Despite a late-season charge that solidified Jason Robertson as one of the Stars’ best players, the rookie left wing could not overtake Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov for the Calder Trophy.

Robertson finished second in voting, done by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and meant to recognize “the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.” Carolina goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic finished third.

Robertson’s second-place finish was the highest for a Stars player since 19-year-old Mike Modano finished second to 31-year-old Sergei Makarov in 1989-90. Only two players in franchise history have won the Calder (Bobby Smith in 1978-79 and Danny Grant in 1968-69), and none since the team relocated to Dallas.

Kaprizov collected 99 of the 100 first-place votes, while Robertson picked up one first-place vote, 94 second-place votes, three third-place votes and two fourth-place votes.

Robertson posted 17 goals and 28 assists in 51 games, finishing six points behind Kaprizov in the rookie scoring race though Kaprizov played four more games than Robertson. In an 82-game season, Kaprizov would have been on pace for 40 goals, a feat accomplished by just two rookies since 1993: Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin.

When the 21-year-old Robertson was on the ice, the Stars were a completely different team offensively, scoring 2.15 more goals per 60 minutes with Robertson than without him. That difference was the second-most on the Stars behind Roope Hintz and fourth-biggest in the league behind Patrice Bergeron, Connor McDavid and Hintz.

Robertson, a second-round draft pick in 2017, figures to play on the top line next season, possibly alongside Hintz and Joe Pavelski again. He has one more year on his entry-level contract before he becomes a restricted free agent.

This season marked the third straight year that a Stars rookie received Calder Trophy votes. Last year, Denis Gurianov finished 11th in voting after leading the Stars in goal-scoring. In 2018-19, Miro Heiskanen placed fourth.