Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[JIMVINNY]

I'm on the record as saying anything could happen. Hutson absolutely could win the Calder and is on a tear right now for the past 20 or so games.

That said, this comment is wrong. The coach isn't demoting Macklin or not giving him top line minutes. Macklin has been playing top minutes and is used in all situations. Warsofsky is trying desperately to balance the lines, which is impossible because we're just short good talent, and to get Smith going, which is nearly impossible this year since he's not quite ready for prime time.

For the past 5 games, Celebrini-Smith has been a duo with the hope that they would find some chemistry and a rhythm. During Celebrini's ppg tear (which was a lot like Hutson's, currently) he was being matched up by opposing top lines, was top line center, was scoring like it, etc.

He's currently in a slump, and his linemates aren't helping either, but it's not the coach deciding not to play him because he's not earning it. Has nothing to do with that.

I'll admit that I was being slightly hyperbolic with my last sentence, but everything else I said is dead on. I was replying to a comment that implied Hutson getting to share the ice with Montreal's best should count in Celebrini's favor, which is totally ridiculous. If Celebrini is going through a slump because he doesn't get to play with SJ's best players anymore, well, sorry, but Hutson had less production while he was deployed with less skilled players as well.

Celebrini is a heck of a player, and if the vote happened right now, he would win the Calder. I'm fine saying it's even LIKELY that he wins it in the end. All I've ever said that if the recent trends for the two players continue, Hutson will win it. What Celebrini has been doing all season is impressive, but not spectacular. What Hutson has been doing over the last 20 games is, and if he can somehow maintain this, he's going to be ROTY.

 

[Fraser28]

All 3 of Michkov, Hutson, and Celebrini with points today. As of now, I see it as Celebrini and Hutson basically tied for the lead. Incredibly close. I still have a feeling Celebrini will pull it off in the end.

 

[Bounces R Way]

If the Flames by hook or by crook actually make the playoffs and the rest of the candidates miss, there's a decent chance we see our first goalie Calder winner since Steve Mason. Calgary are also DFL in goals scored since the first week of the season.

 

[JIMVINNY]

If the Flames by hook or by crook actually make the playoffs and the rest of the candidates miss, there's a decent chance we see our first goalie Calder winner since Steve Mason. They are also DFL in goals scored since the first week of the season.

I've been of the opinion that making the playoffs matters to Hutson and Michkov's chances, but I suppose this applies to Wolf as well. All things being equal, helping drag a bubble team into the playoffs should factor heavily, if it's too close to call otherwise.

 

[Star Platinum]

Celebrini can't get ice time with the Shark's best forwards, by your own admission, due to coaching decisions. You can speculate all you want about the coach's motivations for his decisions, but your speculation is no more valid than anyone else's.

Fact of the matter is that Hutson is on the first pp, top pairing minutes, and is on the ice at the start of OT for one of the hottest teams in the league. Celebrini can't even get his coach to trust him with top line minutes anymore.

I guess his coach must trust him again cause he got to play with Eklund and Toffoli tonight. Trust can be such a fickle thing.

 

[Khrox]

I've been of the opinion that making the playoffs matters to Hutson and Michkov's chances, but I suppose this applies to Wolf as well. All things being equal, helping drag a bubble team into the playoffs should factor heavily, if it's too close to call otherwise.

The thing is, the Flames aren't even supposed to be a bubble team. We were supposed to be bottom 10 team in the league. Quite a lot of predictions were "bottom five team". I'd argue that Wolf is the only reason we are a bubble team that can still make the playoffs in the first place.