Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[rickthegoon]

Pretty easy to see a lot of people are clueless about Hutson and his pp points; for the first 20 games of the season, he pretty much never touched the ice during pp.
If Hutson would have been given pp time right from the start, he would have at least 10pts more, and the Habs might have a few pts more in the bank.
People are also missing out on something, he has been extremely solid defensively, a lot better than anybody anticipated.
Any other year, Celibrini would be the front runner, but Hutson is on a whole other level.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

Habs and Sharks were pretty much equals last season and in the 1st quarter on this season.

Hutson is a big part of why the two teams are not on the same level anymore.

Laine also has 9 PP goals in 15 games. That's a massive part of it too. Not to mention Caulfield has been lighting it up as another user noted. One of the best 5 vs. 5 players in the entire league the last 20 games.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

I wasn't and never used the term AINEC once but thanks for proving that most of the Habs mob including you has a chip on their shoulder over those 2 threads that were tearing Hutson down. Note, I never participated in either.

So be honest, who is the front runner for the Calder, Hutson or Celebrini? No explanations, no ifs or buts. Just a name. So what's the name?

 

[bud12]

I wasn't and never used the term AINEC once but thanks for proving that most of the Habs mob including you has a chip on their shoulder over those 2 threads that were tearing Hutson down. Note, I never participated in either.

Maybe not you but plenty of sharks fans in this thread though Celebrini was the only one who should win it and had no close competition. I couldn't care less about the calder but by logical standpoint, Hutson is now the front runner

 

[StrawHatEklund]

So be honest, who is the front runner for the Calder, Hutson or Celebrini? No explanations, no ifs or buts. Just a name. So what's the name?

I think it's a close race with perhaps a slight edge to Hutson at the moment. Though, there is a lot of hockey left and it could change significantly in the next 25-30 games.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

I think it's a close race with perhaps a slight edge to Hutson at the moment. Though, there is a lot of hockey left and it could change significantly in the next 25-30 games.

Couldn't do it eh? Lol. At least you picked the right player. Ain't nothing changing in the next 25-30, only thing happening is the gap getting wider. Barring injuries of course.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

Maybe not you but plenty of sharks fans in this thread though Celebrini was the only one who should win it and had no close competition. I couldn't care less about the calder but by logical standpoint, Hutson is now the front runner

Eh, there was maybe 2-3 speaking like that consistently but there are far more Habs fans behaving in a similar vein now with regards to Hutson. Part of that being that this thread is like "65%" Habs fans now due to fanbase demographics on the site.

 

[Benstheman]

Laine also has 9 PP goals in 15 games. That's a massive part of it too. Not to mention Caulfield has been lighting it up as another user noted. One of the best 5 vs. 5 players in the entire league the last 20 games.

Agreed on Laine but to be fair, Caufield is lighting it up since the start of the season, even when we were at the bottom of the standings with you guys.

The fact of the matter is, Hutson plays on the 1st pair and Celebrini is a no.1 center and it’s impressive. Both incredible players but I have to say what Hutson is doing right now is elite level shit. And believe me, I am the first person to admit I was not seeing that coming at all.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

Couldn't do it eh? Lol. At least you picked the right player. Ain't nothing changing in the next 25-30, only thing happening is the gap getting wider. Barring injuries of course.

I do think Hutson is a bit ahead but not some unreachable front runner. So, no. If you're that confident in Hutson improving even more, go all in on Hutson betting wise.

 

[Star Platinum]

It's so weird, cause last year, Montreal had Caufield and Suzuki on their power play, and it was well under 20 percent. How is that possible with those elite players?

This year, it's so much better, and it can't be all because of Patrik Laine, he's barely played ten games.

What could be different this year from last that suddenly Caufield and Suzuki are so good they could prop up some rookie who's feeding off their elite power play talent?

I guess it's a mystery.

It's probably additive. The two guys above by themselves plus whoever the three guys that were on their power play last year were not a good enough to threaten from all positions. Now you add a forward with an accurate high-velocity shot and an excellent skating and passing defenseman and the power play becomes much more dangerous.

Walman has had a pretty good year for us as our most capable offensive defenseman, but his passing and skating is not nearly on Hutson's level. Sharks also aren't very good at carrying the puck into the offensive zone on the power play other than Celebrini, nor at mucking around to get it back if we dump it in and get the power play set up. We're not the worst power play by any stretch (currently 24th out of 32), but we're not good at it.

Also happy for Laine getting his career back on track. Hope he can stay healthy.

 

[Benstheman]

I do think Hutson is a bit ahead but not some unreachable front runner. So, no.

Yeah it is not unreachable at all. We just have half of the games played and NHL season is tough schedule for NCAA players.

 

[Barrie22]

Couldn't do it eh? Lol. At least you picked the right player. Ain't nothing changing in the next 25-30, only thing happening is the gap getting wider. Barring injuries of course.

That is what philly fans were saying 15 games ago also. 15 games later and michkov is barely holding onto the 3rd spot.

 

[Guy Larose]

It seems like I don't need to answer then since you want to speak for me?

Along with this guy,


Hutson has obviously closed some of the gap and the Habs have been on quite a run but some of the hyperbole used then and even more now is ridiculous and when he cools down it will turn to he's just unlucky ect, ect ect.

Hutson is producing but he is also playing with much better players, ie his partner Mathieson and the top unit.

I haven't watched every minute of every rookie play and I seriously doubt that many here posting have either but I won't speak for you or others except to say that in hockey one can goo look at 3 or 4 different game reports from people who actually watched the game and follow the team, ie broadcasters and one will often find a different 3 star selection so sometimes people see what they want to see and that goes both ways.

I have seen both players in around a half dozen full games and read a lot about hockey and watch clips and Celebrini plays a more complete game with lesser players.

How the voters will view the race depends on how things go down the stretch obviously and the gap ahs been closed but like I said up post get ready for the excuses when the Habs go into a funk and the points don't come as easy much like when Michkov was struggling but has now basically fallen out of the race for all intensive purposes.

As for Hutsons defensive game, he has been playing extremely sheltered minutes during this hot stretch and Celebrini for a rookie much less so but in fairness to Hutson the actual voters probably won't consider this fact very much.

it will be an interesting race to watch and hopefully you continue to be gracious in your posts like many Sharks fans with balanced and thoughtful posts throughout this thread than handful of somewhat enthusiastic Habs fans and of course your enlightening fact based posts as well.

Well, you watched clips so I'm convinced...

 

[Star Platinum]

lol at the "PPP are worth less than 5v5 points'' narrative. Which elite player doesn't thrive on the PP?

I often get very angry and bitter at my team when they score on the power play because the goals count differently than at even strength. I prefer my team play it as a man advantage penalty kill so we can get back to 5v5 as soon as possible so we can get the more manly goals.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

I do think Hutson is a bit ahead but not some unreachable front runner. So, no.

A bit lol. The difference is that Celebrini goes through some little "slumps" and Hutson does not, he gets better and better every game. Lane is also playing under a lot more pressure in Montreal, on the hockey scale he's at 100% pressure vs Celebrini's 0% pressure playing in Shark land. It's a good thing he thrives on pressure and spotlight. Hutson is also playing the harder position for a rookie. Celebrini is and will be a great player, but Hutson is a generational talent and it's obvious to everyone actually watching him.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

That is what philly fans were saying 15 games ago also. 15 games later and michkov is barely holding onto the 3rd spot.

If you watched Hutson you would see that it's actually impossible for him to slump with the way he plays. If he doesn't get points it's his teammates fault because he's constantly creating offense. I've been watching this team for over 30 years and I've never seen anything like this, to put things into perspective, Hutson puts a guy like Subban to shame imo. He's in a different class, currently only Makar and Hughes are in that class. You don't have to believe me, but you'll definitely find out for yourself.

 

[Vukotal Recall]

Arguing over Hutson vs. Celebrini is like fighting about french fries vs. ice cream. They're both incredible, just different. Can't we all put the pitchforks down and unite over hating the Leafs or whatever?

 

[Timo Time]

I'll chime in every so often to just say this race is exciting as hell.

But this thread has fallen off a f***ing cliff

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Agreed on Laine but to be fair, Caufield is lighting it up since the start of the season, even when we were at the bottom of the standings with you guys.

The fact of the matter is, Hutson plays on the 1st pair and Celebrini is a no.1 center and it’s impressive. Both incredible players but I have to say what Hutson is doing right now is elite level shit. And believe me, I am the first person to admit I was not seeing that coming at all.

None of these posters are watching him play. They are stat watching and size judging. They have no clue the wizardry that we Habs fans are witnessing.

Rookie Hutson > Prime Eric Karlsson

Better defensively too.

You almost can't compare him to anyone style wise, I've never seen a player move the way he does with so much turning speed and deception with infinite cardio.

 

[Kennedys]

None of these posters are watching him play. They are stat watching and size judging. They have no clue the wizardry that we Habs fans are witnessing.

Rookie Hutson > Prime Eric Karlsson

Better defensively too.

You almost can't compare him to anyone style wise, I've never seen a player move the way he does with so much turning speed and deception with infinite cardio.

Do you think he should win the Calder, the Norris, the Selke, the Vezina, The Cy Young and the Nobel this year ?

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Do you think he should win the Calder, the Norris, the Selke, the Vezina, The Cy Young and the Nobel this year ?

Barring injuries he's winning the Calder. It's very possible that he's mentioned in the Norris discussion, he won't win obviously, it's gonna be Makar or Hughes.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think it's a close race with perhaps a slight edge to Hutson at the moment. Though, there is a lot of hockey left and it could change significantly in the next 25-30 games.

I think this is pretty much the case. This race could go any which way. Just an awesome crop of players this year.

 

[Benstheman]

None of these posters are watching him play. They are stat watching and size judging. They have no clue the wizardry that we Habs fans are witnessing.

Rookie Hutson > Prime Eric Karlsson

Better defensively too.

You almost can't compare him to anyone style wise, I've never seen a player move the way he does with so much turning speed and deception with infinite cardio.

I think you should calm down a bit. Hutson is definitely not better than prime Karlsson that’s ridiculous.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Barring injuries he's winning the Calder. It's very possible that he's mentioned in the Norris discussion, he won't win obviously, it's gonna be Makar or Hughes.

I think it's incredible that his point production is increasing as the season wears on. He has a shot at 70 points the way he's going.

And as much as I think he probably is going to win, there's so much hockey left. Celebrini, Michkov and Wolf are all having great seasons. Any one of them could have a strong second half and this is a different conversation. It's gonna be a tight race. I don't think anyone will run away with it.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Pretty easy to see a lot of people are clueless about Hutson and his pp points; for the first 20 games of the season, he pretty much never touched the ice during pp.
If Hutson would have been given pp time right from the start, he would have at least 10pts more, and the Habs might have a few pts more in the bank.
People are also missing out on something, he has been extremely solid defensively, a lot better than anybody anticipated.
Any other year, Celibrini would be the front runner, but Hutson is on a whole other level.

It's not that he was barely seeing the ice during the PP, it's that he was playing on a 2nd unit with guys like Gallagher, Anderson, Dvorak, and a Dach recovering from a season-long injury and somehow STILL managed to make it productive.