Epic Calder Race 2024-25

[sbhnur]

Michkov with 7 points in 3 games (4g, 3a) since he was freed from the old stubborn egomaniac. Seems like he's feeling good right now.

 

[Acallabeth]

Like the analytic that he is 4th in the NHL in takeaways.

Like Erik Karlsson level of defense, who was always near the top of the list in take-aways.

You're ruining your own point saying that Hutson is 'as good as Erik Karlsson' on defense

More so aimed at the Russian/flyer fans. I’m just curious where they stand

What answer are you expecting? Of course Michkov, who will be the best player in the world one day.

Celebrini all day, every day and twice on Sunday. The sort of player you win cups with.

2 way center for sure

And still Phil Kessel has won more cups than any post-lockout Selke Trophy winner except for Toews.
Patrick Kane, Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen etc. are the prime examples that you win with high scoring wingers.
And let's be reality, the sort of player you win cups with is a hot goalie

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

You're ruining your own point saying that Hutson is 'as good as Erik Karlsson' on defense

What answer are you expecting? Of course Michkov, who will be the best player in the world one day.



And still Phil Kessel has won more cups than any post-lockout Selke Trophy winner except for Toews.
Patrick Kane, Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen etc. are the prime examples that you win with high scoring wingers.
And let's be reality, the sort of player you win cups with is a hot goalie

Oh you mean you don't win with undersized defensemen who play like a 4th forward and get caved in on a nightly basis in their own end? I agree with you good sir.

 

[karltonian]

And still Phil Kessel has won more cups than any post-lockout Selke Trophy winner except for Toews.
Patrick Kane, Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen etc. are the prime examples that you win with high scoring wingers.
And let's be reality, the sort of player you win cups with is a hot goalie

Every one of those Cups was won with a high end 2 way center driving the bus.

Almost every Selke winner is a Cup winner, far more Art Ross winners never won Cups in the last 30 or so years (3 vs 7).

 

[Acallabeth]

Every one of those Cups was won with a high end 2 way center driving the bus.

In fact, most of those Cups were won with a high end scoring winger driving the bus as much or more.

Kane was generally better than Toews in RS, playoffs and finals, Ovechkin better than Backstrom (who wasn't even the Caps #1C in the Cup run, notably unimpressive 2-way player Kuznetsov was), Kucherov has obviously been the best Bolts forward, and OK, MackKinnon is better than Rantanen, but their playoff scoring is nearly identical. Pittsburgh won 3 Cups with Crosby and Malkin, both mostly offensive centers (don't get me started on Crosby's defense).

There have been examples of great 2-way 1C leading their teams to success, like Kopitar. But some are not (like Matthews). Saying that 'you win Cups with 2-way centers' is at best an oversimplification and at worst incorrect. The Cups aren't won by players of particular style, they are won by well-constructed teams that have their share of good luck. High scoring elite winger is proven to be a huge asset that definitely helps to win Cups, and it surprises me to see such overconfident takes when neither Michkov nor Celebrini are anywhere close to their full potential.

Edit: but Hutson is

 

[Lshap]

it surprises me to see such overconfident takes when neither Michkov nor Celebrini are anywhere close to their full potential.

Edit: but Hutson is

Projecting the potential of rookies is a fun guessing-game, but the Calder isn't awarded based on 'potential', but rather on actual results.

I'm sure you'll agree this is been an exceptional year for rookie results, with four stellar candidates who, in any other year, would each be no-brainer winners. However, if I had to choose one, it would be the kid defenseman whose rookie season is shaping up to be, quite literally, historic.

No slight to Celebrini, Michkov or Wolf, who are fantastic players.

 

[Acallabeth]

I'm sure you'll agree this is been an exceptional year for rookie results, with four stellar candidates who, in any other year, would each be no-brainer winners. However, if I had to choose one, it would be the kid defenseman whose rookie season is shaping up to be, quite literally, historic.

Sure, even if Hutson only has 5 goals (which signals that he's a very important, but still complementary player on a strong offensive group), he's bound to be the favorite.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sure, even if Hutson only has 5 goals (which signals that he's a very important, but still complementary player on a strong offensive group), he's bound to be the favorite.

That's not at all what that signals lol

 

[Lshap]

Sure, even if Hutson only has 5 goals (which signals that he's a very important, but still complementary player on a strong offensive group), he's bound to be the favorite.

Is it really necessary to point out for the thousandth time that a defenseman with 59 assists (and counting) is much more than 'complementary'?

 

[Essenege]

Only if you add “and the NHL’s worst d-man”.

You mean this Lane Hutson? Since the 4Nations break he’s over performing everybody on the Habs defensively by far. 1.37 GA/60 and 2.32 expected. And that is, playing a lot of unsheltered minutes.

He’s putting the whole narrative that he’s bad defensively to rest pretty fast.

He cuts so many zone entries it’s ridiculous. 3rd in takeovers amongst defensemen.

Maybe it’s not the 1st guy you want in front of the net when the other team his cycling BUT the opposing team have a lot more trouble establishing that cycle offense when he’s on the ice.

 

[Essenege]

If only everyone posted like they might be wrong one day, instead of like they're definitely right and everyone else is dumb.

This!

Especially when posting on another team’s player you barely watch. I’ve commented fairly often on Hutson but on Michkov/Celebrinl/Wolf, I’m happy to read other posters and shut my damn mouth

 

[luiginb]

Sharks fans were a lot nicer

Most of us also watched Hutson a ton last year and took a liking to him, so we're not going to call him "Gostisbehere" because we know that's just not true. Right now he's my Calder winner too.

 

[EveryDay]

Oh you mean you don't win with undersized defensemen who play like a 4th forward and get caved in on a nightly basis in their own end? I agree with you good sir.

Its still better than a selfish midget winger who can't play any defence.

Flyers were better last year without that cancer in their lineup.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

You mean this Lane Hutson? Since the 4Nations break he’s over performing everybody on the Habs defensively by far. 1.37 GA/60 and 2.32 expected. And that is, playing a lot of unsheltered minutes.

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He’s putting the whole narrative that he’s bad defensively to rest pretty fast.

He cuts so many zone entries it’s ridiculous. 3rd in takeovers amongst defensemen.

Maybe it’s not the 1st guy you want in front of the net when the other team his cycling BUT the opposing team have a lot more trouble establishing that cycle offense when he’s on the ice.

And he's playing on his offside

 

[Acallabeth]

Is it really necessary to point out for the thousandth time that a defenseman with 59 assists (and counting) is much more than 'complementary'?

I'm not sure why you guys are instantly all defensive about it.
Hutson isn't a goal scoring threat and isn't his team's main primary points producer. Doesn't mean he is a bad player.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'm not sure why you guys are instantly all defensive about it.
Hutson isn't a goal scoring threat and isn't his team's main primary points producer. Doesn't mean he is a bad player.

Yeah it's so weird how Caufield and Suzuki are having career years , must just be a coincidence!

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I don't see any legitimate argument against Hutson. Especially with how he's played down the stretch, when the Habs have needed him the most. He's been dominating possession for the last 2 months, with a 59.3% xG share in his last 20 games...

He’s putting the whole narrative that he’s bad defensively to rest pretty fast.

He cuts so many zone entries it’s ridiculous. 3rd in takeovers amongst defensemen.

Maybe it’s not the 1st guy you want in front of the net when the other team his cycling BUT the opposing team have a lot more trouble establishing that cycle offense when he’s on the ice.

Yeah, precisely this.

I do think he will struggle more against better competition, who are just more competent at gaining the zone. But a lot of defending is just keeping the puck out of your zone, and he does that really well.

He's a guy you probably want to keep off the ice vs the other team's top offensive units, but it's not like you have to gameplan around that fact, as he's still not a huge liability or anything. Pair him with a heavier defensive partner who can interrupt the cycle and defend the front of the net.

 

[Lshap]

I'm not sure why you guys are instantly all defensive about it.
Hutson isn't a goal scoring threat and isn't his team's main primary points producer. Doesn't mean he is a bad player.

Pointing out that 59 assists isn't 'complementary' isn't being defensive, anymore than pointing out that today isn't Saturday. It's a straightforward observation.

'Defensive' is the need to gloss over Hutson's extraordinary numbers and write make-believe descriptions like "Complementary" and "Not a bad player".

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I'm not sure why you guys are instantly all defensive about it.
Hutson isn't a goal scoring threat and isn't his team's main primary points producer. Doesn't mean he is a bad player.

In his rookie season, Hughes had 20 A1s in 68 games. Hutson has 23 in 73 games, which is a slightly higher A1/g ratio.

They were both catalysts for their offense because they handled the transition.

 

[ps241]

Not sure why we're discounting Wolf in all of this. Among goalies with 30+ games played he's 8th in the league in goals saved above average. 2024-25 NHL Goalie Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

That's ahead of guys like Shesterkin, Ullmark, Bobrovsky. His backup Vladar is in the negative in GSAA.

All four of these young men are having great seasons. It’s going to be interesting to see who wins. Too bad this is voted on by the Professional Hockey writers association. Seems like a very flawed way to decide anything.

 

[Jabba11]

I don’t know man. He’s just too cocky. I’m all about his play and all, but look at that face, you know he’s a cocky SOB.

 

[EveryDay]

I don’t know man. He’s just too cocky. I’m all about his play and all, but look at that face, you know he’s a cocky SOB.

That's the cockiest 12 years old face I've ever seen!

 

[SallyBalls]

Can someone make an Epic Norris race thread....

 

[Frank Drebin]

You're ruining your own point saying that Hutson is 'as good as Erik Karlsson' on defense

What answer are you expecting? Of course Michkov, who will be the best player in the world one day.



And still Phil Kessel has won more cups than any post-lockout Selke Trophy winner except for Toews.
Patrick Kane, Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen etc. are the prime examples that you win with high scoring wingers.
And let's be reality, the sort of player you win cups with is a hot goalie

Well then i take pat maroon

 

[Hockeypete49]

No matter who gets the Calder I am just so glad the Flyers drafted Matvei. He is playing great and if he had better line mates all season and a #1C no telling where he would be on the list. Just last night he should have had at least two more points. It's like that almost every game! Thank you Kent Hughes.