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.