Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[Barrie22]

Can't believe that the Habs aren't a clear playoff team given how some of their supporters talk about their player either right?

Hutson is gaining on Celebrini as the voters love stats but did anyone look and see that in a close playoff race game Huston was 3rd in TOI for Habs Dmen last night and 4th at ES even with Guhle out?

Now voters won't care a lot but some of the brakes here need to pumped a bit.

Well depends on who you ask, to most of them here its hutson and only hutson that is driving this ship. But go to the trade boards and they all are expecting mcdavid level returns for any player that can possibly be traded.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

If Wolf drags the offensively and defensively challenged Flames in nto the playoffs this year there should be no argument as to who deserves to win the Calder.

Hutson will quite probably finish top 10 all-time for points as a rookie dman, if not top 5. Since the 74-75 season where they started having 80 games per season, there has been 2090 defensemen who've had a rookie season. You can keep thinking Wolf will win it by accessing the playoffs, but unlike you, the voters will see Hutson finishing top 10 over 2000+ dmen and probably see that as a bigger accomplishment.

 

[wetcoast]

Err...Hutson is currently tied for 4th D in the league in points...
Celebrini is 79th forward in points (or 90th if you include all skaters).

This isn't fantasy hockey, Hutson is 45th in TOI for all Dman and if you were to do a total redraft throw everyone in the pool for the rest of the season there would be easily 30 Dman taken ahead of him for the single year redraft.

Celebrini might be on the cusp of 60th forward in such a scenario but still outside.

 

[Rubi]

I know this is fairy tale reasoning but Wolf should get votes for the Calder if for no other reason than he was the 214th player chosen in the 2019 draft. And do you know he was still sitting in the arena stands when the Flames called his name?
Talk about perseverance and a never give up attitude. All his hockey career the odds have been stacked against him because of his size and he not only beat them... he demolished them.
Is there a better role model out there for young kids? Surely that should be worth some votes?

 

[wetcoast]

Did you just invoke Matheson to make this point?

Seriously?

Are you questioning MSL playing him more MPG, why would an NHL coach player the better player much less?

Matheson also scored 62 points last year and there was no Laine so spare me the "Well hutson is much better right now argument" as he simply isn't be any objective measure.

Guhle/Matheson probably hold more value in a throw everyone in the pool redraft or at worst very close but like I said this isn't fantasy hockey and even in a hockey Mecca like Montreal some fans sound like they don't understand winning hockey...go figure eh?.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Well depends on who you ask, to most of them here its hutson and only hutson that is driving this ship. But go to the trade boards and they all are expecting mcdavid level returns for any player that can possibly be traded.

Oh, is that so

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Are you questioning MSL playing him more MPG, why would an NHL coach player the better player much less?

Matheson also scored 62 points last year and there was no Laine so spare me the "Well hutson is much better right now argument" as he simply isn't be any objective measure.

Guhle/Matheson probably hold more value in a throw everyone in the pool redraft or at worst very close but like I said this isn't fantasy hockey and even in a hockey Mecca like Montreal some fans sound like they don't understand winning hockey...go figure eh?.

No one with any understanding of hockey is taking Matheson over Hutson for their team lmao, this might be the worst post I've ever seen

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Are you questioning MSL playing him more MPG, why would an NHL coach player the better player much less?

Matheson also scored 62 points last year and there was no Laine so spare me the "Well hutson is much better right now argument" as he simply isn't be any objective measure.

Guhle/Matheson probably hold more value in a throw everyone in the pool redraft or at worst very close but like I said this isn't fantasy hockey and even in a hockey Mecca like Montreal some fans sound like they don't understand winning hockey...go figure eh?.

Hutson is infinitely better than Matheson is right now. There are no Montreal fans who’d say otherwise.

MSL is old school. Vets are allowed to make mistakes and kids get the bench (though this hasn’t happened with Hutson.) Hutson’s ice time has climbed steadily throughout the season. It took him like 20 games before MSL replaced Matheson with Hutson on the first PP unit because he didn’t want to ‘violate the code of playing vets more.’ And Matheson (the vet) has played in his left while younger guys have played on their off side.

Matheson routinely makes brain dead decisions and is horrible defensively. Most Montreal fans wanted him traded last year. He’s a great skater and has good some nice moves but his IQ isn’t there and he makes brain dead decisions often.

I don’t care how much ice he’s gotten. He’s nowhere near the defenseman Guhle is, let alone Hutson.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

No one with any understanding of hockey is taking Matheson over Hutson for their team lmao, this might be the worst post I've ever seen

It’s a dreadful post. The guy has no idea what he’s talking about.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Are you questioning MSL playing him more MPG, why would an NHL coach player the better player much less?

Much less? You do understand one is a rookie and the other is a vet? You do realize that the extra TOI Matheson usually gets over Hutson is entirely on the PK? In fact, Hutson has slightly more ES & PP time than Matheson, notwithstanding your ridiculous use of a single game as a yardstick.

Matheson also scored 62 points last year and there was no Laine so spare me the "Well hutson is much better right now argument" as he simply isn't be any objective measure.

It's crazy just how much Hutson activates insecurities in fans of Quinn Hughes. You want to use MSL as a reference, so I'll do the same. Earlier this season, Matheson had more PP & ES time than Hutson, but as the season went along, MSL relegated Matheson to PP2, promoted Hutson to PP1, and used Hutson more regularly than Matheson at ES. Hutson has a better 5v5 GF%, better 5v5 GA/60 than Matheson, while being used more. Matheson had 62 points as an experienced vet. Hutson will beat that as a green rookie. If you actually watched both of them in the last 40 games, you'd know just how ridiculous your last sentence is.

Guhle/Matheson probably hold more value in a throw everyone in the pool redraft or at worst very close but like I said this isn't fantasy hockey and even in a hockey Mecca like Montreal some fans sound like they don't understand winning hockey...go figure eh?.

As if you understand winning hockey. Climb down that pedestal, Chief Wiggum.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I know this is fairy tale reasoning but Wolf should get votes for the Calder if for no other reason than he was the 214th player chosen in the 2019 draft. And do you know he was still sitting in the arena stands when the Flames called his name?
Talk about perseverance and a never give up attitude. All his hockey career the odds have been stacked against him because of his size and he not only beat them... he demolished them.
Is there a better role model out there for young kids? Surely that should be worth some votes?

In any other year he’s a slam dunk winner. And he might still win this. Calgary pulled a massive steal.

 

[coooldude]

Annnnnyway, Celebrini had a crazy snakebitten day vs Buffalo. Two posts and three HDCF's saved in the first period. A couple awesome passes to Smith that Smitty just couldn't bury.
Been similar in the last few games but at least he's still buzzing.

He did have a nice goal in the third.

 

[Mattb124]

Annnnnyway, Celebrini had a crazy snakebitten day vs Buffalo. Two posts and three HDCF's saved in the first period. A couple awesome passes to Smith that Smitty just couldn't bury.
Been similar in the last few games but at least he's still buzzing.

He did have a nice goal in the third.

The stat line won’t show it, but I haven’t seen a better offensive game from Celebrini yet. He could have had 3-4 goals quite easily. 2 posts and missing an open net due to a bouncing puck in the first period alone. Made a great ~80 ft aerial pass right onto Smith’s tape in the 3rd. Such a dynamic player.

 

[karltonian]

Annnnnyway, Celebrini had a crazy snakebitten day vs Buffalo. Two posts and three HDCF's saved in the first period. A couple awesome passes to Smith that Smitty just couldn't bury.
Been similar in the last few games but at least he's still buzzing.

He did have a nice goal in the third.

Kid should have had a hatty+, bummer. Maybe he can try to score 30?

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Michkov with an assist tonight too, this is gonna be a great race down the stretch.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

The Habs are near a playoff spot because of Hutson.

It's not hyperbole.

Also don't act like the "counting stats" are the only thing in Hutson's favour. It's giving second hand embarrassment.

The only worthwhile thing you posted is that the race isn't over yet. That's true, and I'd say it's pretty neck and neck.

I have second hand embarrassment for that poster.

 

[tiburon12]

I think the funniest thing in this thread is Habs fans bending over backwards to convince Sharks fans that a historical season for points should be enough to win an award, as if we didnt champion Karlsson for the exact same reason just two years ago.

We get it, truly we do. And if Hutson actually breaks a record or becomes the first x in y years to do z, then definitely he should get the award (as this award is for the best season). No Sharks fan would be upset if he did and would probably also champion his selection for the award. It would be nice, however, if habs fans could focus on the current reality and not some ideal future instead of lumping the hyperbole on post after post. The betting lines still don't think he's the favorite.

 

[sbhnur]

Michkov with an assist tonight too, this is gonna be a great race down the stretch.

A goal actually, but Couts stole it.

 

[HabsAddict]

All I care that it's been far too long to see great players wearing the CH.

IF Demidov is for real, offhand, i can't remember two players a season apart being potential Calder Cup winner.

 

[tiburon12]

All I care that it's been far too long to see great players wearing the CH.

IF Demidov is for real, offhand, i can't remember two players a season apart being potential Calder Cup winner.

you don't remember Crosby and Malkin? Pettersson / Hughes was like 5 years ago too

 

[HabsAddict]

you don't remember Crosby and Malkin? Pettersson / Hughes was like 5 years ago too

They are Habs?

Please notice I said...wearing the CH

 

[Jugitsu]

It's crazy how magically out of nowhere this season , points scored by dmen aren't more impressive than points scored by forwards. Also somehow age has inserted itself in the narrative conversation when everybody knows Panarin won the Calder

I wonder why , what could possibly change this narrative.

It's truly a mystery

I recommend you re-visit previous Calder threads and see how selective your memory is. Age has always been under scrutiny, especially when Panarin and Kaprizov won.

 

[luiginb]

LOL Montreal fans are so deluded thinking the guy pacing 5 goals on the year is going to win the Calder

 

[Essenege]

Well depends on who you ask, to most of them here its hutson and only hutson that is driving this ship. But go to the trade boards and they all are expecting mcdavid level returns for any player that can possibly be traded.

That’s is such a strawman. Also in the last few Habs trade, mostly their fans have been proven correct in their value assessments (Monahan, Laine)

Hutson is helped by Suzuki and Caufield having their best years…but Suzuki is also performing because Hutson is, IMO, a top 5 playmaking D in the league.

As for the team record…at 5v5 they lack an entire second line and a top pairing RD, these are glaring holes who’ll impact any team.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t have qualities. Bottom 6 is above average (both lines xGF% in the 55-60% range) and first line is fine (amongst the most productive in the league - although Slaf was not playing like a 1st liner until recently).

 

[Jugitsu]

Listen, Celebrini is really f***ing good, Mitchkov could become an offensive dynamo, Wolf could be a top 5 goalie in the league, but nothing those guys are doing are breaking records. Hutson is literally breaking records right now for a rookie defenseman and he is chasing some more...

The facts aren't about undermining the other players talent and what they bring to the game, I think they are all really great players.. it's just that Hutson is doing something that only 2 players did in recent years, Makar and Hughes.

This isn't comparing him to them, it's about what the stats tells you.

The stats don't tell you what Hutson does on the ice, the guy could have 10 more assists this year if we could finish the plays, he is breaking plays, he's not a defensive defenseman, he's an offensive defenseman and he's f***ing great at it.

What records has Hutson broken or what records is he about to break? Genuinely curious. And how do rookie dman records compare to records wingers and centers have a chance to break?