THN Top 10 Calder candidates 09-10

[Finnish Wing 110]

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I'm very sorry if this has already been posted. I searched it here, but didn't find it so posted it myself.

Let the discussion begin...

[Echolalia 2,961]

I don't know enough about the prospects to know where I'd sit Leino on a Calder list, but its interesting to note that the Wings still manage to get Calder candidates despite continuously picking in the second half of the first round, if at all.

[P. Marlowe 748]

It'll be interesting to see. Wings depth most likely keeps Leino on the third line, unless there are injuries or he outplays someone. He put up good points during the 13 games he played last season, but most of that production came when he played with Datsyuk. It'll be tough for Leino to beat Tavares as he has almost a guaranteed spot on the Islanders' first line.

[egroen 384]

A Red Wing has not won a Calder since Roger Crozier in 1965.

A few notables since then:

2003: Zetterberg 2nd

2002: Datsyuk 4th

2000: Stuart 2nd (not w/ Detroit)

1994: Osgood 5th

1992: Lidstrom 2nd

1991: Fedorov 2nd

1985: Chelios 2nd (not w/ Detroit)

1984: Yzerman 2nd

1980: Foligno 2nd

1972: Dionne 3rd

[Chunkylover 26]

It seems odd that an undrafted free agent would be ranked ahead of the second overall pick, not to mention anyone picked in the first round in the last two years. Only Leino and Varlamov have a real record of (relative) success to judge them on going into next season, so maybe that explains them being ranked so highly. I would expect Varlamov to come closer to the Calder than Leino. He plays a higher profile position on a high profile team. His team has to rely on him to win, while the Wings don't need to rely as heavily on Leino's production.

It'd be great if he proved me wrong though.

[theman19 47]

barret jackman over Z still stings,....every time i see that it makes me a little sick.

[eva unit zero 271]

barret jackman over Z still stings,....every time i see that it makes me a little sick.

That was such a joke. Z was by far the best rookie that season. Yzerman and Fedorov losing despite great rookie years is understandable, given they each lost to the Vezina winner (Tom Barrasso and Ed Belfour, respectively) and Osgood fifth is pretty strong given that his rookie year was the same as Brodeur's. He might have taken home the Calder, and would likely have been a finalist, if Brodeur hadn't been a rookie that season.

I don't see Leino as a finalist unless he plays the whole season on the top two lines though; I think the Wings' best candidate is Ericsson and I think he'll be lucky to finish in the top five simply because he'll spend most of his time on the third pairing. Unless, of course, he ends up on the PP.

[egroen 384]

That was such a joke. Z was by far the best rookie that season. Yzerman and Fedorov losing despite great rookie years is understandable, given they each lost to the Vezina winner (Tom Barrasso and Ed Belfour, respectively) and Osgood fifth is pretty strong given that his rookie year was the same as Brodeur's. He might have taken home the Calder, and would likely have been a finalist, if Brodeur hadn't been a rookie that season.

I don't see Leino as a finalist unless he plays the whole season on the top two lines though; I think the Wings' best candidate is Ericsson and I think he'll be lucky to finish in the top five simply because he'll spend most of his time on the third pairing. Unless, of course, he ends up on the PP.

Ericsson and Helm are both inelgible as rookies.

Leino could play himself into minutes not even Zetterberg and Datsyuk saw as rookies -- as there are a lot of slots on the top two lines and PP units up for grabs this year -- which is unusual for the Red Wings. I would say Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen are the only 3 with pretty much guaranteed spots.

[hockey23 79]

It'll be interesting to see. Wings depth most likely keeps Leino on the third line, unless there are injuries or he outplays someone. He put up good points during the 13 games he played last season, but most of that production came when he played with Datsyuk. It'll be tough for Leino to beat Tavares as he has almost a guaranteed spot on the Islanders' first line.

I think you're wrong about the Datsyuk part. He doesn't need other guys to set him up. He creates scoring chances. Here's a quote from his scouting report.

In just 13 games in Detroit he scored five goals and nine points playing just 12:42 a game mostly on the fourth line. In fact his arrival on the fourth line revitalized the unit. Center Kris Draper had scored just seven points (3-4) in the first 48 games and matched that total (2-5) in the 13 games Leino played on his wing. Kirk Maltby experienced similar numbers having scored seven points (4-3) in 45 games prior to Leino's arrival and scored four points (1-3) while playing on the same line.

[mmamolo 287]

Jackman over Zetterberg was disgusting. I remember being so pissed that Federov lost to Belfour too. Especially seeing as Belfour won the Vezina that year.

I was surprised that Hedman was ranked as low as he was on that list as well.

[cjm502 165]

I think you're wrong about the Datsyuk part. He doesn't need other guys to set him up. He creates scoring chances. Here's a quote from his scouting report.

You are right on. Leino plays smart, and he gets the job done. He has fantastic hands, and has even been working with a famous Finnish speed skater and hockey player this year to gain a little speed. (The biggest downfall of his game)

[BeeRYCE 2]

I didn't think he had too much of a chance, but I guess THN are more believers than I am. Boychuk, Hodgson, and Duchene all will have fantastic rookie seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised if Varlamov takes it. Hedman will have a fantastic career, but it's tough for a rookie d-man to dominate.

I'd say the Calder winner will be Varlamov followed by Tavares and Hodgson. The best I can see Leino doing is getting 5th in team points behind Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Lidstrom... With that will come maybe a 55 point season... Not good enough for Calder, but hey... I hope I'm wrong.

[StormJH1 231]

Wow, Sergei Makarov won the Calder as a 30-year old "rookie" in 89-90? I didn't realize that.

If you look at the list of Calder winners over the past few decades, it's been a pretty solid predictor of future stars. I'm giving someone like Bryan Berard a pass because he almost lost an eye (geez Hossa). But aside from Andrew Raycroft (2004), which made me throw up in my mouth a little, Barret Jackman in 2003 is a travishmockery. Regardless of how good Z was at that time, I remember hearing Jackman won at that time and thinking it was ridiculous. The guy had 19 POINTS in 82 games that year. Yes, he could throw his weight around, but when your ceiling is somebody like Chris Phillips, how can you look at that type of season and conclude that this guy is the "next big thing"?

[egroen 384]

Wow, Sergei Makarov won the Calder as a 30-year old "rookie" in 89-90? I didn't realize that.

If you look at the list of Calder winners over the past few decades, it's been a pretty solid predictor of future stars. I'm giving someone like Bryan Berard a pass because he almost lost an eye (geez Hossa). But aside from Andrew Raycroft (2004), which made me throw up in my mouth a little, Barret Jackman in 2003 is a travishmockery. Regardless of how good Z was at that time, I remember hearing Jackman won at that time and thinking it was ridiculous. The guy had 19 POINTS in 82 games that year. Yes, he could throw his weight around, but when your ceiling is somebody like Chris Phillips, how can you look at that type of season and conclude that this guy is the "next big thing"?

Jackman's Calder that year was like the Pronger Hart of 2000 -- The writers (voters) seemed to carry a torch for the under-representation of defenseman in the major awards those years. Based on the theme of articles those years, I was not surprised with the result. Much like Chara beating Lidstrom this year -- many of the writers had made up their minds well before the All-Star Game.

Rafalski received Calder votes as a rookie in 2000 -- sort of amazing he did not break into the league (as a free agent, never drafted) until the age of 26.

Edited August 24, 2009 by egroen

[mmamolo 287]

Jackman's Calder that year was like the Pronger Hart of 2000 -- The writers (voters) seemed to carry a torch for the under-representation of defenseman in the major awards those years. Based on the theme of articles those years, I was not surprised with the result. Much like Chara beating Lidstrom this year -- many of the writers had made up their minds well before the All-Star Game.

Rafalski received Calder votes as a rookie in 2000 -- sort of amazing he did not break into the league (as a free agent, never drafted) until the age of 26.

That's a really good point.

Plus ppl get complacent and hate to see the same winners. Ppl dont want to just see forwards get all the major awards and they don't want to see Lidstrom win it for a 7th time in 8 seasons. It's just the nature of the beast

[Drake_Marcus 890]

It'll be interesting to see. Wings depth most likely keeps Leino on the third line, unless there are injuries or he outplays someone. He put up good points during the 13 games he played last season, but most of that production came when he played with Datsyuk. It'll be tough for Leino to beat Tavares as he has almost a guaranteed spot on the Islanders' first line.

Actually he had lots of production with Maltby and Draper. He only actually played a game with Datsyuk if my memory serves me. I remember reading on the Snapshots blog that while playing with Leino Draper and Maltby put up half of the points they scored last season. Leino won't be on the 4th line again, so it stands to reason that he'll have even better linemates.

This kid's a stud and definitely my favourite young forward.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Leino could play himself into minutes not even Zetterberg and Datsyuk saw as rookies -- as there are a lot of slots on the top two lines and PP units up for grabs this year -- which is unusual for the Red Wings. I would say Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen are the only 3 with pretty much guaranteed spots.

Yup. I agree 100%.

[titanium2 867]

Yup. I agree 100%.

Kind of makes the fact that Pav and Z made the teams in their respective years all that more impressive.

Yeah Pav and Z made the team... There also happen to be 9 future hall of famers on the roster, which makes the Jackman Calder win all that more frustrating.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Kind of makes the fact that Pav and Z made the teams in their respective years all that more impressive.

Yeah Pav and Z made the team... There also happen to be 9 future hall of famers on the roster, which makes the Jackman Calder win all that more frustrating.

Oh yeah, I agree. Jackman's win was a joke.

But then again, having our players be relatively award free helps keep them cheaper.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Kind of makes the fact that Pav and Z made the teams in their respective years all that more impressive.

Yeah Pav and Z made the team... There also happen to be 9 future hall of famers on the roster, which makes the Jackman Calder win all that more frustrating.

Yzerman

Shanahan

Fedorov

Lidstrom

Hull

Robitaille

Chelios

Larionov

...Would the 9th be Cujo, Schneider, or Datsyuk? The scary thing is with that said, when it's all said and done, there could be 12 future HOFers on the roster (The 8 I listed, plus Joseph, Schneider, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg)... Hey, Sean Avery too...

[titanium2 867]

Yzerman

Shanahan

Fedorov

Lidstrom

Hull

Robitaille

Chelios

Larionov

...Would the 9th be Cujo, Schneider, or Datsyuk? The scary thing is with that said, when it's all said and done, there could be 12 future HOFers on the roster (The 8 I listed, plus Joseph, Schneider, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg)... Hey, Sean Avery too...

Hasek for 02 (Pav's year) and Cujo for 03 (Z's year)

Z's rookie year was more impressive though. They immediately placed him in Yzerman's spot and he did a great job for a rookie.