The first month of the 2017-18 National Hockey League (NHL) season has come and gone, and with it, fans have been able to see a new injection of youth throughout the league. New players have been given the opportunity to make their mark within the sport as they do their best to contribute to their teams, stay in the league, and make a name for themselves in the rich history of the NHL. At the end of the year, one of these first-year players will go home with the prestigious Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the player deemed to have had the best rookie year for the respective season. With October now behind us, here is a look at which rookies are making the best cases for the award so far.

1. Clayton Keller, Forward, Arizona Coyotes

Leading the early charge for the Calder Trophy is Clayton Keller, who has taken the NHL by storm this October. Keller got his first taste of the NHL last year, scoring 2 assists in 3 games after leaving Boston University early to play for the Coyotes. This season he has jumped out to a hot start, leading all rookie skaters with 15 points, including 9 goals that also lead all first-year pros. Keller has been one of the very few bright spots for a struggling Coyote team that has won just a single game through the first month of the season. On November 1st, the NHL awarded Keller with the Rookie of the Month award for October, an award the league gives out every month throughout the season to acknowledge high-quality play from its newest players.

2. Mikhail Sergachev, Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning

While most hockey fans’ eyes have been focused on the scorching starts of Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay, Mikhail Sergachev has quietly been putting up huge numbers in his first full year in the big leagues with very little ice-time. The Russian-born defenseman is tied for the league lead in points by rookie defenseman with 11, which is also tied for second among all NHL defensemen. Acquired in trade during the offseason from the Montreal Canadiens for former third-overall-pick Jonathan Drouin, the Lightning thought very highly of Sergachev, giving up a proven 20 goal-scorer to obtain Sergachev, who had only played in 4 NHL games before the trade. With the Lightning tied with the St. Louis Blues for first in the NHL with 10 wins in the standings, Sergachev is proving that his offensive production is worthwhile for the Lightning.

3. Charlie McAvoy, Defenseman, Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy got his first taste of the NHL in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, recording 3 assists when his Bruins battled against the Ottawa Senators, ultimately losing that series in six games. Since receiving that experience, McAvoy has not slowed down, recording 8 points in his first 10 regular season games. He leads all rookies in time-on-ice as the only first-year skater to average over 20 minutes of ice time. Drafted 14th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, McAvoy spent a year playing hockey for the Boston University Terriers and was a teammate with Clayton Keller. Similar to Keller, McAvoy left college early to play in the NHL making a big difference for the team that drafted him. While leading the team in points for a defenseman and playing 20 of 60 game minutes, McAvoy has been putting his stamp on the NHL and proving to be a significant piece for the Bruins.

Throughout the year, injuries will happen and players will go through hot and cold streaks. Keller, Sergachev and McAvoy appear to be leading the Calder Trophy for now, but don't be surprised if other NHL rookies step-up as the season continues, creating a name for themselves as young players fight to impress in the top hockey league.