Connor immediately becomes a Calder threat if he (a) makes the Jets and especially if (b) he can unseat Mathieu Perreault for the left wing spot on Winnipeg’s second line, likely with Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler.
What’s most impressive is that he’s doing all this with predominantly rookie line mates. Check. Even after suffering a concussion from a bone crunching hit by Buffalo’s Jake McCabe, Laine has remained a consistent scorer and shows no fear at the NHL level. Author: He has to show he’s matured and gotten stronger if he finally wants to stick.
There’s no more polished rookie in 2017-18 than Eriksson Ek, a two-way center who was good enough to amass seven points in 15 games last year. It is difficult for defencemen to win the Calder Trophy, but in any other year, Werenski would be a strong contender. DeBrincat’s odds of making the veteran Hawks aren’t outstanding compared to other rookies on this list, but DeBrincat’s potential is too tantalizing not to discuss.
In the last 25 years only four goalies have won the award (Martin Brodeur, Evgeni Nabokov, Andrew Raycroft, and Steve Mason). But that’s just it. The Calder Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.
If Marner was a rookie in almost any other year, then he would have the award all locked up. There’s a decent chance the league’s best rookies in 2017-18 are older kids drafted before 2017. Who are the top candidates? The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-five series in the division semifinals, with the playoffs continuing with best-of-seven series for the division finals, conference finals, and Calder Cup finals. Whether he ends up playing center or gets shoehorned into a wing spot this year to ensure he plays on a scoring line, Keller should get a major opportunity.
They were guranteed a generational talent.
But enough about the way he plays the game lets look at some of his stats.
With Erik Haula and Martin Hanzal gone, Eriksson Ek has a chance to step right in as the Wild’s No.
The Winnipeg Jets truly won the lottery, when they received the 2nd overall pick in 2016. © 2020 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Its easy to forget that Matt Murray is a rookie based on what he’s already accomplished at the NHL level. By Cam Tucker Apr 20, 2017, 7:23 PM EDT 7 Comments The NHL has announced the finalists for the 2017 Calder Trophy, given to the league’s top rookie. If he keeps this up, the Lightning's chances of winning the Cup increase exponentially. The question I’ve been asked most this summer: “Who will win the Calder Trophy?”. He spent most of the year back in Sweden because Minnesota wanted him to play more minutes. No one knows what to expect. Patrick will have a tough time cracking Philly’s top two lines, whereas Hischier could realistically start the year centering the Devils’ top line with Taylor Hall riding shotgun. He’s the ideal fit to become the Isles’ No.
Patrick had some of that time stolen from him. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images), Your email address will not be published.
1 center duties, and even if Sean Couturier is listed as a No.
However, this is one of the deepest rookie groups in recent memory.
All this and more has become part of the daily routine for Auston Matthews. The demotion did Connor a lot of good and he enjoyed a nice goal-scoring spree in the second half with the Manitoba Moose. Barzal’s ceiling is as high as anyone’s on this list.
Honestly. Its not just his shot, which for the record scouts very underrated that aspect of his game, but its his willingness to commit to a 200-foot game.
He’s less of a “sexy” Calder pick than most but is probably the safest bet to finish top-five in voting.
He leads all rookies in points (66), goals (38), and shots (262). 3 center this year. He has nice scoring ability but can also play a defensive role. His ability to read the ice and find open teammates with well placed passes has quickly made him a fan favourite at the Air Canada Centre. But remember, some of them could wind up not making their teams this year. After all, he did guide Pittsburgh to the 2016 Stanley Cup after only playing in 13 regular season games.
The 2016 draft gave us Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.
That’s an ironic sentiment for what, on paper, is the least fascinating field in years.