As February looms just around the corner, and nearly two-thirds of the 2009-10 season is in the books, early candidates for the NHL's annual awards are beginning to come into focus. This year's battle for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's rookie of the year, should be a compelling one. With each of the top four picks from the 2009 draft getting full-time duty in their first campaign, and a number of skilled players from previous drafts emerging, there has been an injection of elite talent into the NHL ranks.
Here are my top five candidates to take home the Calder Trophy when the 2009-10 season is all said and done.
Note: Due to an age cut-off set by the league two decades ago, Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi does not qualify for a nomination.
#5 JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK - Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
KEY STATS - 48 GP, 12 G, 18 A, 30 PTS, +6, 6 GWG
No one needs to look any further than the final key stat to know what kind of an impact van Riemsdyk has had in his rookie year in Philly. The winger has been as clutch as it gets, with literally half of his 12 goals being of the game-winning variety (3rd in the NHL). What's even more impressive about the former UNH star is the level at which he has capitalized on limited ice time.
Despite only clocking in at just over 13 minutes-per-game, the 20-year-old forward has 30 points, tying him for third in that category among rookies. After going ice cold in December, registering just a single goal and no assists in 15 contests, van Riemsdyk has picked up the pace again in January. The New Jersey native has 5-5-10 totals in 12 games thus far in 2010.
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#4 JIMMY HOWARD - Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings
KEY STATS: 35 GP, 18-11-5, 2.30 GAA, .924%, 1 SO
At this point in the season, Howard is likely the only rookie netminder to earn consideration for the award. At 18-11-5, the 25-year-old has taken the starting duties from Chris Osgood and performed tremendously well as the Wings vie for a playoff spot out West. Howard, who started a total of just 13 games in the first two months of the year, has the 9th best GAA (2.30) and 6th best Sv% (.924%) among all goaltenders.
His playing time was finally elevated in December, and the former 2003 2nd round pick has shined brightly as the go-to goaltender in Detroit. Howard sported a 1.90 GAA in 11 starts last month, and possesses a .930 Sv% in 11 starts thus far in January. His rock solid play will be a big boost as Hockeytown hopes the Red Wings can pick up the pace in the second half.
The appointed savior, 19-year-old rookie John Tavares has stepped in and delivered for the upstart Isles. Tavares, the first overall pick in the draft last summer, currently ranks first in goals and second in points among rookies. His 4:00+ minutes-per-game of PP time have been fairly productive, as Tavares also has the edge on his fellow newcomers in PP points. To his credit, Tavares has been whistles for just six minor penalties on the year, a pretty impressive feat for a rookie logging 18:04 of ice time.
Tavares has slowed a bit, notably in January during which he has a modest line of 1-4-5 in 11 games. Prior to that, the highly-hyped center had 16 goals and 28 points in 42 games.
While Tavares has hit a lull since the calendar turned to 2010, Colorado's Matt Duchene has caught fire. Selected third overall in 2009, Duchene sits in 2nd in goals behind Tavares, but has recently surpassed the Isles' star to take the lead in points among rookies. The 5'11" pivot has steadily improved month-by-month as his overall game has begun to round into form. After a 5-8-13 December (14 games), Duchene has five goals and two assists in nine January games. If he can maintain this level of production over the last 30 games, all of Duchene's fellow rookies will be distant objects in his rear-view mirror.
Of note, the 18-year-old forward is +3 this month after sporting a -10 coming into the calendar year. His faceoff numbers have improved and his defensive game has been on the rise as the Avs look to stun all of the pre-season predictors by capturing the Northwest Division.
It is often said that defenseman take years to develop. Look no further than the list of Calder Trophy winners over the past 30 years for evidence. Since Ray Bourque was honored in 1979-80, only four blueliners have been named as the league's rookie of the year. Enter Tyler Myers, the 19-year old Sabres' d-man well ahead of the curve, poised to raise that total up to five. Selected 12th overall in 2008, Myers' 30 points have him tied for third in points among all rookies. He is the leader among rookies in assists.
But Myers, a 6'8" giant from Texas, hasn't just been an offensive juggernaut. Buffalo's blueliner has 90 blocked shots, 29 more than any other rookie. He is tied with Toni Lydman with 56 hits, tops among Buffalo's defenseman. He has stepped in, at his young age, and logged a team high 23:25 per game. The former WHL star has nine points, six coming on the PP, in 13 games in January. Barring an unforeseen injury or significant slump, the Calder Trophy seems destined to be awarded to a Sabre for the first time since Tom Barasso earned the honor back in 1983-84.
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