Raycroft takes home top rookie honors

Recently at the 2004 NHL awards ceremony, stand out rookie goaltender Andrew Raycroft was named the 2004 Calder Trophy winner. Being the league’s most outstanding rookie is an amazing accomplishment, but what is more amazing is that in a year filled with explosive rookie talent, Raycroft won with 93 of 105 total first place votes. He beat out runners up Michael Ryder (25 goals, 38 assists, 63 points) and Trent Hunter (25 goals, 26 assists, 51 points) by a healthy margin.

Raycroft’s superb year started in camp where he quickly showed that he was ready to challenge for the starting job, in spite of the fact that veteran net minder Felix Potvin had been brought in to take the reins. With every start Raycroft appeared to grow more and more confident, until he hit his stride during the stretch and helped carry the Bruins into the playoffs. Overall, Raycroft played in 57 games in the regular season with a record of 29-18-9, a miniscule 2.05 goals against average, and a lofty .926 save percentage.

Raycroft, 24, is the first Bruin to win the Calder since Sergei Samsonov won the coveted trophy in 1998 and the last goaltender to win the Calder was in 2001 when Evgeni Nabokov took home top honors. Other recent goaltenders who have won the Calder Trophy include Martin Broduer in 1996, and Ed Belfour in 1991. If the company he keeps is any indication of where he’s going to be in the future, Raycroft is certainly on the right track as both Broduer and Belfour have gone on to have potential Hall of Fame careers, while Nabokov currently back stops an outstanding San Jose Sharks team.

This exceptional honor comes only days after being named to the 2004 NHL All Rookie Team. Raycroft, in net, is also joined on the 2004 NHL All Rookie Team, by defenseman John-Michael Liles (Colorado Avalanche), defenseman Joni Pitkanen (Philadelphia Flyers), and forwards Trent Hunter (New York Islanders), Michael Ryder (Montreal Canadiens), and Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh Penguins).

A look at recent Calder winning goaltenders

Name Team Record GAA Save %