Colin Dambrauskas: Calder Trophy Favorites Rookie of the Year

I did the same thing with ekblad. then as soon as I saw Forsberg hitting the score sheet a few nights in a row I picked him up and he was GOLD this season.

Not even a mention of Klingberg, he won't win the Calder but with all the fantasy talk he's got to be as good a choice as Ekblad.

Deep crop of kids just figure the Klingon should be in the conversation.

Klingberg deserves some serious credit, he is averaging 7 seconds less than Ekblad a night playing on a much worse D core. He also has the same amount of goals and 3 more points despite playing in 10 less games. He is also the only + player on that defense who has played at least 30 games.

All that said Gaudreau should win it, he has had the biggest impact on any of the rosters imo.

Hoffman and Stone also deserve some serious props.

Homer!

I thought Gibson was a lock for it as well, hell the way he played last season maybe even the Vezina! He's starting to come around, I would be drafting him early next year!

Klingberg deserves some serious credit, he is averaging 7 seconds less than Ekblad a night playing on a much worse D core. He also has the same amount of goals and 3 more points despite playing in 10 less games. He is also the only + player on that defense who has played at least 30 games.

All that said Gaudreau should win it, he has had the biggest impact on any of the rosters imo.

Hoffman and Stone also deserve some serious props.
- belcherbd

This was a hell of a rookie class no doubt. Kevin hayes, Anders lee, victor rask to an extent as well all deserve some credit. All hockey fans should be excited for all the talent that we'll be watching for the next 10+ years.

ekblad is fantastic but i'm obviously going with the homer pick. so much talk about ekblad having the "nhl body" before the season, which is a big asset for a guy playing a really tough position and playing it well, but johnny had to come in and adjust to the game with very much a non-nhl body. he's had very few stretches of not being productive, and is on the first line of a team that shouldn't have been in the playoff race. forsberg is awesome. klingon is great. lots of solid rookies this year.

go johnny go.

If you take Forsberg away from the Preds they would still be good, if you took Ekblad away from the Panthers they would still suck. If you took Gaudreau away from the Flames they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are. That's why Gaudreau would get my vote, and not just because I like the Flames.

If you take Forsberg away from the Preds they would still be good, if you took Ekblad away from the Panthers they would still suck. If you took Gaudreau away from the Flames they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are. That's why Gaudreau would get my vote, and not just because I like the Flames.
- The-O-G

Rookie of the year is not MVP. It doesn't matter what their respective teams would or wouldn't do without them. Ekblad is the pick, I don't really see it being all that close.

Forsberg and Gaudreau are worthy, but Ekblad has a harder position to play and has excelled all year long, as well as put up a respectable number of points for any defenseman. Not just a rookie one.

Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman have had better 2nd halfs than all three from my (homer) perspective. They played less under coach MacLean and weren't as productive, but under Cameron they are flying and are even dominant at times. Granted they aren't as young, but I'd say their value is right up there with the others.

Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman have had better 2nd halfs than all three from my (homer) perspective. They played less under coach MacLean and weren't as productive, but under Cameron they are flying and are even dominant at times. Granted they aren't as young, but I'd say their value is right up there with the others.
- AlfieFever

Who gives a poop how old they are. The rule says if they're under 25 and played less than 25 games in any one given nhl season, they're a rookie. Someone is always going to b!tch about who should/ should've won, someone is always going to disagree, its ridiculous. I hate the commenters on nhl.com. The most uneducated group of hockey fans you'll ever see. Incessantly female doging about something. But yeah lots of candidates, I think of all them- Forsberg, johnny g, ekblad, and Hoffman are all equally deserving with stone, lee, klingberg in a tier below them.

If you take Forsberg away from the Preds they would still be good, if you took Ekblad away from the Panthers they would still suck. If you took Gaudreau away from the Flames they wouldn't be anywhere near where they are. That's why Gaudreau would get my vote, and not just because I like the Flames.
- The-O-G

That's impossible to say. Agree Gaudreau has had one hell of a season but Forsberg is a primary weapon for one of the best teams in the NHL. Nashville is extremely thin on forward. gaudreau has guys like Hudler and Monahan who are still putting up pretty good numbers as well.

As for Ekblad, the team like Calgary is right there in a playoff push and Ekblad is one of the main reasons. He's + 11 on a team where 16 starters are in the minus. And he's leading the team in scoring among Dmen. They are where they are because of Ekblad. Remove him and they would be a bottom feeder.

It's a 3 player race and you can argue for an against the three of them.

Colin Dambrauskas: Calder Trophy Favorites
Rookie of the Year
- Colin_Dambrauskas

Oscar Klefbom

Rookie of the year is not MVP. It doesn't matter what their respective teams would or wouldn't do without them. Ekblad is the pick, I don't really see it being all that close.

Forsberg and Gaudreau are worthy, but Ekblad has a harder position to play and has excelled all year long, as well as put up a respectable number of points for any defenseman. Not just a rookie one.
- eichiefs9

I agree it's not, but I think Gaudreau has had the biggest impact for his team amongst all rookies. They Flames were picked to finish dead last in the NHL this year, and they are currently fighting to finish as high as 2nd in the pacific. Gaudreau has been a HUGE part of this (not to mention he leads all rookies in scoring). Sounds like a recipe for the Calder to me

I've been incredibly impressed with anders lee, but even though I'm an Isles fan I can see there's a ton of good young rookies who have had better stats this season. Good crop of rookies!

Colin

MA boy!

wrong blog

No love for Bo Horvat? Just an honourable mention would have been good enough.

Dave tallin acquires a stud with his 1st overall last year. Eats a lot minutes and can score. Remind me of a bigger Scott niedimyer! Has a die hard flames fan being only one of twenty people who live in calgary and are actually born and raised ...It would by great for his career to have that on his resume. Such a humble kid. Met him a few around hanging with bouma and mony and the casino and he's always got time to talk to fans

No love for Bo Horvat? Just an honourable mention would have been good enough.
- Beatle_john

yeah the guy who has set the hockey world on fire with his 23 point year. Horvat is not even mentioned because he has about 1/3 the amount of points the top rookies have. Not a single non-canuck fan would even consider throwing him in the mix

Rookie of the year is not MVP. It doesn't matter what their respective teams would or wouldn't do without them. Ekblad is the pick, I don't really see it being all that close.

Forsberg and Gaudreau are worthy, but Ekblad has a harder position to play and has excelled all year long, as well as put up a respectable number of points for any defenseman. Not just a rookie one.
- eichiefs9

If it's going to be a defenseman it should be Klingberg over Ekblad IMO. Averages just 10 seconds less per game, has more points in 16 less games. Plays on Dallas, who's D is god awful and is still a + player.

If it's going to be a defenseman it should be Klingberg over Ekblad IMO. Averages just 10 seconds less per game, has more points in 16 less games. Plays on Dallas, who's D is god awful and is still a + player.
- FinAddict

Klingberg has been good i agree

ekblad was doing much better up until 3-4 weeks ago, hes slowed down production wise

Klingberg has been good i agree

ekblad was doing much better up until 3-4 weeks ago, hes slowed down production wise
- Lucas Neilson

He has flown under the radar all season long, fantastic young defenseman.

I agree with you though, if I had a vote I'd be voting for Gaudreau.