2014-15 Calder Trophy Race

[Eric Vail]

Gaudreau is on pace for 63 points. Since 2008-9, no rookie has scored more than that. Two have equaled that (MacKinnon and Skinner).

That is a pretty good season, whether or not he wins the Calder.

Ekblad is on pace for 49 points which hasn't been done since Phaneuf in 2005-6.

Some players maintain their pace, some fall off, some get better as the season goes along. I suspect that how they finish the season will determine the Calder. Three or four have separated from the pack, now we have to see how they finish.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Gaudreau is most likely to pass Forsberg imo, but Ekblad would have my vote thus far.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

I think it goes to Ekblad.

Big fan of what JG has done, and Hutchinson has been great but Ekblad is putting up unprecedented numbers and is more impressive as he is a defenseman.

Phaneuf may not know what unprecedented means, so I'll say 'hi' for him.

[Imported_Aussie]

So right now it boils down to these 4:

Hutchinson - best rookie goalie, would be close to Vezina contention based on averaged numbers, not enough games played though. Big part of team exceeding expectations

Ekblad - best rookie defenceman, logging major minutes, driving offence on an offensively challenged team (Florida 25th in goals per game, Ekblad 2nd in points on that team)

Forsberg - one of the best rookie forwards, very high +/- of +25, leads rookies in points, but is slowing down. Big part of team exceeding expectations (2nd in points, 1st in goals on his team)

Gaudreau - one of the best rookie forwards, second in rookie points, but is speeding up. very responsible on ice (+12, 0PIM). Big part of team exceeding expectations (3rd in points, 1st in goals on his team)

How these 4 perform over the stretch will determine who emerges as the winner IMO, as I feel they are all pretty level right now, maybe slight edge to Ekblad, but his team is also outside the playoffs, which could hurt him. Gaudreau is in great form and will likely ump over Forsberg, so for me, I think the final 3 will be:

Ekblad
Gaudreau
Hutchinson/Forsberg (whomever finishes the year better)


suffice to say, best rookie class in a while IMO

[Ozy_Flame]

Sure is nice to have a rookie in the Calder race as a Flames fan, given our abysmal drafting record in the last 15 years.

[albertGQ]

Maybe the Calder will be like the Hobey Baker for Johnny. He won't win it when he should but will win it the following season. Totally joking as obviously he can't win the Calder as a 2nd year NHLer.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Sure is nice to have a rookie in the Calder race as a Flames fan, given our abysmal drafting record in the last 15 years.

next season, bennet says hello...

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by handgroen

next season, bennet says hello...

And Connor McDavid says hey man, remember when we played together?

[wingmaker]

Ekblad is certainly deserving. If Johnny ends up being the team's leading scorer, especially if the Flames make the playoffs, that will be pretty hard to overlook. Obviously a lot still has to happen for those things to be true, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

And Connor McDavid says hey man, remember when we played together?

I don't' think an Oiler has ever won the Calder. So there is that.

[GioforPM]

It hearkens back to the Vail/Plett, Suter/Newy/Makarov days.

Mind you, we did have rookies in the race in Iggy and Phaneuf.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by handgroen

next season, bennet says hello...

ahem

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It hearkens back to the Vail/Plett, Suter/Newy/Makarov days.

Mind you, we did have rookies in the race in Iggy and Phaneuf.

Phaneuf would've won it any other year. He just happened to be stuck behind Ovi and Sid's 100+ point seasons.

[Mony]

I consider even 50 points a successful rookie season for Gaudreau. But looks like he'll definitely pass that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Mony

I consider even 50 points a successful rookie season for Gaudreau. But looks like he'll definitely pass that.

35 points is a successful rookie season

50 points is a great rookie season

65 points would make him the first rookie since Kane in 2008 to hit that mark.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

35 points is a successful rookie season

50 points is a great rookie season

65 points would make him the first rookie since Kane in 2008 to hit that mark.

That's nuts. I always assumed that was a decent number.

[bob-loblaw]

If he doesn't get the Calder, he might get the Lady Byng for a consolation prize.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by bob-loblaw

If he doesn't get the Calder, he might get the Lady Byng for a consolation prize.

Don't like the Lady Byng, don't want any of our players to win it. Didn't care about it when Mullen won a couple, sneered when Campbell won it becuase he's a D.

[Erick Estrada]

Going by the buzz at the all-star game Johnny is going to have to finish very strong to unseat Ekblad as it seems the eastern writers are smitten with him. I just don't know if he's going to get enough votes from the eastern writers.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

...Forsberg - one of the best rookie forwards, very high +/- of +25, leads rookies in points, but is slowing down. Big part of team exceeding expectations (2nd in points, 1st in goals on his team)...

Not really. Over the course of the last month or six weeks, he and Gaudreau have pretty much paced each other in points. Even if Gaudreau does manage to pass Forsberg, they won't be separated by more than a couple points. They are both having fantastic seasons.