THN.com Blog: Calling all Calder candidates
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have combined for 118 points this season. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images
Sam McCaig
2008-04-01 18:41:27
Here are six forward thoughts for the NHL’s top rookie award:
Jonathan Toews, C: If you’re looking for the rookie who had the biggest impact when he played, the award goes to the Chicago pivot. Toews led all first-year NHLers with 23 goals, and his 52 points in 61 games is the highest points-per-game average. He’s plus-8 (rookie teammate Patrick Kane is minus-9) and was heralded as “future captain” material by the time training camp had ended. The only drawback is he missed 18 games with injury, so Kane and Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom are about 15 points up on him.
Patrick Kane, RW: The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder quickly put to rest any questions about his size, producing points from the start of October through to early April while playing with tenacity in a big man’s league. He’s battling Backstrom for rookie scoring honors, and – along with Toews, of course – has been a bright spot on a Blackhawks roster that, finally, can see light at the end of a long, long tunnel.
Nicklas Backstrom, C: Perhaps no rookie has been more important to his team in the second half of the season and down the stretch than Backstrom. When Washington lost No. 1 center Michael Nylander for the year to injury, many thought the Caps’ playoff hopes were over. Maybe they are, but Backstrom’s point-a-game heroics after January helped keep Washington in the race, and he has fared well in the face of opponents’ top checking lines and defense pairings.
Peter Mueller, C: One of several surprises on a surprising Coyotes team, Mueller led all NHL rookies in goals until Toews made a late charge. He’s still raw, but with his talent and size, he should be a bona fide No. 1 center before long.
Andrew Cogliano, C: Five game-winners, including an NHL-record three consecutive overtime goals, are a pretty good place to start for this 20-year-old Oiler, and a plus-1 rating (freshman teammate/wunderkind Sam Gagner wasn’t so fortunate, at minus-20) is another impressive number. He has two shorthanded markers among his 18 goals (and 45 points). All in all, pretty good bang for the buck from a guy playing only 13-14 minutes a night.
Sam Gagner, C: Gagner might not even beat out Cogliano for the Oilers’ rookie of the year, but he deserves a nod for withstanding the NHL rigors as a 5-foot-11 freshman who won’t even turn 19 until Aug. 10. Gagner (sixth overall) and Kane (first overall) are the only 2007 draftees who played all year in the NHL.
And you should see their fastball…
With just a few days remaining in the regular season, the finalists for hockey’s Cy Young Award are apparent.
And while perennial contender Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets, with a 38-29 “record” (goals-assists), once again managed a winning mark, he’s not among the top candidates.
St. Louis winger Brad Boyes is this year’s runaway winner – the Roy Halladay of the NHL, if you prefer – with a 41-22 output.
The surprising Boyes (and St. Louis could use a few more pleasant ones) is followed by Detroit’s Johan Franzen (26-10), Dallas’s Niklas Hagman (27-12) and Colorado’s Marek Svatos (26-11).
Sam McCaig is The Hockey News' senior copy editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Tuesdays and his column, From The Point, every second Friday.
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Brent (Posted 2008-04-17 10:57:57)
Without the playoffs and only ONE single start prior to this season, how about the guy that got the Predators into the playoffs? Dan Ellis, 23-10-3, .924 save percentage. GAA is a little high at 2.34, but the Preds always take a lot of shoots. And SIX shutouts, to boot. Just asking for a little consideration.
Maxime (Posted 2008-04-02 14:26:12)
Amen to that. Price, 3 shutouts in 39 games. 22 wins. Rookie year. Nuff said? Like Cay williams said : who cares about the Calder when you can win a Cup, a Conn Smythe and, easily predictable, a future string of Vezinas...
Craig (Posted 2008-04-02 13:48:55)
Why does the Calder have to go to a forward? Most of them were defensive liablilities, if you score 18 goals and cost your team 27 then you weren't really all that helpful where you? Carey Price in net, or any one of the three stellar Rookie defensemen who have shouldered heavy loads on their teams deserve far more credit. Price has actually improved on the solid goaltending of Huet, sure he missed part of the year slumming it in the minors, but since the trade deadline controversy that shipped out Huet, the Canadiens have actually appeared to be playing with more confidence and swagger, clearly a result of theire belief in the stellar young net minder. Then you have defenseman. Enstrom in Atlanta has been a rock, producing 38 pts, and eating heavy minutes for a Thrashers team that makes Pavel Bure look like a Selke finalist, which makes his minus 6 reasonably respectable. Tom Gilbert in Edmonton had to step up and quarterback what was last years worst powerplay, when free agent Souray went down with injury, followed by veterans Tarnstrom and Pitkanen, leaving a ravaged and undermanned D-corps. Then there is Edler, At one point he was sporting a remarkable +40 rating, and with the entire Canucks top 6 defencemen out with injury at one point had to pear head an all rookie squad shouldering heavy minutes. He still sits at +9 even though his minutes have climbed into the 20 range, and he regularily faces guys named Iginla, Sakic, Statsny, Gaborik, and Hemsky. Their contributions are grossly understated and underappreciated. That collection of forwards might be more fun to watch, but as the old addage says, defence wins championships, which makes Edler, Gilbert, Enstrom and Price far more valuable then razzle-dazzle Gagner and the boys.
Cary Williams (Posted 2008-04-02 13:28:51)
If Price was walking into the season as the number one goalie for the Habs, then he would be a contender. He had a number one goaltender blocking his path, which will be better for his development in the long run, but the way everyone is going to view this is he didn't get at least 25 wins, and he was sent down to the AHL. Price should be in the top three for consideration, just because of the way he has played in the games he has been in. He will be a force come playoff time, he has that hunger in his eye's, a la Patrick Roy. Rookie of the year? Who needs that when you can be playoff MVP and win a Stanley Cup.
Chris (Posted 2008-04-02 11:10:42)
I do believe that if Toews hadn't missed those games, he would probably be a shoe-in. I would have to give the nod to Kane. I know Backstrom is giving him a run for his money, but Kane does not have the benefit of playing w/ an Ovechkin type of player, who is going to score 50+ goals regardless of who is passing to him. Kane also plays in a more difficult conference and division for that matter. They call it the "South Least" division for a reason. Kane has really made a difference to his team and is an exciting player to watch as well.
Chris Gent (Posted 2008-04-02 10:50:35)
David Perron of the St. Louis Blues was a 2007 draft pick and played all year in the NHL, with the exception of being a healthy scratch a few games here and there. I am not saying he should be in the running for the Calder, but at least get your information right. He never left the NHL team for the AHL or juniors.
geelek (Posted 2008-04-02 09:04:42)
You forgot about Carey Price!!!!! He got his 22nd victory last night against Ottawa in only 39 games...
I know he's not going to win this one (prob. Toews or Backstrom), but I think he deserves to be on the list...
Plus his team is 2nd overall in teh east...
He is going to make some noise in the playoffs as a rookie, just like Roy did it in 1986 and Dryden in 1971...WATCH OUT!!!!!
soliee (Posted 2008-04-02 07:16:33)
Its unfortunate that Jonathan Toews had to get injured this year or he would've been a lock for the trophy. He plays with passion and drive every shift and will absolutely be, the next Blackhawk captain. For that type of character to be seen in a rookie so soon out of camp, tells you all you need to know about him. He's a gem. That being said, I believe it's between Backstrom and Kane. Weighing both options and what they provide to their individual teams, I have to go with Patrick Kane. He doesn't have the luxury of feeding an Alex Ovechkin for goals. He feeds whoever is playing along side Toews and himself which is usually Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien or earlier in the year, Tuomo Ruttu. Hardly comparable to the great AO. I can only imagine what Toews and Kane would be like playing alongside an amazing player like him. The Hawks have no superstars, nothing even close. Kane has been a master in the shoot outs as well. For a little guy who many said wouldn't even make it past training camp due to his size; he makes up for it in his playmaking ability and vision on the ice. Everything was against this kid..he proved everyone wrong, and he now has more rookie assists than any other Blackhawk ever. That's some accomplishment.
Wyatt (Posted 2008-04-02 01:20:27)
admittedly, he split duties with Huet for a while, so he didn't exactly put the team on his shoulders; but the Habs wouldn't be where they are now without him. Just tonight, Steve Kouleas jumped aboard the Price for Calder train.
Andrea (Posted 2008-04-02 01:02:49)
What about Tobias Enstrom
mike (Posted 2008-04-01 23:01:39)
shouldn't carey price be up there too?
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