Calder Trophy Race: Johnny Gaudreau v Filip Forsberg & Ekblad too

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm not gonna give him any bonus points for being 18 or a D-Man just like Johnny shouldn't get bonus points for being 5'6 and Forsberg shouldn't get bonus points for "Man, Washington could have him on their RW right now, beside Ovie and Backstrom. At least they have Curtis Glencross".

That said, he's 27th in defenseman scoring which is no doubt a fantastic rookie season.

Klingberg is 23rd in defenseman scoring which is even better for a rookie. He's 4 years older but that doesn't make him less of an NHL rookie... he's never even had an AHL season.

Gaudreau is 42nd in forward scoring and tied for 18th among wingers (13th at LW).

Forsberg is 32nd among forwards and 19th among centers.

Definitely four players who are already flat out stars.

I'd say since Forsberg is a centre, he should win as their stats are pretty even but looking at the lineup chart, Forsberg is playing LW, so no points for that. What I think will happen is Gaudreau and Forsberg will split votes allowing Ekblad to win.

[Gaudfather]

Gaudreau is really making a case for himself - if he finishes out these last 15 games with 10 or more points (60 on the season) he has a legitimate shot at winning.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm not gonna give him any bonus points for being 18

How can you not? How often does an 18 year old have a season like he's having, let alone a D-man? Only four 18 year olds have won the Calder, and only one of those was a D-man (Bobby Orr)

Gaudreau is 5'9" by the way. Many, many players between 5'9" and 5'11" have won the Calder. I don't think anyone is giving him bonus points for his height

[Darkwater]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

How can you not? How often does an 18 year old have a season like he's having, let alone a D-man? Only four 18 year olds have won the Calder, and only one of those was a D-man (Bobby Orr)

Gaudreau is 5'9" by the way. Many, many players between 5'9" and 5'11" have won the Calder. I don't think anyone is giving him bonus points for his height

Johnny is no 5'9".

[GoJetsGo]

I think Gaudreau has a good shot as things sit right now. If he manages to pull ahead into first in rookie scoring, I think he'll be a near lock.

Just have a feeling with the way the easter US media seems enthralled with him, his chances are elevated to begin with. Would be nice to see sentiment like that go in our favour for a change.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

How can you not? How often does an 18 year old have a season like he's having

He might be 18, but he's also listed at 6'4 and 216lbs. He's essentially bigger than most 25 year olds. Hell, he's about the same size as Joe Colborne. If you're going to treat being 18 as a handicap, then treat his physical gifts as a similar kind of boon.

Now, if by him being 18 you mean it means he must have amazing potential, sure I agree. But it shouldn't be a factor in deciding who the rookie of the year is.

[pylon]

I think the Flames have to get to the post season, and Gaudreau has to win the scoring title for him to get it. Without Gaudreau, we probably don't get in. He has single handedly won us a couple games, most notably the LA miracle.

Without Forsberg, Nashville is still a force.

With or without Ekblad, the Panthers are still the Panthers, and it is pretty unlikely they squeak in the way it sits now.

[Fischy13]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I say who cares. We know what the real victory this year is. Besides, winning it does not mean you have a superstar on your hands that is going to be a better player than the runner ups.

Wasn't Iginla a runner up and Brian Berard won or something?

I believe it was Jose Theodore who snuck that Calder away from Iggy.

[etc]

Being 18 doesn't matter, just matters who has the best season, and it will be Johnny. Klingberg has more points and faces tougher competition than Ekblad.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

I believe it was Jose Theodore who snuck that Calder away from Iggy.

Samsonov if I recall. Theodore won the Hart over Iggy.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

I believe it was Jose Theodore who snuck that Calder away from Iggy.

Is this green text?

Montreal media snubbed Iggy on the Hart trophy vote

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Darkwater

Johnny is no 5'9".

So I guess the NHL, HockeyDB, Elite Prospects and numerous other sites are all fibbing on his height then?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'd say since Forsberg is a centre, he should win as their stats are pretty even but looking at the lineup chart, Forsberg is playing LW, so no points for that. What I think will happen is Gaudreau and Forsberg will split votes allowing Ekblad to win.

I believe players are ranked and votes are weighted so this can't happen.

Only way to skew the votes so someone could sneak up it to intentionally not vote for a player who deserves it so another could climb (see Theadore & Iginla for Hart, a Montréal journalist didn't vote for Iggy at all thus denying him points and Theadore won by one point vote).

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

So I guess the NHL, HockeyDB, Elite Prospects and numerous other sites are all fibbing on his height then?

I've met him a few times, he is not 5'9. Those sites are simply reporting what his teams are saying. They typically exaggerate physical stats, just like saying upper body injury rather than a sprained wrist.

Doesn't make him any less awesome though.

[loob job]

I think Ekblad wins it fairly easily, to step in as an NHL defenceman and play like he has is amazing. Nothing against Forsberg and Johnny obviously because they've been great but Ekblad takes it, the people that vote drool about defencemen that step right in their first year and their vote is the only one that counts.

[d_phaneuf]

I think its more up in the air than it was a month ago

my guess is that Ekblad wins it, but I would have put that closer to 90% in early February

if Forsberg or JG go on a bit run in the last 15 games I could see either taking it

[PeteMoss]

Every year someone says a X defenseman should win it and they never do. One in the past ten years and he had 48 points (Myers).

If Ekblad didn't play in Florida he'd have a shot, but right now I'd say he's a long shot.

[Huntsy]

Because Johnny is an American it helps his chances....More votes from US clubs...It will be a tight finish..Dont think anyone is clear cut yet..

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Samsonov if I recall. Theodore won the Hart over Iggy.

Wasn't it Brian Berard who won it over Iggy?

[YourMother]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Samsonov if I recall. Theodore won the Hart over Iggy.

I'm fairly certain it was Brian Berard.