By Nick Obergan Despite being just a month and a half into the season, there are already a pair of rookies who are trying to separate themselves from the pack in regards to winning the Calder Trophy. We will continue to monitor and rank the rookies in the middle of every month until the end of the season. Don’t sleep on: Brett Connolly, TB (6 points, +2, 19 hits), Roman Horak, CGY (6 points, +3), Cody Hodgson, VAN (9 points, -1) Falling: David Rundblad, OTT (3 points, -7), Brayden Schenn (0 points, -5 in 4 games), Jonathan Blum, NSH (44 blocked shots, but -9) 10. Ryan Johansen – Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus’ 4th overall pick in 2010 has been one of the only positive sights on the league’s worst team. Columbus only has three wins and Johansen has all three game-winning goals. In total he has five goals and seven points while playing merely 12:39 a night to a +2 rating. They would be wise to play him more often. 9. Jake Gardiner – Toronto Maple Leafs Gardiner was a first round pick (17th) of Anaheim’s back in 2008, and was dealt to the Leafs with Joffrey Lupul for Francois Beauchemin last season in what is shaping up to be an absolute robbery by Toronto. Gardiner beat out fellow youngster Keith Aulie for a spot with an impressive training camp, and it is easy to see why. He exudes confidence, is a smooth skater, makes smart decisions, and doesn’t look like a rookie. The defenseman has five assists, 26 blocked shots and a -4 rating in 16 games so far, earning time on special teams as a result of his strong play. 8. Adam Larsson – New Jersey Devils A lot was expected of the 4th overall pick in the 2011 draft, largely because he was already playing professionally in Sweden at a young age, and also because he had shown the ability to dominate against those his own age in international play. His numbers won’t wow you (three points, -5, 28 hits, 16 blocked shots), but he has earned the trust of the coaching staff, leading all rookies with an eye-popping 23:21 in ice-time per game. 7. Adam Henrique – New Jersey Devils As hyped as Larsson was, it is Henrique that has been the team’s best rookie so far. He comes with little fanfare, being taken in the third round in 2008. That is not a result of his skill set, he was simply overshadowed by Taylor Hall in Windsor of the OHL. Henrique has been getting a decent opportunity with the club’s injury woes and lack of centers, and he has produced thus far (4-4-8, +1 in 13 games). 6. Sean Couturier – Philadelphia Flyers While it is not uncommon to see rookies with large deficits in the plus/minus category as they learn on the fly, it is highly uncommon to see one with a +9 rating through 17 games as Couturier has. Playing largely a third-line role, the 8th overall pick in 2011 (courtesy of Columbus in the Jeff Carter deal) has looked very comfortable in all zones, notching five goals, 16 hits and 12 blocked shots. 5. Gabriel Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche There was little doubt that the 2nd overall pick in 2011 was going to jump straight into an NHL role, and he has not disappointed one bit. RealGM’s preseason Calder Trophy pick leads all rookies with 63 shots on goal, and is second with 45 hits (first among rookie forwards). He is tough, smart, fast, a leader, and he can score too (five goals); could be the team’s captain by his third season. 4. Luke Adam – Buffalo Sabres No one was mentioning Adam’s name as a potential Calder candidate before the season started. He was a 2nd round pick in 2008, but played in 19 NHL games last season, tallying a mere four points. He matched that total in the season’s opening weekend, putting in 2-2-4 in the first two games. Despite a -3 rating, he sits one point back of the rookie lead with 5-8-13. 3. Matt Read – Philadelphia Flyers Speaking of a rookie not on anyone’s radar before the season started; Read was barely on the NHL’s radar, as the Flyers signed him in March as an undrafted free agent playing University hockey in Minnesota. While he did have a very good collegiate career, many failed to notice that he notched 13 points in 11 games in the AHL last year after he signed with Philly. He has ten points so far this year, including a short handed goal, two power play assists and a game winner, as well as a quality +5 rating. 1. Craig Smith – Nashville Predators & Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers With the way these two match up, there is almost no identifying which has the upper leg in terms of the Calder Trophy, so neither are solely first or second on this list. They both have identical lines of 7-7-14 in 17 games, and both are big reasons why their clubs are currently looking playoff-bound. Smith is -1, but has the second most shots among rookies (51), and has 15 hits and six blocked shots. The Nuge has 31 shots, nine hits and 12 blocked shots. Smith is 11% better on faceoffs, maybe the only difference. The one major difference is their paths. The Nuge, of course, was the top pick in the 2011 draft, and is expected to be an elite player. Smith was a fourth round pick, just out of his sophomore year in college at Wisconsin, and making around $800K this year, far different than RNH’s $3.5M. Only time is going to separate those two, for now they are linked at the top. Nick is RealGM’s NHL Feature Writer. You can reach him by email [email protected] or on twitter @NickObergan