[burnin_vernon]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=883271

That Nieuwendyk would saunter up on stage and collect the Calder Trophy that the summer of ’88, he and his mates only 12 months away from Lord Stanley glory, was, heading into the big awards ‘do, nothing less than a foregone conclusion. Those 51 goals had topped all rookies and ranked fifth among all players. He finished tied for third in game winners, at eight, and his 31 power play snipes outpaced ‘em all.

He’d chased Mike Bossy’s freshman record of 53 down to the wire, falling inches short at the tape.