Calder Race

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Well this year's rookies have been impressive (as it is every year). For a while it was a two horse race with Skinner and Couture. Folwer has been quietly excellent while Grabner has been loudly exciting.

Call me homer but right now its Skinner in the lead with Grabner not far behind. The kid has 16 goals in the last 15 games and 8 in the last 4. Just insane right now. When was the last time we saw a player this hot? OV at times from his 60 goal season?

[simnorm 2]

Skinner should win it.

But forget the calder, all four are available in my keeper league. Looks like I will have the 2nd pick overall and Skinner will go first.

Grabner is on fire! I'm tempted but Couture is a safer pick.

[chippa13 1844]

Darkhorse is Brad Marchand, 16-15-31, +20.

[MatthewRoach7 130]

I dont think that we have seen the last of Couture. I think that he still has some in him and you may be suprised what he can due in the next few weeks.

[troy 12]

Well this year's rookies have been impressive (as it is every year). For a while it was a two horse race with Skinner and Couture. Folwer has been quietly excellent while Grabner has been loudly exciting.

Call me homer but right now its Skinner in the lead with Grabner not far behind. The kid has 16 goals in the last 15 games and 8 in the last 4. Just insane right now. When was the last time we saw a player this hot? OV at times from his 60 goal season?

Probably Sidney Crosby at the beginning of this season.

[TeamHonda401 54]

Skinner has shown the most consistency of the bunch. He gets it done every night, and scores goals in dirty areas. Not many 18 year old rookies play this well for prolonged periods of time. Couture was blazing hot for a month or so, Grabner started out really slow and hasn't played anywhere near this level at any point this season. If he keeps it up, Skinner should pull it out.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Darkhorse is Brad Marchand, 16-15-31, +20.

Oops. I forgot about him. Yea Boston has quite the player there. He'll get some consideration but unless he goes on fire for the rest of the season I don't see him winning.

Probably Sidney Crosby at the beginning of this season.

lol yeaaaa. My bad.

[troy 12]

I think Bobrovsky should, and will, get some votes as well.

[n3ss 0]

unlikely to be a strong candidate at this point but michael neuivirth has been mostly great for washington. same with john carlson.

okay,i'll stop being a homer. i really like jeff skinner and logan couture though. they'd get my vote.

[mug25 2]

Darkhorse #2

Derek Stepan

15g-18a-33p

Only a few points behind Grabner and Couture. I think including Cam Fowler in the top 3 is a little bit of a stretch. He's a -18 in 52 games and 10th among rookies in scoring. No. (As a comparison to Fowler, P.K. Subban is a -3 and only a couple of points behind Fowler.) Definitely an awesome season for a rookie but Calder?

[Jason Harris 31]

Darkhorse is Brad Marchand, 16-15-31, +20.

If you start looking at his stats versus some of the other contenders, I'm not so sure he's a dark horse. He had 3 goals in his first 26 games, then 15 in the next 30, to go along with a +23. While Skinner and Couture have 6 and 7 power play goals, respectively, Marchand has only one, but is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals. He has a higher shooting percentage than any of the other rookies besides Grabner, while he skates significantly less time than all of the top 15 scorers other than Seguin.

For a guy whose style turned me off initially because it went beyond agitator to punk, you know I've done a 180 on him over the season. He's become an indispensable part of the team, and if doctor had come cut loose her mama's reins and taken him off the fourth line earlier, my guess is he'd probably be in the top three of rookie goal scorers. Skinner is probably the leading contender because of his assists, but Marchand should probably be considered the second leading contender at this point.

[vek 0]

I'm rooting for Grabner for the simple reason that I don't think anyone has waived a Calder winner before. Florida must be ripping their hair out.

[chippa13 1844]

If you start looking at his stats versus some of the other contenders, I'm not so sure he's a dark horse. He had 3 goals in his first 26 games, then 15 in the next 30, to go along with a +23. While Skinner and Couture have 6 and 7 power play goals, respectively, Marchand has only one, but is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals. He has a higher shooting percentage than any of the other rookies besides Grabner, while he skates significantly less time than all of the top 15 scorers other than Seguin.

For a guy whose style turned me off initially because it went beyond agitator to punk, you know I've done a 180 on him over the season. He's become an indispensable part of the team, and if doctor had come cut loose her mama's reins and taken him off the fourth line earlier, my guess is he'd probably be in the top three of rookie goal scorers. Skinner is probably the leading contender because of his assists, but Marchand should probably be considered the second leading contender at this point.

I agree that Marchand deserves consideration. I put him as the darkhorse more because you don't really hear a lot about him outside of folks who follow the Bruins. It is surprising that folks still haven't really taken notice of this kid. It isn't a coincidence that Bergeron's offensive play really picked up with the addition of Marchand to that line.

[t6lock 24]

I'm sad that Subban isn't as good as he was in last year's playoffs. Been rooting for him since WJHC. There was a lot of hype for him at the beginning of the season, probably too much sadly :(

[Speedz98 15]

I'm sad that Subban isn't as good as he was in last year's playoffs. Been rooting for him since WJHC. There was a lot of hype for him at the beginning of the season, probably too much sadly :(

What areas of the game do you think he's been struggling in?

[Neal 41]

Has Taylor Hall played himself into the Calder conversation? Third in rookie scoring on the worst team in the league is impressive. And recent games have seen him just dominate offensively at times. Absolutely fearless taking the puck to the net.

[ndlancer95 0]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I was looking through stats today and how about Corey Crawford? He's having a terrific season and is eligible for the Calder. 26-12, 920 SP and 2.19 GAA

[wrangler 157]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I was looking through stats today and how about Corey Crawford? He's having a terrific season and is eligible for the Calder. 26-12, 920 SP and 2.19 GAA

He's in the conversation, media types talk about him, some put him in their top 3, but Couture and Skinner still seem to be in the lead. If the Blackhawks keep going like a runaway train, he's got a shot, especially if they take the division, and he keeps winning back-to-backs.

[AIREAYE 248]

A big factor for voters to consider should be that Skinner plays for a relatively weaker team in the Canes compared to Couture with the Sharks and Crawford with the Hawks

[Chadd 916]

A big factor for voters to consider should be that Skinner plays for a relatively weaker team in the Canes compared to Couture with the Sharks and Crawford with the Hawks

A guy (crawford) that becomes a number one goalie (while putting up good numbers) is inherently more valuable.

[t6lock 24]

Has Taylor Hall played himself into the Calder conversation? Third in rookie scoring on the worst team in the league is impressive. And recent games have seen him just dominate offensively at times. Absolutely fearless taking the puck to the net.

Looks like your question was answered when he fought out of contention :)

[ggreen 0]

I think its Coutures for the taking if he heats up again. The kid is a great two way player with a ton of hockey sense. He's been slumping a bit in the points category lately, but if he heats up again he'll definitely be a frontrunner.