Calder Watch : 2024-25 Season

[waitin425]

You should care, it would be stupid. But this is the NHL awards, they are often dumb just like the show itself.

I've followed Lane religiously this year and stat/highlight watched Mack. Lanes season is historic. Should win. If he doesn't. I'll chalk it up to me not really watching game after game of Celebrini.

 

[MrLunatik]

The thing is, no matter how you want to look at it, you cant ignore Hutsons season. You can't take away from what hes done. Whatever context you want to apply to Celebrini, the same can be done for Hutson.

I never said to ignore anything... hence saying AS WELL

 

[Frank Drebin]

I never said to ignore anything... hence saying AS WELL

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. They're never going to give an award to a guy that probably would have won it under different circumstances.

 

[Barrie22]

And???

It is harder to come and be as good celebrini ha been as a 18 year old top line center, then it is to be a 21 year old defensemen.

 

[Grinner]

I mean if you are going to be pedantic... so will I...

he's not preventing many goals either...

You're the one who brought up goal scoring defensemen

 

[Frank Drebin]

It is harder to come and be as good celebrini ha been as a 18 year old top line center, then it is to be a 21 year old defensemen.

Is that right

 

[MoneyManny]

Hutson is having a historic season — no doubt. A rookie defenseman pushing into the top 5 all-time in points, playing big minutes, and helping his team push for the playoffs? That’s special. He absolutely deserves to be a Calder frontrunner.

But saying there's “no argument” or that Celebrini “has no case” just isn’t accurate.

He’s 18 — the youngest player in the NHL — and he’s leading a bottom-five team in scoring with 62 points in 66 games. That’s elite rookie production in one of the toughest situations imaginable. He’s logging heavy minutes at center, often facing top matchups, with very little support around him. That still counts for a lot.

And since you asked — yes, he has broken records: multiple franchise records for San Jose, including the most points by a rookie (surpassing Logan Couture), as well as several pace records. They’re not league-wide like Hutson’s chase, but they’re still legit milestones.

Also, let’s correct the “not top 60” line: Celebrini is currently 57th among all forwards in scoring — that claim was just factually wrong.

And regarding the sarcastic jab — “There’s no way he’s getting outscored by a rookie Dman? HE IS?” — yes, he is. But again, context matters. Celebrini is a teenage center with almost no offensive support, carrying the load on a weak team. Hutson, while a defenseman, plays on a far better-structured roster with more talent around him. Raw point totals alone don’t paint the full picture when comparing roles this different.

And one more thing — you mentioned Hutson’s “strong 2-way game” and pointed to his +18. That’s just not accurate. His actual plus-minus is -1. He’s incredible offensively, no doubt, but let’s not rewrite reality to fit a narrative.

So yeah, Hutson might win. He’s earned that position.

But to say “there’s no debate” is just ignoring context and facts. Celebrini’s case is very real — and voters will be weighing role, age, position, team strength, and overall impact — not just box score flash.

Just like i said in my last post: How dishonest do you have to be to keep debating for Celebrini at this point?

"He's not outside the top 60, he's 57, gotcha!!!"

"Celebrini plays with nobody but Hutson's teammates are all having career years and their team is exponentially better than last year, WHO COULD HAVE POSSIBLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE HERE? Ah it's probably their elite coach on his first gig."

"D-man outscoring a supposedly elite center, but point totals don't paint the full picture when comparing ROLES THIS DIFFERENT LOLOL"

"Let's pretend like beating LOGAN COUTURE'S ROOKIE RECORD IS MEANINGFUL AS HE WAS A NOTORIOUS EARLY BLOOMER YEA?"

 

[bud12]

It is harder to come and be as good celebrini ha been as a 18 year old top line center, then it is to be a 21 year old defensemen.

Hutson just turned 21. It was his 20y season in reality. But who care, calder have nothing to do with age.

 

[MoneyManny]

I do find it a bit ironic however that you posted this writeup after celebrinis 5 point night.

The reasons that habs fans are so confident is that a lot of arguments can be made in hutsons favour totally ignoring his historical statistical season.

Its not like he’s this complimentary player on a team that scored 4 goals per game that had 3 or 4 one hundred point players on it.

Its been a fun season, celebrini fans have a lot to be excited about and they can certainly make a case for their guy. But hutson would win it this year if celebrini scored 85 points.


Because context does matter

You don't get it. When Celebrini scores with the dead Sharks it's meaningful. When Hutson plays out of this world to help his team win 6 in a row to fight for a playoff spot it's meaningless and box score flash.

Get it? Me neither.

 

[Barrie22]

Is that right

Just put it this way, there have been 23 players under 22 to play in the nhl this year. In the past 20 years, there has only been about 20 players to play in the nhl at the age of 18. And only 4 players have put up 60+ points at that age.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Just put it this way, there have been 23 players under 22 to play in the nhl this year. In the past 20 years, there has only been about 20 players to play in the nhl at the age of 18. And only 4 players have put up 60+ points at that age.

So lots of rookie defensemen have scored 64 points, got it. Its easy when you’re 21

Imagine how much more impressive hutsons season would have been if he turned 21 in June instead of February, wow

 

[bud12]

Just put it this way, there have been 23 players under 22 to play in the nhl this year. In the past 20 years, there has only been about 20 players to play in the nhl at the age of 18. And only 4 players have put up 60+ points at that age.

In the past 20 years, how much 20y old dman have put more than 60pts?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Just put it this way, there have been 23 players under 22 to play in the nhl this year. In the past 20 years, there has only been about 20 players to play in the nhl at the age of 18. And only 4 players have put up 60+ points at that age.

Lane Hutson is the highest scoring rookie D since 1988 lmao

 

[MoneyManny]

It is harder to come and be as good celebrini ha been as a 18 year old top line center, then it is to be a 21 year old defensemen.

According to the records Hutson is breaking, it definitely is not.

A forward's rookie season equivalent to Hutson's would be easily called generational. But different rules for the Habs i guess.

 

[Frank Drebin]

NHL defensemen born in 2004


Hutson, Nemec, Korchinksi, Mateychuk, the only ones who have played 40 or more games

Born in 2005



Only Levshunov with 15 games

Forwards born in 2005 and 2006 with 40 or more games (there are 20 forwards from 2004-2006 birth years that have played 40 NHL games)

Celebrini
Smith
Benson
Bedard

So there are 4 defensemen born in 2004 or later that have played 40 or more NHL games and 4 forwards born in 2005 or later that have played 40 or more games, but being a forward is more special because?

 

[MoneyManny]

Lane Hutson is the highest scoring rookie D since 1988 lmao

It's crazy how they never mention this!

Just put it this way, there have been 23 players under 22 to play in the nhl this year. In the past 20 years, there has only been about 20 players to play in the nhl at the age of 18. And only 4 players have put up 60+ points at that age.

Now how many DEFENSEMEN have put up 60+ points at that age? Do you think noone sees through the dishonesty?

 

[StrawHatEklund]

And the argument for supporting cast isn't valid. Nobody predicted that the Habs would be in a playoffs position this year. Everybody said we would be competing for a top 5 pick. Lane Hutson is a play driver. He changed our offense. It's not our offense who changed him or made him better.

Eh, supporting cast argument is valid to add context. All the Habs fans mention they were bottom 5 last year but fail to mention they were 15 points out of a WC spot and had 76 points. The Sharks had 47 points last year so nearly 30 points less. Hawks had 52 points. Habs were closer to a WC spot than to the bottom 2. This year the Habs are on pace for being around 40 points better (53 ish to 91 ish) than the Sharks and end up perhaps 14-16 points better than last year (76 to 91 points). Habs are closer to last year’s team in quality than last year’s team was to either Sharks team. Hutson vs Celebrini’s support is night and day.

 

[MrLunatik]

You're the one who brought up goal scoring defensemen

clearly I was referring to producing offense Einstein

 

[Grinner]

clearly I was referring to producing offense Einstein

Too funny

 

[MrLunatik]

Too funny

Your level of comprehension in this thread? You're right.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Supporting cast argument is extremely valid. All the Habs fans mention they were bottom 5 last year but fail to mention they were 15 points out of a WC spot and had 76 points. The Sharks had 47 points last year so nearly 30 points less. Hawks had 52 points. Habs were closer to a WC spot than to the bottom 2. This year the Habs are on pace for being around 40 points better (53 ish to 91 ish) than the Sharks and end up perhaps 14-16 points better than last year (76 to 91 points). Habs are closer to last year’s team in quality than last year’s team was to either Sharks team. Hutson vs Celebrini’s support is night and day.

Its a valid argument. But you can't give credit for something a player didn't do because of things he didn't have. Similarly you can't take away from a player who did more because he had more.

 

[JIMVINNY]

The argument that Hutson plays on a better team so Celebrini's success is more impressive is foolish. If Celebrini played on a better team, maybe he'd have 80 points, or maybe he would have been relegated to third line minutes and struggled to produce. The Calder is based on which player is most proficient in his first season - Not which player has the most success on the crappiest team, not which player has the best season relative to players the same age.

Proficiency is judged by blending the numbers with the eye test—how do they stack up in their role, against their peers, and in big moments? Using those metrics, It's Hutson.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I just hope Dustin Wolf is one of the 3 finalists. I haven't seen a goalie bail out his team the way Wolf has this year, the Flames are close to a lottery team without him.

Early in the year I would have said Hutson's defense wouldn't hold up to deserve the award, but I think he's the front runner.

The fact Celebrini is still 18 years old, and playing at such a high level, might have some sway in the final voting.

Those are my 3.

He deserves the 3rd spot over Michkov for sure.

 

[Garbageyuk]

If Hutson had it 'wrapped up,' people wouldn’t panic every time an 18-year-old center drops 5 points in a meaningless game. Oh wait — it’s not just one game. It’s 62 points in 66 I mean, let’s just enjoy the ride and see how the season ends)

Lol who’s panicking? Hutson is still firmly ahead and has had the better season by far.

 

[NikolaTesla]

Celebrini: 18 years old, 66 GP 24 G 38 A 62 P = 0.93 PPG

Hutson: 21 years old, 78 GP 6 G 58 A 64 P = 0.82 PPG

Not even close. Celebrini's season is way more impressive.

You realize that one of them is a defenseman right?