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

[AcGold]

Johnny wins it I think. He'll have the most points, expected to not even be able to survive the NHL, team makes the playoffs when they were predicted 29th and he's second on the team in scoring. Too good of a story for Johnny not to win it.

[cannon7]

Ekblad is way closer to the other two than most give him credit. Ekblad has been amazing for the Panthers. Hope Gaudreau wins it, but man would I love to have Forsberg and Ekblad on my team. The Panthers also have a young roster of giants with skill, so they're going to be scary in a couple years.

[Street Pharmacist]

Reinhart has really fallen off too this year. Ekblad was too exciting a prospect to pass on at first. Bennett would've been second

[FlamesAddiction]

It surprised me a little when I was at the Sens game, a few times I overheard fans talking about "Johnny Hockey". Specifically at the beginning, there was a group of Sens fans looking for him. This is a player that sells seats.

When he was on the shootout, there were also a lot of people anticipating something cool as immediately I saw a number of people (again, mostly Sens fans), pull out their phones and start recording.

I think it's going to be close. Forsberg has the stats edge right now, but Gaudreau seems to have the hype machine going full throttle.

[Stay Golden]

Johnny is closing gap only 3 pts behind. It usually comes down to who finishes with the most points.
He has been hot as of late while Forsberg has cooled off a bit. A month or so ago Forsberg had a 15pt lead.

[cannon7]

Not sure I like Gaudreau's nomination for the Calder as being based on his "hype". Yes the nickname "Johnny Hockey" has garnered a lot of media attention, but the player has more than backed it up.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Not sure I like Gaudreau's nomination for the Calder as being based on his "hype". Yes the nickname "Johnny Hockey" has garnered a lot of media attention, but the player has more than backed it up.

Gaudreau isn't going to be nominated because of the media hype, but it might be what tips the scales for him to win it.

[neo45]

I would still vote for Ekblad. I think in the past too much emphasis has been put on point production as opposed to contribution to team success. Ekblad making the jump from junior to his team's best Dman is amazing

[Itse]

Calder is a media award. By definition hype has a lot to do with it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Monahan didn't get any bonus pts for being an 18 yr old last year...

That is because he wasn't. He turned 19-years-old in the second week of October 2013.

[YogiBerra]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

Yesterday, ESPN had an online chat with their hockey writers, and Craig Constance said the Calder race is between Forsberg and Ekblad. He felt the 3rd nomination was going to go to Hutchinson. When asked about Gaudreau, he brushed it off as a 'non-playoff team'.

He DID say that Hartley should win the Jack Adams, though.

Seems like weird reasoning considering Florida isn't going to make the playoffs this year either. Maybe he has seen more of Ekblad though.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

BTW John Klingberg (age 22) has passed Ekblad in Rookie D scoring, and he's played 12 fewer games.

Which...

is absurd.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

Yesterday, ESPN had an online chat with their hockey writers, and Craig Constance said the Calder race is between Forsberg and Ekblad. He felt the 3rd nomination was going to go to Hutchinson. When asked about Gaudreau, he brushed it off as a 'non-playoff team'.

He DID say that Hartley should win the Jack Adams, though.

ESPN needs to just stay away from hockey, they have absolutely no clue and always report or say something beyond stupid.

[ramizle]

I think you have to consider the superstar factor. Now, I may be saying this with much bias but Gaudreau is very exciting to watch. I think he wins it.

[goodyear]

I think Johnny will defnitely be a candidate.

It's kind of like voting for the MVP, the guy with the best stats don't always win. Who is the most valuable rookie to their team? Johnny has been great for the Flames but maybe Ekblad, as an 18 year old defenseman is as well.

Regardless, its exciitng to see Gaudreau put up the numbers, especially for all the hard-core fans that have followed his career since the draft.

Finally, the Flames may have another chance at the Calder next year with Sam and maybe even Emile!

[GioforPM]

Pure numbers wise, Forsberg leads of course. Ekblad will get "plays tough position" credit.

But Johnny has name recognition, a great story, highlight reel plays, and backs it up with points as well. Look at who got the lion's share of media play at the all-star game, even though all three were in it.

[starseed]

I think being Voracek's stick will be what pushes him ahead of Forsberg in media votes. What a season.

[stemit14]

I think Johnny is just going to take it to another level down the stretch and put the debate to bed when he finishes with more points than any other rookie and is a key piece for the flames making the playoffs. 20+ goals and 40+ assists will get it done.

[Hockey_Ninja]

It would be so, so sweet if he won. But I just don't think it will happen.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Reinhart has really fallen off too this year. Ekblad was too exciting a prospect to pass on at first. Bennett would've been second

I think Reinhart is just bored. It happens fairly frequently with elite drafted players to dip in production after their draft year if they don't make the NHL. Geztlafs last season with the Hitmen was almost funny when he was on the ice. You half expected him to pull out a pillow and lay down at center ice for how hard he was trying out there and almost dipped below a point per game pace.

Reinhart is going to be just fine.