) and Henrik Sedin (34) put up slightly stronger numbers. The Sedin brothers are both members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The scouting report described Stenberg as a “high-impact franchise-level wing whose complete, mature game is built for long-term NHL success.” 

The left winger, who is playing on the Sharks' third line, has +500 Calder Trophy odds. 

Cole Hutson, Capitals 

Hutson has the best Calder Trophy odds (+950) among defensemen. After being selected No. 43 in the 2024 draft, Hutson spent two seasons playing for Boston University, where he appeared in 74 games and finished with 80. He was a two-time Bob Monahan Award winner as New England’s best defenseman. Hutson finally made his NHL debut last spring and collected 10 points over his first 14 games. 

The hockey genes run deep in the Hutson family: older brother Lane Hutson is a defenseman for the Canadiens, while Quinn Hutson is a forward in the Oilers organization.

Hutson’s career is just getting started as teammate Alexander Ovechkin’s is winding down. The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer announced that he will be retiring after the season ends. Ovechkin played his first NHL game on October 5, 2005, before Hutson was even born (June 28, 2006). 

Who Has the Best Chance to Break Out?

It’s easy to say that McKenna and Stenberg have the best chance of being the breakout stars, being that they are the top two picks from the most recent draft. However, there is no guarantee that the No. 1 overall pick will earn G.O.A.T. status like Ovechkin. Martone showed last season he is capable of scoring the GWG in a stressful postseason setting.

The combination of skill, ice time, power play opportunities, and line play will be key factors in determining which of these five athletes achieve breakout star status.

With the 2026-27 season just getting started after a shorter preseason, the Calder picture should become much clearer in November and December.