Calder trophy Wolfy watch

[3rd liner]

Flames media should hype up the fact that he is American-born player... NHL bigwigs are so amped to grow the game in the states....

[GullFoss]

Starting to look like top-5 goalie in the league numbers...

[Beninho]

Wasn’t Hutson a -5 the other day?

Out of every Calder contender Wolf is having the biggest impact on winning his team games. He is top 4 in goalie save % amongst goalies who have played 20 games. He will need to have a solid end to the season but to me he should be at the head of the pack no pun intended

[Calgary]

Originally Posted by 3rd liner

Flames media should hype up the fact that he is American-born player... NHL bigwigs are so amped to grow the game in the states....

He will probably want to jump ship to his home land, like we've seen our last two American stars do.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Wasn’t Hutson a -5 the other day?

Out of every Calder contender Wolf is having the biggest impact on winning his team games. He is top 4 in goalie save % amongst goalies who have played 20 games. He will need to have a solid end to the season but to me he should be at the head of the pack no pun intended

It's a two man race right now for sure.

Hutson is 3 years younger, to the extent that is relevant.

Hutson has been coming on very strong since he took over PP1 for the Habs.

Now Wolf has also been coming on strong as he gets more starts.

Both have upped their game over the last month.

It's hard to imagine that any rookie (even player) has been more valuable to his team than Wolf, but it's hard for us to be objective. Wolf has made a believer of me, and I was sceptical. He's looking bigger to me than he was before LOL.

The race for Calder is ongoing and will be determined during the season's final games.

[edslunch]

Wolf is one of the best at his position, rookie or not. Can any other rookie claim that?

[Bonded]

I feel like points are hard to beat out but if Wolf might have a chance if he keeps getting the majority of the starts from here on out and they make the playoffs

[The Fonz]

Of goalies who have started 50%+ of their team's games, Wolf is 4th in sv% and 6th in win%. I would have been impressed if he could have been middle of the pack, so this is mind blowing.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Calgary

He will probably want to jump ship to his home land, like we've seen our last two American stars do.

We will be the 51st state before that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Wasn’t Hutson a -5 the other day?

Out of every Calder contender Wolf is having the biggest impact on winning his team games. He is top 4 in goalie save % amongst goalies who have played 20 games. He will need to have a solid end to the season but to me he should be at the head of the pack no pun intended

This is the bottom line for me.

Hutson and Celebrini are top rookies, doing top rookie things. Hutson has been the talk of the game a few times this season.

Wolf is the talk of the game, pretty much every time he plays. He is changing the outcome of the game almost every time he plays.

The only rookies that have done that are guys like Crosby (not comparing him to Crosby, just his impact). This type of impact from a rookie happens only occasionally.

The last thing I would ever want here is media like the Oilers have, but in times like this, I wish our media spoke out for the Flames a little more. When it's warranted, do it!

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This is the bottom line for me.

Hutson and Celebrini are top rookies, doing top rookie things. Hutson has been the talk of the game a few times this season.

Wolf is the talk of the game, pretty much every time he plays. He is changing the outcome of the game almost every time he plays.

The only rookies that have done that are guys like Crosby (not comparing him to Crosby, just his impact). This type of impact from a rookie happens only occasionally.

The last thing I would ever want here is media like the Oilers have, but in times like this, I wish our media spoke out for the Flames a little more. When it's warranted, do it!

Watching Monday Night Hockey on Prime, I feel the outside media pumps Wolf more than our media...

[Ba'alzamon]

The only criteria that matters is this: if one rookie was traded for the other, which team would improve and by how much?

Montreal would be much better if they traded Hutson for Wolf. The Flames would be way worse.

Wolf > Hutson.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

He's been the most impactful rookie, bar none.

No reason for the local media to not push the narrative that he should win the hardware, not just get on the ballot.

We're too modest here. When you're sitting on a cornerstone talent you don't have to hold back or be polite about what's becoming more and more evident.

[YyjFlames]

A little context:

Steve Mason was the last goalie to win the Calder, and he won it primarily because he carried his team into the playoffs (their first playoff appearance). He easily beat out Bobby Ryan who finished with 31 goals and 57 points. (A 26 year old Pekka Rinne, who's team missed the playoffs, finished 4th.)

Stat-wise, Mason was 16th for all goalies save percentage and 10th in wins--although when he was winning he was fantastic--and the Blue Jackets first playoff appearance was a big deal. But his numbers didn't suggest he was anywhere close to best in the league (Tim Thomas won the Vezina with a .933 save percentage; Mason finished second in that vote and 4th in MVP votes).

Raycroft won it in 2004 with a .926 save percentage and 10th in wins, helping his Bruins win the Northeast division. He beat out Michael Ryder's 25 goals and 63 points. His numbers were good and he helped his team to a big accomplishment.

On the just missed side, Binnington finished second in Calder voting to Elias Petterson's 28 goals and 66 points. He helped his team win the Stanley Cup in 2019 and finished fourth in the league with a .927 save percentage and the best GAA (1.89). His biggest knock was he only played 32 games that year and Raycroft and Mason both played the majority of their team's games.

Stuart Skinner finished second in Calder votes in 2023 because the NHL was shocked any goalie could put up more than a .900 save percentage behind that team.

Wolf's got a really good shot at the Calder (if another rookie doesn't do what Crosby did), as long as he continues to play a lot of games, is one of the top goalies in the league and he's important in helping his team do something somewhat unexpected, in Calgary's case, the playoffs, as that creates the noise that gets attention.

[#-3]

Just a little Devils advocate, not against Wolfs performance quality, but chances of winning

Getting the prime time eyeballs, and being seen as 'less' of a rookie age wise could be knocks against him in the minds of some voters.

Mason D+3, east coast 7pm typical game time
Ryan D+4, east coast 10pm typical game time

Wolf D+5, east coast 9pm typical game time
Hutson D+3, east coast 7pm typical game time
Celebrini D+1 , east coast 8pm typical game time

[Eric]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Of goalies who have started 50%+ of their team's games, Wolf is 4th in sv% and 6th in win%. I would have been impressed if he could have been middle of the pack, so this is mind blowing.

Has a rookie ever won the Vezina? If Hellebuyck falls off and Wolf has an even better second half….

[Jiri Hrdina]

Barasso won it in his rookie season

[CroFlames]

I just wish I bet more money on this.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Barasso won it in his rookie season

Also Belfour.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by #-3

Just a little Devils advocate, not against Wolfs performance quality, but chances of winning

Getting the prime time eyeballs, and being seen as 'less' of a rookie age wise could be knocks against him in the minds of some voters.

Mason D+3, east coast 7pm typical game time
Ryan D+4, east coast 10pm typical game time

Wolf D+5, east coast 9pm typical game time
Hutson D+3, east coast 7pm typical game time
Celebrini D+1 , east coast 8pm typical game time

It’s a good point, but Wolf is generating good buzz and is hitting the highlight shows even with the time change. Calgary’s unexpected push for the playoffs is going to continue to draw attention too and if they make it, there’s going to be a lot of talk about why… and with Calgary’s scoring issues, the reason is clearly going to be all about Wolf.

I don’t think it’s a lock though as Celebrini is having a heck a rookie year on an crappy team and you’re right that, with his age, he’ll get a lot of votes.

There’s a part of me that kind of would like celebrini to take it over Wolf, as Wolf seems to feed off of being that underdog… he’s kind of perfect for the Flames team that way. keep that chip on his shoulder and the Flames will benefit.