Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[Ford Prefect]

Torts has over coached him ever since the attempted Michigan...all the creativity has been sucked out of him.

Slafkovsky for Mitchkov. Done.

 

[Frank Drebin]

This thread is interesting, at one point it was flyers fans and Sharks fans that were arguing here and now it’s sharks fans and Habs fans. Goes to show that the season is long and anything can happen, no fan base should get too comfortable. Im just happy that the Habs have a rookie that’s in the conversation. Even when we had Price or Subban, I don’t remember them being serious candidates for the Calder like Hutson.

Andrew Raycroft - age 23
Michael Ryder - age 23
Trent Hunter - age 23

thats the closest I remember, what a banner year that was

 

[Doc5]

Andrew Raycroft - age 23
Michael Ryder - age 23
Trent Hunter - age 23

thats the closest I remember, what a banner year that was

True! I just looked it up, what a solid rookie season Ryder had for an 8th round pick. Ryder’s already 44 years old, how time flies!

 

[Bouboumaster]

Another point for Hutson

 

[Kimota]

As a Habs fan, I never thought I'd see this much bad blood between hfSharks posters and hfHabs posters on here, as these 2 franchises' rivalry in about every aspect must be at the bottom of the rivalry lists, but it's enjoyable to read! I hope the best for both Celebrini and Hutson to have an engaging Calder race for the rest of the season and I personally hope both fanbases are quite happy with their guy for a long time! That being said, may the best (Dman) win!

Well the Sharks fans' hostility towards the Habs has existed for a long time. I never understood why, never knew where it came from but it always existed. Maybe they are Eastists.

 

[Wats]

He'll likely hit a wall, all rookies eventually hit one after some success. Hopefully he'll overcome it with ease and end up with 60+ points as a rookie.

 

[karltonian]

I think the coach decided he doesn't like the Calder talk so he chained Celebrini to absolute plugs.

 

[JustAHabFan]

I think the coach decided he doesn't like the Calder talk so he chained Celebrini to absolute plugs.

I saw the game. The line he played on is the 3rd line? Which line he used to play in before?

 

[karltonian]

I saw the game. The line he played on is the 3rd line? Which line he used to play in before?

he's played as high as the first. i dunno what they viewed his line as but luke kunin wouldn't make the 4th line on most decent teams and smith belongs in the AHL. they had a bit of an OK run together (celebrini and smith) but teams figured out that eliminating smith, which is super easy, kills that line.

 

[JustAHabFan]

he's played as high as the first. i dunno what they viewed his line as but luke kunin wouldn't make the 4th line on most decent teams and smith belongs in the AHL. they had a bit of an OK run together (celebrini and smith) but teams figured out that eliminating smith, which is super easy, kills that line.

If Celebrini is not playing with the top line then his chance of winning the Calder will not be good. In the OT winning goal against the Caps tonight, Hutson played with Suzuki and Caufield (our top 2 scorers).

 

[karltonian]

If Celebrini is not playing with the top line then his chance of winning the Calder will not be good. In the OT winning goal against the Caps tonight, Hutson played with Suzuki and Caufield (our top 2 scorers).

The Sharks are a really pathetic team and the coach is trying to win games or something stupid so he makes those typical favor-a-vet lineup decisions.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Anyone saying that anyone is a sure bet at this stage is fooling themselves.

Michkov is least likely of the big three but certainly has the talent to go on a heater.

Celebrini and Hutson are both playing fantastic hockey and are essentially a coin flip at this stage.

 

[coooldude]

I disagree with this take from Karl. I think Celebrini is in his first career slump and hasn't looked nearly as energetic or dangerous for at least 4-5 games. You can't blame it all on his linemates, although I'd like to see him back with Eklund and Toffoli.

Warsofsky has an impossible challenge setting lines. No matter what he chooses, 2-3 of the lines will be ineffectual. We just don't have the talent.

So currently Celebrini and Michkov are in slumps and Hutson is on a tear. We'll see what things look like at the end of the month.

 

[FerrisRox]

Feels like Hutson is riding a bit of a hot streak and is likely to cool off over the season rather than continue or gain on his current scoring pace.

Hutson is riding a bit of a hot streak?

In his last 19 games, going back to late November, he has 20 points. You call that a bit of a hot streak?

Are you joking with this?

 

[JustAHabFan]

Hutson is riding a bit of a hot streak?

In his last 19 games, going back to late November, he has 20 points. You call that a bit of a hot streak?

Are you joking with this?

The Habs was the last team in the East on December 16. They are competing for the WC right now thanks to the good play of the players especially Hutson.

 

[FerrisRox]

The Habs was the last team in the East on December 16. They are competing for the WC right now thanks to the good play of the players especially Hutson.

Why are you telling me this?

 

[JustAHabFan]

Why are you telling me this?

I just want to add to what you said. If this bother you then sorry.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

This doesn't mean anything. Hutson didn't start producing after this point. He was already producing and Montreal was never that bad

You don't even know what you're talking about. Habs were terribad early on and everything you wrote there is false.

First 20 games
Hutson 11 points -12
Habs record 7-11-2 .400

Last 21 games
Hutson 20 points +5
Habs record 13-7-1 .642

Hutson has the greatest increase in both point production and +/- on the entire Habs squad between the first 20 games and the last 21 games.

He's been the MVP of their resurgence.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

He'll likely hit a wall, all rookies eventually hit one after some success. Hopefully he'll overcome it with ease and end up with 60+ points as a rookie.

He already hit that wall. He headfaked passed it.

 

[karltonian]

I disagree with this take from Karl. I think Celebrini is in his first career slump and hasn't looked nearly as energetic or dangerous for at least 4-5 games. You can't blame it all on his linemates, although I'd like to see him back with Eklund and Toffoli.

Warsofsky has an impossible challenge setting lines. No matter what he chooses, 2-3 of the lines will be ineffectual. We just don't have the talent.

So currently Celebrini and Michkov are in slumps and Hutson is on a tear. We'll see what things look like at the end of the month.

Nah Smith is just not a great pairing with Celebrini as far as a line "pair," it's no coincidence that he has slowed down since the coach has forced it to be a thing. Taking a look at the on-ice results, he does the worst with Smith out of all the forwards he has played most with, and smith does significantly better away from Celebrini which shows he cannot drive play with Celebrini.

The defensive attention Celebrini draws is too much for Smith to handle at this time and that pretty much breaks the line effectiveness. He has done best with Wennberg, Goodrow, and Sturm as his centers, and poorly with Celebrini and Granlund, which basically tells you he needs to play lower in the lineup.

Celebrini at least needs to play with Toffoli. He has been the best paired forward with Celebrini so far and should be stapled to him. He is a perfect F3 for him. I dunno wtf coach is thinking putting him with Wennberg so much. I get that Smith isn't really a checking line forward, but ugh.

All I can think is they are content letting smith flounder like this and call that development. But they need to consider the possible harm of slowing celebrini's development to the speed of smith's.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Move over Celebrini

All Hail Lane "The 2025 Calder Trophy Winner" Hutson

 

[JustAHabFan]

Last night, I watched the Sharks Utah game to see how well Celebrini is playing. I was not impressed at all. He did show sign he would become a very good player but I don't see the excitement when he was on the ice. Sharks fans was talking about him to be an excellent 2 way players but as a centerman he didn't check properly Schmaltz and allow Schmaltz to roam freely in the Sharks zone and then eventually scored. This is the play where he get the -1 in the game. Overall, just a normal game for the rookie. In comparison, Hutson bring excitement whenever he is in the ice. You heard his name all the time when he was playing because he is actively involved in defensive and offensive zone. If Celebrini played like this to the end of the season, I just can't see how he win the Calder over Hutson. It's only one game but the edge go to Hutson because Hutson consistently play very hard in every single game.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Last night, I watched the Sharks Utah game to see how well Celebrini is playing. I was not impressed at all. He did show sign he would become a very good player but I don't see the excitement when he was on the ice. Sharks fans was talking about him to be an excellent 2 way players but as a centerman he didn't check properly Schmaltz and allow Schmaltz to roam freely in the Sharks zone and then eventually scored. This is the play where he get the -1 in the game. Overall, just a normal game for the rookie. In comparison, Hutson bring excitement whenever he is in the ice. You heard his name all the time when he was playing because he is actively involved in defensive and offensive zone. If Celebrini played like this to the end of the season, I just can't see how he win the Calder over Hutson. It's only one game but the edge go to Hutson because Hutson consistently play very hard in every single game.

A player is never as bad as their worst games and never as good as their best games. Overall it's still a coin toss between the two of them, we'll see how both play down the stretch.

I am confident Hutson will be fine for that duration since he seems to be like a vizsla - however much exercise you give him he'll adapt and still want more lol

 

[catmanhabsfan]

Nah Smith is just not a great pairing with Celebrini as far as a line "pair," it's no coincidence that he has slowed down since the coach has forced it to be a thing. Taking a look at the on-ice results, he does the worst with Smith out of all the forwards he has played most with, and smith does significantly better away from Celebrini which shows he cannot drive play with Celebrini.

The defensive attention Celebrini draws is too much for Smith to handle at this time and that pretty much breaks the line effectiveness. He has done best with Wennberg, Goodrow, and Sturm as his centers, and poorly with Celebrini and Granlund, which basically tells you he needs to play lower in the lineup.

Celebrini at least needs to play with Toffoli. He has been the best paired forward with Celebrini so far and should be stapled to him. He is a perfect F3 for him. I dunno wtf coach is thinking putting him with Wennberg so much. I get that Smith isn't really a checking line forward, but ugh.

All I can think is they are content letting smith flounder like this and call that development. But they need to consider the possible harm of slowing celebrini's development to the speed of smith's.

The kid will be A-ok don't worry about his development. He's supremely talented and will be a star for a long long time. You've got a phenomenal player on your hands