Flyers' Gostisbehere finishes 2d in rookie-of-year race

The Flyers' rookie-of-the-year drought continued Wednesday.

Chicago left winger Artemi Panarin was named the Calder Trophy winner, beating out Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Edmonton center Connor McDavid to capture the rookie award.

The Flyers have never had a rookie-of-the-year winner since the franchise started in 1967-68.

Gostisbehere, who jump-started the Flyers toward a playoff berth after being promoted from Lehigh Valley on Nov. 14, finished second with 955 voting points. Panarin had 1,258 points, and McDavid was third with 858 points.

Gostisbehere, 23, called it "an honor" just to be among the three finalists.

The Flyers have had close calls in other rookie races. Left winger Bill Barber finished second to Steve Vickers in 1972-73, and goalie Ron Hextall, now the team's general manager, placed second to Luc Robitaille in 1986-87.

Gostisbehere scored 17 goals _ a record for a Flyers rookie defenseman _ after being recalled from the AHL because of an injury to Mark Streit.

Panarin, 24, considered a rookie even though he played in parts of seven professional seasons in Russia's KHL, led first-year players in goals (30), assists (47), points (77), power-play points (24) and game-winning goals (seven) while playing in 80 games _ 16 more than Gostisbehere.

With the Florida-born and raised Gostisbehere in the lineup, the Flyers went 34-19-11; they were 7-8-3 without him. The smooth-skating defenseman finished fifth in rookie scoring with 46 points, and he set NHL rookie record for defensemen with a 15-game points streak.

McDavid, 19, probably would have won the award if he had stayed healthy. He led rookies (and was third in the NHL among all players) with an average of 1.07 points per game.

Sidelined for three months because of a broken collarbone suffered against the Flyers, McDavid finished with 16 goals and 48 points in 45 games.

All-rookie selection. Later in the night, Gostisbehere became the first Flyer named to the league's all-rookie team since Joni Pitkanen in 2003-04.

The rest of the all-rookie team: forwards Panarin, McDavid, and Jack Eichel; defenseman Colton Parayko; and goalie John Gibson.

Quotable. Gostisbehere on the NHL's tribute to the late Ed Snider on Wednesday: "It was touching to see; we lost a true icon of the game."