Which player won the first NHL Calder Memorial Trophy in 1937?

Syl Apps won the first NHL Calder Memorial Trophy in 1937.

The Toronto Maple Leafs center received the inaugural award after the 1936–37 season. The trophy honors the NHL’s most outstanding rookie, and it was named for Frank Calder, the league’s first president and a major figure in establishing the NHL.

Apps made an immediate impact during his rookie season, scoring 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 48 games. He also helped Toronto reach the Stanley Cup Final, although the Maple Leafs lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

The award was originally called the Calder Trophy. It was renamed the Calder Memorial Trophy after Calder died in 1943. The Calder is separate from the Hart Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the league’s most valuable player regardless of experience.