09-10 Calder, and the blueline future.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

I think I'm right in saying that Ville is eligible for the rookie prize next season but has Big Rig

played too many games to qualify for the trophy?

Its a pity if he has as I feel he would be in serious contention for it. I would like to see him paired with Lids on the 2nd unit all year, as I feel he would learn greatly from the Capt. In the playoffs last year Kronner and Brad played the most mins, could we elevate these to the top pairing and how would Raffi react being on the 3rd with hopefully Lilja. I feel that these 3 pairings could in effect eat up equal amounts of ice time and in theory make a better all round

defensive corps, and as such all 3 could go out against any opposing top line. This could also prolong Lids career by another year or 2.

Judging by our blueline depth we have in the minors too, we seem set here for a good few years. I like the reports I'm hearing about Smith, Nicastro and the guy who has come from nowhere, Lashoff. Also these boys are big bodies and great skaters. With Kindl about a year

away, also falling into the same catergory as the others it all bodes well for the Wings. With the rough diamond Kolosov entering his 2nd season with the Griffins we could see him make more strides towards the bigs. He has been a rock for Belarus at Int level as a stay at home D and just may be Lilja's replacement in the near future, his 1st season in the AHL was steady if unspectacular so I expect to see him be a little more comfortable this year and make more of an impression.

[Feldmarschall 9]

I believe you're correct on both counts as far as Calder eligibility is concerned, but don't quote me on it.

I don't expect that you'll find Rafalski on the third pairing. When he's healthy, he's just too good to leave with Lilja or Lebda. As long as Lidstrom's mobilty is intact, the team will continue to look at him as the number 1 guy, and Babs can roll the top two pairings with roughly equal icetime while handing ten minutes at most to the third pair. In that case, Ericsson will make up for a lack of even strength icetime by getting plenty of special teams play. He's good, but he's not in an position to steal icetime from the Wings' top four unless there are injuries or freakishly bad play.

As for the defensive depth, I get the strong impression that the Wings system has a lot of potential 4-6 guys - either specialists that lack the all-round game of a top-pairing guy, or people whose overall skill just isn't high enough. The feeling is that the Wings haven't got a certifiable all-star prospect on the back end but do have a lot of solid players. That's expected as a product of the Wings' success keeping them from getting top-ten picks. Kolosov is an interesting case as he's the only shutdown guy I ever hear anything about. Kindl needs a badass AHL season next year or his stock is going to start falling, his decision-making and defensive play have not at all been up to par from every source I've read. Nicastro and Lashoff seem to the the guys that the organization is highest on these days, along with Smith.

I would definitely agree that the Wings have awesome organizational depth on the back end right now. It's pretty clear that they've geared up to make sure the transition to life without Lidstrom is as smooth as it can be. There may not be any blue-chip guys but somebody is going to come through for the Wings in the next couple years and really blow people away.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

im not entirely sure but i think helm and big rig are both ineligible for the calder.

If leino cements himself on the 2nd/3rd line and 2nd pp unit with great play he may be able to pot enough points to be in contention.

[Raptor1116 11]

Found this on another board, but haven't been able to verify it on NHL.com, what a terrible site that is.

eligability:

can not have achieved his 26th birthday by sept 15 of the season in question

can not have played in more than 25 games in any one previousNHL season.

can not have played in 6 or more games in any 2 previous NHL season.

Edited July 12, 2009 by Raptor1116

[Guest mindfly]

Leino turns 26 in october so he is eligable

Ericsson just played like 2-3 games two seasons ago and like 15 this season, so he is eligable right?

[Casey 145]

Leino turns 26 in october so he is eligable

Ericsson just played like 2-3 games two seasons ago and like 15 this season, so he is eligable right?

Leino is, Ericsson is, Abdelkader maybe, Helm maybe.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I think I'm right in saying that Ville is eligible for the rookie prize next season but has Big Rig

Ericsson is still eligible, he played less than 25 regular season games. I don't think he has much of a shot because he won't see top pairing minutes. To win the Calder as a D-man you pretty much have to see top pairing minutes.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I believe you're correct on both counts as far as Calder eligibility is concerned, but don't quote me on it.

I don't expect that you'll find Rafalski on the third pairing. When he's healthy, he's just too good to leave with Lilja or Lebda. As long as Lidstrom's mobilty is intact, the team will continue to look at him as the number 1 guy, and Babs can roll the top two pairings with roughly equal icetime while handing ten minutes at most to the third pair. In that case, Ericsson will make up for a lack of even strength icetime by getting plenty of special teams play. He's good, but he's not in an position to steal icetime from the Wings' top four unless there are injuries or freakishly bad play.

As for the defensive depth, I get the strong impression that the Wings system has a lot of potential 4-6 guys - either specialists that lack the all-round game of a top-pairing guy, or people whose overall skill just isn't high enough. The feeling is that the Wings haven't got a certifiable all-star prospect on the back end but do have a lot of solid players. That's expected as a product of the Wings' success keeping them from getting top-ten picks. Kolosov is an interesting case as he's the only shutdown guy I ever hear anything about. Kindl needs a badass AHL season next year or his stock is going to start falling, his decision-making and defensive play have not at all been up to par from every source I've read. Nicastro and Lashoff seem to the the guys that the organization is highest on these days, along with Smith.

I would definitely agree that the Wings have awesome organizational depth on the back end right now. It's pretty clear that they've geared up to make sure the transition to life without Lidstrom is as smooth as it can be. There may not be any blue-chip guys but somebody is going to come through for the Wings in the next couple years and really blow people away.

Ericsson, Kindl and Smith all have the chance to become All-Star players. In fact a noted TSN analyst said during the Chicago series that he felt Ericsson would win a Norris in the next 10 years. So I think Ericsson definitely has the potential to be our #1 guy in 4-7 years.

[Lidstrom for Norris 0]

Ericsson, Kindl and Smith all have the chance to become All-Star players. In fact a noted TSN analyst said during the Chicago series that he felt Ericsson would win a Norris in the next 10 years. So I think Ericsson definitely has the potential to be our #1 guy in 4-7 years.

4-7 years???

I think he has a chance to win the Calder (rookie of the year) this year. Lidstrom will not put up a 55+ point season, as he has the past 15 years, due to his age.

Look to a guy like Ericson to step in and pick up the slack

Edited July 13, 2009 by Lidstrom for Norris

[Peleshob 0]

Given the way the eligibility is layed out, it would appear that:

Abdelkader IS eligible because he only played 2 games in 2008 and 2 games in 2009

Ericsson is NOT eligible because he played 8 games in 2008 and 19 games in 2009

Helm is NOT eligible because he played 7 games in 2008 and 16 games in 2009

Leino IS eligible because he only played in 13 games in 2009.

However, I wonder about Leino because he played in the Finnish league before coming over. The rule says they cannot have played those number of games in "any major professional league" either. Do FNL and SEL count as those? This would write off Ericsson further as well, as he played a few years in the SEL.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

4-7 years???

I think he has a chance to win the Calder (rookie of the year) this year. Lidstrom will not put up a 55+ point season, as he has the past 15 years, due to his age.

Look to a guy like Ericson to step in and pick up the slack

I don't see Lidstrom's production dropping drastically. He was great last season after fully recovering from his preseason injury. Add the elbow pain in and I think last season was more about injury than age (although age did show).

Dude, I'd lose my s*** if Ericsson wins the Calder. I've had this signature for two seasons now and I've been a fan of Ericssons for a bit longer than that. I really, really want him to be a huge deal. I was just trying to be a bit realistic. It's pretty amazing for a rookie d-man to win the Calder- number are all that matters to Calder voters, and for D-men numbers are even more closely tied to minutes played than forwards.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Given the way the eligibility is layed out, it would appear that:

Abdelkader IS eligible because he only played 2 games in 2008 and 2 games in 2009

Ericsson is NOT eligible because he played 8 games in 2008 and 19 games in 2009

Helm is NOT eligible because he played 7 games in 2008 and 16 games in 2009

Leino IS eligible because he only played in 13 games in 2009.

However, I wonder about Leino because he played in the Finnish league before coming over. The rule says they cannot have played those number of games in "any major professional league" either. Do FNL and SEL count as those? This would write off Ericsson further as well, as he played a few years in the SEL.

f***. I thought Ericsson played less than 6 in 07-08. Oh well, he's a d-man anyway, and it's pretty much impossible for d-men that aren't playing 20+ mins a night to win the Calder.

Helm wouldn't have a chance anyway. No way he scores 60 pts in his rookie season- I'd be shocked if he ever put that many points up-- that's not where his skills are.

Leino is our best shot at it.

And no, his time in the FNL doesn't matter. It's age that matters there. As far as the NHL is concerned the AHL is a professional league of the same status as the SEL and FNL. All they care about is NHL games played and age for this award.

[Peleshob 0]

And no, his time in the FNL doesn't matter. It's age that matters there. As far as the NHL is concerned the AHL is a professional league of the same status as the SEL and FNL. All they care about is NHL games played and age for this award.

I wonder what they mean by other "major professional leagues" then. I know Gretzky couldn't win it because he played in the WHA when he was eligible, but I wonder what counts now.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I heard commentators on TSN say Helm IS eligible... (But it might have been from a certain Pierre McGuire.)

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I wonder what they mean by other "major professional leagues" then. I know Gretzky couldn't win it because he played in the WHA when he was eligible, but I wonder what counts now.

I'm not sure. Tons of guys play quite a few games in the AHL before entering the NHL. Hedman played in the SEL for at least a season, does that mean he can't win the Calder?

Does anyone here know just what the other major professional leagues are in this rule?

[PRStoetzer 1]

Zetterberg was second in 2002-03 and had played in the SEL, so the SEL obviously does not count.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Does anyone here know just what the other major professional leagues are in this rule?

Just the WHA. It was just part of the merger that anybody coming in with the new teams (Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg, Edmonton) that hadn't played in the NHL yet would not be considered rookies.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Just the WHA. It was just part of the merger that anybody coming in with the new teams (Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg, Edmonton) that hadn't played in the NHL yet would not be considered rookies.

Oh ok. That makes sense. thanks MacK.

[Peleshob 0]

Looks like our shining hope for the Calder trophy is Ville Leino... I really want him to win it. That way I can taunt other team's fans and go, "Screw you guys, Detroit took the Calder and we haven't had a top 10 pick in years..."