Johnny Hockey on ESPN

[loosecannon3]

Thanks EE for posting some excerpts from the article

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Tyler

If the NHL spit in your face and didn't give you rights to any hockey, why wouldn't you give them second class coverage? Totally makes sense to me.

Spit in their face? They got a better offer and took it.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Tyler

If the NHL spit in your face and didn't give you rights to any hockey, why wouldn't you give them second class coverage? Totally makes sense to me.

ESPN is a company trying to make money....not an elaborate revenge scheme.

Second class coverage hurts ESPN far more than the NHL. And, as mentioned above, it wasn't a 'spit in your face', it was a business deal.

[btimbit]

But will he be able to do that against nhl defensmen?

[Vinny01]

Johnny developing into a star at 21 definitely softens the blow of Sven busting. Post drsft year Johnny started to turn heads where Sven was looking like the next flames superstar. Johnny still seemed like a bit of a long shot back then. 3 years later Johnny is a key cog on a top line in the 2nd round of the playoffs and Sven is still a fringe NHLer on his second organization.

[nemanja2306]

No way Johnny does not win the Calder. He has way more media exposure than Stone. And considering that the media votes, thats kinda a big deal.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

No way Johnny does not win the Calder. He has way more media exposure than Stone. And considering that the media votes, thats kinda a big deal.

Ekblad will win with a fairly decent margin I think. Media are in awe if what he's done in that position at that age. We can debate the age factor all we want but all the voting media who have admitted their ballot had Ekblad

[AcGold]

wtf did Ekblad do that's so great? Florida didn't even get close to the playoffs, Johnny single handedly won us a game against LA, the team we needed to beat to make the playoffs.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Ekblad will win with a fairly decent margin I think. Media are in awe if what he's done in that position at that age. We can debate the age factor all we want but all the voting media who have admitted their ballot had Ekblad

It would be a shame if Ekblad won.

He wasn't the best rookie at all.

He wasn't even the best defensive rookie this year.

He is the youngest of the rookies, that is the only part where he is ahead of Stone, Gaudreau, and Klingberg.

Klingberg outpaced Ekblad by a fair margin this season.

If Ekblad wins it's because he's the youngest impact rookie, -NOT- the best rookie of the year.

[CroFlames]

I think Johnny wins it. I heard multiple Snet guys who were voters say Johnny wins it late in the season during intermissions.

[EldrickOnIce]

Of course he would still be behind RNH.
Hopkins has been really good for the no-goods.
It doesn't take anything away from Gaudreau by evaluating him fairly, as they did in the article. I expect he would be top 10 now, and likely going up from there. He might finish ahead of Hopkins. I expect he might, but right now? nope
Interesting that as great a steal as Gaudreau is/was, Palat is probably a better 'steal'. 7th round? Crazy...

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It would be a shame if Ekblad won.

He wasn't the best rookie at all.

He wasn't even the best defensive rookie this year.

He is the youngest of the rookies, that is the only part where he is ahead of Stone, Gaudreau, and Klingberg.

Klingberg outpaced Ekblad by a fair margin this season.

If Ekblad wins it's because he's the youngest impact rookie, -NOT- the best rookie of the year.

"best" is a subjective term, and will be different things for different people.

If Johnny doesn't win, it diminishes nothing in my mind if what he's accomplished at his size and and route to the NHL.

Ekblad is doing virtually unprecedented things at his age. I cannot recall another player at his age playing the minutes and controlling the game like he does. "Best" might include age as a mitigating factor for some and nothing in the award criteria excludes it (though I agree it's not included).

I think Johnny should win, but there are absolutely defensible arguments for 4 or possibly 5 rookies. I'm OK of he doesn't win

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Ekblad will win with a fairly decent margin I think. Media are in awe if what he's done in that position at that age. We can debate the age factor all we want but all the voting media who have admitted their ballot had Ekblad

McKenzie said he voted for Stone.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

McKenzie said he voted for Stone.

Forgot that one. I've heard quote a few Ekblad votes and not a single Johnny one

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Forgot that one. I've heard quote a few Ekblad votes and not a single Johnny one

Me too. Freidman was for Ekblad. Both of them said it before voting was done, too, and I wish they'd have waited.

[GioforPM]

Of course, none of those guys disclosed their secondary votes, which could make a difference this year.

If a guy votes for Ekblad because of age, he probably discounts Stone for the same reason, and because of his NHL experience. If a guy votes for Stone because of stats (basic and advanced) he probably downvotes Ekblad because his stats weren't as good as Klinberg.

[Street Pharmacist]

Wyshinski had Ekblad too

[Badgers Nose]

When asked about Johnny Hockey's success, one former NHL player said Gaudreau's lack of girth may actually help him.
"He's flexible enough to twist and turn and contort his body in all sorts of ways that allow him to do amazing things with his stick when he has the puck," the ex-player said. "He can also use that flexibility to spin and dodge big hits and sneak around opponents to get to the puck."

Hello Craig!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

McKenzie said he voted for Stone.

Stone got plenty of media attention in Canada. But not so much in the US, it didn't appear.

Gaudreau was a story in the US - throughout the big eastern markets - all season long

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Stone got plenty of media attention in Canada. But not so much in the US, it didn't appear.

Gaudreau was a story in the US - throughout the big eastern markets - all season long

Yup:

NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/25/sp...trip.html?_r=0