There is no precedent. The most points is not who wins the award. If thats the case Yakupov should have won it his rookie year. The fact is, if mcdavid was 24 yrs old he would easily be the best player in the league let alone the top rookie. There needs to be some consideration for how old panarin is even though he is an elite player. As much as I think Mcdavid is by far the best player of the rookies, I think Ghost has had the toughest mountain to climb to get to where he is as a defenceman.
- benmacw

As you will note, my comment said McDavid should win it if he gets close in total points. That should have told you that I don't ascribe to "highest point total must win". But, if there is a wide gap between McDavid and Panarin or whoever ends up with the most points - then he shouldn't be considered.

How so? His possession numbers show a player who succeeds in pushing possession in his team's favour playing top-4 minutes (albeit sheltered top-4 minutes). He's even still a plus if you want to factor +/- into the equation. He's playing the hardest skating position on a team with minimal support (Streit aaaand... Gudas? Maybe Del Zotto?) and has been a major contributor in the turn-around of his team's season.

Panarin plays sheltered minutes on an elite team with tonnes of support (Toews, Kane, Hossa, now Ladd, etc) and pushes possession in his team's favour (as you'd expect). He does so play the easiest skating position, but has had a remarkable amount of success. His impact on his team's season is arguable as he's certainly been a major positive factor, but it's not like Chicago still wouldn't be an elite team without him is silly.
- MaximumBone

People say the same thing about Karlsson "his possession numbers" that's great if you have the puck. +/- is an irrelevant stat, I'm referring to corsi and fenwick. While it's true he is against top-lines and is still learning yada yada, numbers don't lie and he gives up a lot of shots. Most of defense is played without the puck, I think Ghost is very good but giving awards to defensemen for points is getting out of hand, the position has a name and it is not "guy who score the most from the back end". They don't just shelter his minutes, they shelter him from d-zone starts too which is telling. Parayko is the better all around d-man right now IMO. I think Ghost could develop into something special, as he has more defensive acumen then Karlsson/klingberg did as rookies I would say.

Any decent player with that much rest would be leading the league

Homers

Some great young(er) players in the league this year.
Gretzky was disqualified from winning the Calder because he played in a professional league the year before (WHA).

Doesn't Crosby have him beat by one point? as per the time this article was posted??

One needs to play at least close to a full season to be considered for an award.Those that can stay healthy deserve credit for that. Putting up points in bunches is easier when your legs are fresher. He's now scoring against other players who've been playing, often times every other day, while he's been sitting out injured. Not getting considered because of injury isn't a "punishment" for that player, it's extra points for those who've been battling through games all year long. Am I saying he doesn't have the skill to maintain it for a full season, absolutely not. I'm just saying we need to see it.
- GoHawks1

So much this. Stop perpetuating this crap Ek. Part of being the best is being able to do it for an entire season. Panarin, Eichel, Domi, Gostisbehere (even though he started a month later) are in this discussion.

So if a player goes on a 10 game point streak and gets injured for the rest of the season we should be considering him for some awards at the end of the year hey.... stupid

HE doesn't play D

Ghost is the calder

So if a player goes on a 10 game point streak and gets injured for the rest of the season we should be considering him for some awards at the end of the year hey.... stupid
- jessehub

Your example is completely irrelevant. McDavid will be playing over half the season.

Panarin should be disqualified. He's been a pro over in Russia since the end of 08-09 season. Hell, he played over a 100 pro games before McDavid even stepped into the OHL!

Now Gostisbehere on the other hand should absolutely be in the discussion. He does impress!

People talk about these awards like they matter...
- archromat

Most accurate comment on here^

Ek, remember when you used to do those streams with the different bloggers from here? Can you do one but invite Garth? That would be great. Love to hear his thoughts on all sorts of hockey topics.

I don't think you get the Calder for having the best February. McDavid has been good, but also fattening his point totals against some weak teams who are just going through the motions at this point.

Since his return

Feb 2 Columbus - 3 points
Feb 4 Ottawa - 2 points
Feb 11 Toronto - 5 points
Mar 1 Buffalo - 2 points
Mar 4 Columbus - 2 points

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he isn't a huge talent and that he wouldn't likely be the Calder front runner if had been healthy. I just think you have to consider that McDavid and the Oilers had some real bad defensive teams in that stretch. I just don't think you give a guy a pass and just assume how he would have produced when out with injury.

And his 2nd contract, he'll be a 7million dollar man. Which means, they'll be a few changes coming very soon with players & contracts in Edmonton.
- newmy

Lol. I love it. It's beautiful watching you cry all the time.

All this talk of "points." People, don't you know that points are irrelevant? Haven't we learned anything this week? Points, in fact all "results" are not important. Come back with some stats that aren't results based so we can have serious conversation about rookies.

He'll be a good 1-2 punch with Austin Mathews next season. And the next 4 first overalls the crack addicted, asleep at the switch hockey gods decide to reward this joke of a franchise!!

I think its a joke that a 24yr old, 7yr pro is considered for Calder. Even tho he is definitely a great player, gimme a break, he is no rookie.

I think its a joke that a 24yr old, 7yr pro is considered for Calder. Even tho he is definitely a great player, gimme a break, he is no rookie.
- ifiwasgm

File your complaint with the NHL.

I think its a joke that a 24yr old, 7yr pro is considered for Calder. Even tho he is definitely a great player, gimme a break, he is no rookie.
- ifiwasgm

When there's no clearly defined rule, it's kinda tough situation isn't it.

MLB awarded Ichiro, already a 9 year pro in Japan at the time, Rookie of the Year.

Surprised that people actually care about these individual awards. It's a team sport and all players mentioned in this thread are great.

Regardless of that, Panarin should win as the sample size of McDavid is just not representative (look at Dr Drai's start to the season and how he produces now). McDavid is probably the best player I've seen coming into the league but it is an award for best rookie of the season; that is clearly Panarin.

While this argument has some merit, it also lacks merit. Some, just not much.

Panarin is benefitting from playing with Kane. What you don't cite is that Kane is benefitting hugely from playing with Panarin. Panarin is the real deal, as are a handful of other players who really are probably close to be ing "rookies" than Panarin is, because he has played pro hockey for several years.

So, I personally think it would be fine if McDavid or Gostisbehere or someone else won it. But thats taking nothing from how good Panarin is and will become.
- John Jaeckel

Lawyer mode engaged:
To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.

We have an age cap, 26. The rules do not render age ambiguous. There is no instruction to consider professional experience outside of the NHL discernable in the rule, in fact it is exclusively NHL experience that is to be considered. Panarin is a rookie. Age is a factor in determining that status and he is properly identified as eligible for the Calder. To suggest that he be subjected to double consideration of his age is contrary to the rule which has elected a bright line cutoff. It is thoroughly improper for age to be considered when comparing rookies for the Calder because it has been considered in determining their rookie status. Those players eligible for Calder consideration are of a defined class and for the purposes of the award they are on equal footing whether 18 or 25. They are rookies, the Calder goes to the best rookie. The suggestion of EK and others is simply not appropriate and I think you guys know it.

Also, someone called McDavid Abrahsmson Christ "the best player in the NHL." This is a dumb statement.

Lawyer mode engaged:
To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons. Any player at least 26 years of age (by September 15th of that season) is not considered a rookie.

We have an age cap, 26. The rules do not render age ambiguous. There is no instruction to consider professional experience outside of the NHL discernable in the rule, in fact it is exclusively NHL experience that is to be considered. Panarin is a rookie. Age is a factor in determining that status and he is properly identified as eligible for the Calder. To suggest that he be subjected to double consideration of his age is contrary to the rule which has elected a bright line cutoff. It is thoroughly improper for age to be considered when comparing rookies for the Calder because it has been considered in determining their rookie status. Those players eligible for Calder consideration are of a defined class and for the purposes of the award they are on equal footing whether 18 or 25. They are rookies, the Calder goes to the best rookie. The suggestion of EK and others is simply not appropriate and I think you guys know it.

Also, someone called McDavid Abrahsmson Christ "the best player in the NHL." This is a dumb statement.
- WJDiedrich

IMO a player who has played 2yrs pro should not qualify as a rookie, including AHL(pro league).
For an 18-22 yr old kid that has never played pro, its alot tougher to exceed in a mens League.

Larkin
Eichel
McDavid
Reinhart
Ehlers
Bennet
Domi

That who should be fighting it out as a true rookie IMO

A lot of these replies just reek of North American bias. I mean this whole man among boys argument.

Former Calder winners:

Dryden, age 24
Hall, age 24
Hay, age 24
Belfour, age 25
Espositio, age 26

But, hey those are some good old Canadian boys....

My current vote (not like i have one though)

1. Pananin
2. McDavid
3. Ghost