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

[ComixZone]

You know what annoys me? The fact people say "Ekblad is 18 and a defenseman" as if that is supposed to weigh in on Calder consideration.

The fact that he's 18 should have ABSOLUTELY no baring on whether he wins or not.

It's "Rookie of the Year", not "18 year old of the year."

If Ekblad wins it, it's East bias.

The Flames lost their best player and captain, Giordano, and since then this team has been pretty much a one trick pony. Our secondary scoring has vanished. Johnny, Jiri and Sean are the absolute biggest reason why we're in the playoff picture still.

If Johnny wins the rookie scoring race, he should be rookie of the year.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

Honest question, why do people care so badly that he wins it?

Johnny is awesome. An award has no bearing on his season being a great accomplishment.

I would actually prefer he doesn't win it. Keeps him hungry. I think he likely deserves it, but I don't understand why people are so invested in it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You only get one chance to win the Calder and Johnny deserves it. If fans can't get excited about the NHL awards, then why even have them?

[Gaudfather]

Ha ha - good article on LWOS on "The Two Johnnies". Guess which one has adjusted to the world of professional sports the best?

Manziel was drafted in 2014 in the first round with the 22nd pick overall by the Cleveland Browns. Gaudreau was drafted in 2011 in the fourth round with the 104th pick by the Calgary Flames. Both won the highest honours in their respective collegiate sporting leagues.

Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 for being “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”

Gaudreau won the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s equivalent of the Heisman, in 2014 for being “the NCAA player who best exhibits strength of character both on and off the ice and contributes to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game”.

It’s pretty amazing how far in the opposite direction the two Johnnys have travelled in their young careers.

Gaudreau hasn’t been attacked by the media in Calgary. Swarmed? Yes. It might be totally different if he was on the east coast but he’s in Cowtown where it’s pretty easy living. Most of it is because he’s adjusted in a very responsible and mature way to the next level. That’s something his counterpart has failed to do.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/...au-vs-manziel/

[JohnnySkittles]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

You know what annoys me? The fact people say "Ekblad is 18 and a defenseman" as if that is supposed to weigh in on Calder consideration.

The fact that he's 18 should have ABSOLUTELY no baring on whether he wins or not.

It's "Rookie of the Year", not "18 year old of the year."

If Ekblad wins it, it's East bias.

The Flames lost their best player and captain, Giordano, and since then this team has been pretty much a one trick pony. Our secondary scoring has vanished. Johnny, Jiri and Sean are the absolute biggest reason why we're in the playoff picture still.

If Johnny wins the rookie scoring race, he should be rookie of the year.

For a defenseman, it absolutely has baring. He's been playing like a top pairing Dman all season long all the while putting up very respectable numbers. Look how long it took Brodie, or Giordano, or Duncan Keith, or Chara, or Weber, etc to get to legit top 4 level. And He's done it in less then 82 games? It's incredibly impressive.

I do think Gaudreau ends up winning. But if he doesn't? it's not because of "eastern bias" bull####.

[Flaming Choy]

Awesome video. I bet the "Gio for Norris" and "Hartley for Jack Adams" videos would have been awesome too.

[D as in David]

Gaudreau's hat trick tonight makes him a lock for the Calder.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

I do think Gaudreau ends up winning. But if he doesn't? it's not because of "eastern bias" bull####.

History would seem to support an eastern bais.

[Gaudfather]

If Gaudreau wins the scoring race he wins the Calder. The NHL is looking to promote its game in the US and what better candidate could you have to use in promotion than Johnny Hockey as the Calder winner.

Read the article I linked above about "The Two Johnnies". Gaudreau is a marketer's dream, while Manziel is a marketer's nightmare!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

For a defenseman, it absolutely has baring. He's been playing like a top pairing Dman all season long all the while putting up very respectable numbers. Look how long it took Brodie, or Giordano, or Duncan Keith, or Chara, or Weber, etc to get to legit top 4 level. And He's done it in less then 82 games? It's incredibly impressive.

I do think Gaudreau ends up winning. But if he doesn't? it's not because of "eastern bias" bull####.

As long as you're in the accepted age range, age should not have any baring on Calder voting. It's about who is having the best season, as a rookie.

What Ekblad is doing at 18 is (IMO) more impressive then what Gaudreau is doing at 22 but Gaudreau is having the better first year, and that's what the Calder is about.

Also, there is certainly an Eastern time zone bias in the awards system, especially when it comes to trophies like the Selke and Norris.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

For a defenseman, it absolutely has baring. He's been playing like a top pairing Dman all season long all the while putting up very respectable numbers.

The argument isn't that it's not impressive. What Ekblad is doing as that 18/19 year old has been extremely impressive.

The argument though, is the Calder is supposed to be awarded to the rookie who is most proficient, not most impressive. It should, by criteria, come down to simply on-ice performance of the players. Age, hype, draft ranking, personal stories, whatever else shouldn't matter (outside of the Makarov rule age limit).

So was Ekblad the best rookie? I don't think so and the argument is pretty easy for me, Klingberg has been a better defenseman. Ekblad is amazing as an 18/19 year old, but he gets about the most sheltered minutes in the league for a top 4 player and his offense isn't ahead of Klingberg who does play harder minutes.

However, what the criteria is and how the voters interpret the award could be different and age will certainly play a factor in a lot of those voters opinions.

[nik-]

It's Johnny's. Leads in points and played great with the whole league watching a HUGE game.

[pylon]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...&postcount=435

Originally Posted by pylon

I said it at the CP draft last night when I took him.

65 points in his rookie season.

Let the mocking begin, but I believe he will score 25+ in his rookie campaign. It may be the rose coloured glasses, but his raw talent hasn't been seen on this team in 2 decades. The Flames learned their lesson with what became of Martin St. Louis, and Marc Savard to a certain extent. I have to believe they will not make the same mistake a third time.

[Darkwater]

You got it Johnny.. what a season.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by pylon

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/newrepl...eply&p=4939947

r/calledit

[Blarg]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

For a defenseman, it absolutely has baring. He's been playing like a top pairing Dman all season long all the while putting up very respectable numbers. Look how long it took Brodie, or Giordano, or Duncan Keith, or Chara, or Weber, etc to get to legit top 4 level. And He's done it in less then 82 games? It's incredibly impressive.

I do think Gaudreau ends up winning. But if he doesn't? it's not because of "eastern bias" bull####.

I'll call your 18-year old defenceman disadvantage who is 6'4" and 216lbs, and raise you a 21-year old forward with a <5'9" height disadvantage

[Erick Estrada]

I think Johnny's going to win it. Being American will help here and he turned it up a notch down the playoff drive and you can't say that for Ekblad or Forsberg. Also I dare to say he's been arguably one of the most electric players in the league this season bar none. If that line gets put together earlier in the season we could be talking about all three players in the top 20 scoring.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Blarg

I'll call your 18-year old defenceman disadvantage who is 6'4" and 216lbs, and raise you a 21-year old forward with a >5'9" height disadvantage

Holy crap. I knew Johnny was small, but only 7" tall?

Remarkable.

[GoJetsGo]

One game to go:

[getbak]

8 points in five games against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. He basically kept the Kings out of the playoffs.

Give the kid the trophy for that alone.

[calgarywinning]

Johnny is the man!!! Why is this forum not closed.