Will NA public and experts complain again, when a KHLer wins Calder in 2026?

[Kshahdoo]

It looks like the main contenders for the award are Nikishin, Shabanov and Demidov. So pretty possible that we will again hear complaints about KHL stars beating poor NA kids in the competition for the Calder.

 

[Thirty Seven]

 

[DearDiary]

What complaints are you referring to? Overage players like Panarin coming from the KHL and beating on junior league players?

 

[BruinLVGA]

Mkay.

 

[SharksFan1992]

It looks like the main contenders for the award are Nikishin, Shabanov and Demidov. So pretty possible that we will again hear complaints about KHL stars beating poor NA kids in the competition for Calder.

Maybe just my experience, but people don't care. Hockey fans know Russia produces great players. Always have.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Maybe just my experience, but people don't care. Hockey fans know Russia produces great players. Always have.

Exactly this. The only time I can ever remember hearing complaints was for Sergei Makarov, which was a looooooooong time ago.... and I think they changed the eligibility rule appropriately after that.

 

[Nocashstyle]

No one cares, homie.

 

[Derailed75]

As a Canes fan I will be actively rooting for Nikishin to win the Calder.

For general info
I was born in Ohio and have lived in the US south for most of my life, I am an US Military veteran, and have a US flag proudly flying from my porch.

I think your narrative is slightly off

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Nobody complains about this lol , maybe if Demidov was 24 they would

 

[LOFIN]

Considering how NA hockey media and hockey fans were ass-kissing Ovechkin all year long in his chase for the record, I don't think the media and public is going to have an issue if a Russian player wins the Calder.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

as long as he's not 30 years old I dont think anyone will complain

 

[M88K]

All things being equal nobody cares, if they're Russian/KHL.

If player a produces 30g-80p is a 24yr old Russian KHL star
and player b is at 29g-75p is a 19yr old
You might hear something about a 24yr old winning it over the 19yr old, which is a valid take, especially if the 24yr old has a few years of pro experience in the KHL but it will most often be fans of the team the 19yr old plays for.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

Devils have Gritsyuk joining the team this season. He was drafted in the same year as Jack Hughes and has been playing in the KHL since. Played on ska with demidov and nikishin last year and finished 4 points behind demidov for team scoring lead in 16 less games. Devils are really hoping he comes in as a fully finished product and can surprised some people this season, it would be great to have an older rookie who everyone complains about.

 

[JoVel]

Some people sure like to victimize themselves.

 

[Kshahdoo]

No one cares, homie.

Lol really? Nobody cared when Panarin won it over McDavid? Nobody cared when Kaprizov won it? You should probably check HF back to those seasons...

 

[Golden_Jet]

Apparently only kshado is worried, like usual the poster makes a thread about the poor Russians, and blames Canadian media usually.
No one cares what nationality wins dude, the only debate is who is the better player, has ZERO to do with nationality

 

[Fatass]

It looks like the main contenders for the award are Nikishin, Shabanov and Demidov. So pretty possible that we will again hear complaints about KHL stars beating poor NA kids in the competition for the Calder.

Is Nikishin inside the age limit for Calder?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Apparently only kshado is worried, like usual the poster makes a thread about the poor Russians, and blames Canadian media usually.
No one cares what nationality wins dude, the only debate is who is the better player, has ZERO to do with nationality

Lol, worried. This is the thing I worry the least about, I'm just feeling irony.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Lol really? Nobody cared when Panarin won it over McDavid? Nobody cared when Kaprizov won it? You should probably check HF back to those seasons...

Straight up no one cared they were Russian. Some might have cared that they were 6 years older than their competition. But that doesn’t fit your manufactured narrative so I’m sure you’ll come back with some nonsense.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Lol, worried. This is the thing I worry the least about, I'm just feeling irony.

Well enjoy that lonely island then.

 

[coooldude]

Lame trolls gonna lame troll.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Can probably close this thread, Kshado monthly troll thread at North Americans.

 

[ManofSteel55]

There will always be a few people who trot out the "but they've played pro already and are older, so they aren't deserving" arguments, but those are in the extreme minority, and I don't think you can say that its the predominant opinion among North American fans or media personalities. Sometimes media will bring stuff like this up just to stir the pot and have something to talk about, but I don't think its a common belief that former KHL'ers winning the Calder is unfair.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Lol really? Nobody cared when Panarin won it over McDavid? Nobody cared when Kaprizov won it? You should probably check HF back to those seasons...

Yeah nobody cared that they were russian lol stop being a victim , most NHL fans I know love elite russian players. You're inventing a non existing narrative

 

[Dirtyclapper]

I will care!!



(No I won't)