Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

18 years old is impressive for a first line player
20-21 is impressive for a first pairing D or Goalie.
23 is still well within the range to be considered a rookie for all intents and purposes. Would Wolf have played as well when he was 21? Probably not, but definitely irrelevant.

This is the list of 23 & under goalies that have won 25+ games in a single season since the lockout:

That's a list of superstar goalies. 5 cup winners and 3 of the best goalies to never win the cup.

 

[Herschel]

This is the list of 23 & under goalies that have won 25+ games in a single season since the lockout:

View attachment 999722

That's a list of superstar goalies. 5 cup winners and 3 of the best goalies to never win the cup.

Many on this list weren't considered rookies during those seasons, which could be seen as strengthening Wolf's performance. However, I personally have an extremely hard time viewing wins through the lens of being an individual's stat.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Many on this list weren't considered rookies during those seasons, which could be seen as strengthening Wolf's performance. However, I personally have an extremely hard time viewing wins through the lens of being an individual's stat.

I don't disagree, but you gotta play well at that age to earn enough starts to get that number of wins, which Wolf has.

It's an impressive group to be a part of, which was really my broader point. Hard to say if it's more or less impressive than what we've seen from Celebrini at 18, but they're both having terrific seasons.

 

[Bond]

Many on this list weren't considered rookies during those seasons, which could be seen as strengthening Wolf's performance. However, I personally have an extremely hard time viewing wins through the lens of being an individual's stat.

Just watch a Flames games and you will change your mind lol

 

[Bond]

This is the list of 23 & under goalies that have won 25+ games in a single season since the lockout:

View attachment 999722

That's a list of superstar goalies. 5 cup winners and 3 of the best goalies to never win the cup.

Too bad the Flames didn’t draft a young C with #1C upside. Parekh looks as deadly as prospect can and Wolf looks like he could be a star.

 

[CDN24]

He's a goalie. When was the last time an 18 yr old goalie has done what Wolf has done? I honestly don't know but I would 'guess' the answer is closer to zero (i.e. no-one).

Just as D's take longer to breakout in the NHL, so do goalies.

Tom Barasso drafted by Buffalo in 1983 draft, won the Calder and vezina for his 83-84 season

I agree though- rare for a goalie to play the year he is drafted

 

[Frank Drebin]

Too bad the Flames didn’t draft a young C with #1C upside. Parekh looks as deadly as prospect can and Wolf looks like he could be a star.

wolf most definitely will be a star

 

[FerrisRox]

He's a goalie. When was the last time an 18 yr old goalie has done what Wolf has done? I honestly don't know but I would 'guess' the answer is closer to zero (i.e. no-one).

Tom Barrasso won the Vezina as an 18-year old straight out of High School hockey.

 

[hockfan1991]

Hutson wins in a walk. It’s not that close tbh. The only thing making it close on these boards is the deep hatred for the Habs as everyone suffers from
SmAll Guy syndrome.

Lane has it in the bag

This is just not true. It hasnt been a walk all season. Whoever does win, it will not be a walk between Hutson celebrini, it is a close race and the votes will show that in end regardless of who wins. It has nothing to do about the Habs or fanbase, it just living in reality. The fact that anything is still possible in the next month with the race so close. To say its over is just silly.

Your avatar should be Homer Simpson.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

I'd never even heard that every single hockey fan alive hates the Habs till this thread. I can't even come up with a reason why, but I suppose it has to be true

 

[Bounces R Way]

Hard to compete with this kind of aura, feel a little bad for the other candidates

 

[The Last Red]

Yeah, some people here are either trolling or insane.

You can be both.

 

[The Last Red]

The 12 games wouldnt change the fact that hutson's ppg as a defensemen is much more impressive than Cele's ppg as a forward.

They’re both excellent players but Hutson’s production as a rookie D is near historical, while Celebrini’s as a forward is nowhere near historical. I believe that matters.

 

[wetcoast]

View attachment 999785

All 5 guys are in the same division, that's pretty kewl.

 

[pepperMonkey]

Tom Barasso drafted by Buffalo in 1983 draft, won the Calder and vezina for his 83-84 season

I agree though- rare for a goalie to play the year he is drafted

Tom Barrasso won the Vezina as an 18-year old straight out of High School hockey.

Ah, yes, Barasso. Damn, Buffalo did have some incredible goalies over the years.

 

[pepperMonkey]

All 5 guys are in the same division, that's pretty kewl.

Until you mentioned it, never realized that...

 

[Barrie22]

Ah, yes, Barasso. Damn, Buffalo did have some incredible goalies over the years.

To bad they never could take advantage of any of it also. 9 vezina winners combined by the team. Would hope with that many top goalie seasons you would hope to have more then 2 cup finals appearances and 0 cups.

 

[Garbageyuk]

To bad they never could take advantage of any of it also. 9 vezina winners combined by the team. Would hope with that many top goalie seasons you would hope to have more then 2 cup finals appearances and 0 cups.

They should’ve won in ‘06; that was a Cup team if they could’ve stayed healthy.

 

[Zirakzigil]

This really shouldn't be complicated guys. When a rookie defenseman wins the scoring race, they win the Calder.

We can argue about who we would vote for, but if Hutson ends up the top scorer, history tells us he'll win it by a significant margin.


A 23 year old starting goalie who is top 10 in wins and save percentage is about as unique and impressive as a teenage #1C.

Unfortunately for Wolf and Celebrini, the criteria for the Calder is not 'the most unique and impressive rookie".

“The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player judged to be the most proficient in his first season, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.”

Too bad Hutson isn’t proficient at defending

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

“The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player judged to be the most proficient in his first season, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.”

Too bad Hutson isn’t proficient at defending

 

[Frank Drebin]

“The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player judged to be the most proficient in his first season, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.”

Too bad Hutson isn’t proficient at defending

give it a rest

 

[Stewie Griffin]

They’re both excellent players but Hutson’s production as a rookie D is near historical, while Celebrini’s as a forward is nowhere near historical. I believe that matters.

To be fair, Hutson is 13th all time in rookie dman points.

Celebrini is 16th in points by an 18 year old in history.

Celebrini has also missed 12 games. Hutson is much closer to a record/moving up the list.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

“The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player judged to be the most proficient in his first season, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.”

Too bad Hutson isn’t proficient at defending

He was brutal defensively for about a month as he was learning what he could get away with at this level. But has been just fine ever since.

Before Nov 7
3.51 xGA/60
39.3 xG%
-3.5 rel xG%

After Nov 7
2.71 xGA/60
53.3 xG%
+7.5 rel xG%

Despite that learning period, he still leads all Habs dmen with a +6 goal differential at 5v5, and he's third on the Habs in xG%.

Sure, he's not great defensively, and likely never will be, but he's been plenty proficient for a rookie defenseman with his unique offensive ability. And clearly, he more than makes up for any defensive shortcomings with his offensive game, as the numbers suggest.

How do you argue against a kid with elite production AND excellent underlying numbers, who also happens to lead all Habs dmen in 5v5 goal differential?

He should be the runaway Calder favorite at this point. The only reason people are still discussing it is because he's a small guy with no draft pedigree.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

With Torts gone is there enough time for Michkov to come back? lol

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Hard to compete with this kind of aura, feel a little bad for the other candidates

To the contrary..