HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Midseason Calder Trophy picks

Three years in a row with a Calder candidate (Boeser, Pettersson, Hughes) does make for an exciting future in Vancity. Next year we may have another one on our hands.(Hoglander)

Things are looking good out on the best coast.

The boring truth is it’s not only all about points. Too simplistic of a view imo so I go along with Todd. Call me a homer idc but Hughes has had the far greater impact.

both are fantastic players, and both deserve nominations for their strong play.

the people who vote for the award will never vote based on "expected goals"

the people who vote for the award will never vote based on "expected goals"
- jimbro83

this, as analytics show an entirely different side of a defenseman, unfortunately underlying stats will always take a back seat to goals, assists, points, +/-, flashiness, etc.

VO has more points and its not even close? really?

VO has more points and its not even close? really?
- scol354412

3 more points in 7 more games, and one is a dman?

when looking at production, no, not close.

But really...what does Tanner think?

Tanner?
Shhhhhhhh! He hasn't woken up yet 🤫🤫🤫

The boring truth is it’s not only all about points. Too simplistic of a view imo so I go along with Todd. Call me a homer idc but Hughes has had the far greater impact.
- Nighthawk

How do you know how big of an impact Makar has on the Avalanche? How many Avs games have you watched? This is a big reason why the awards are mostly meaningless anyway. No one is watching everyone every night.

Points and reputation are all that really matter and that's the best they can do. Advanced stats is a terrible metric to be using to judge who's had a better year.

The boring truth is it’s not only all about points. Too simplistic of a view imo so I go along with Todd. Call me a homer idc but Hughes has had the far greater impact.
- Nighthawk

okay, we will.

How do you know how big of an impact Makar has on the Avalanche? How many Avs games have you watched? This is a big reason why the awards are mostly meaningless anyway. No one is watching everyone every night.

Points and reputation are all that really matter and that's the best they can do. Advanced stats is a terrible metric to be using to judge who's had a better year.
- Hunkulese

this isn't true, its just one metric to judge.
judging a defenseman strictly by points and "reputation" (whatever that means) is silly. We all know how these trophies are voted for anyway, and that advanced stats have little to no effect on the outcome, but the bold above is silly. Best Defenseman for the calender year is the one with the most points? C'mon.

this isn't true, its just one metric to judge.
judging a defenseman strictly by points and "reputation" (whatever that means) is silly. We all know how these trophies are voted for anyway, and that advanced stats have little to no effect on the outcome, but the bold above is silly. Best Defenseman for the calender year is the one with the most points? C'mon.
- Codes1087

true. It may be correct in this case, but not always. Erik Karlsson always scored a lot of points, but he was nowhere near the best dman.

How do you know how big of an impact Makar has on the Avalanche? How many Avs games have you watched? This is a big reason why the awards are mostly meaningless anyway. No one is watching everyone every night.

Points and reputation are all that really matter and that's the best they can do. Advanced stats is a terrible metric to be using to judge who's had a better year.
- Hunkulese

Hughes has the Canucks pushing for a PO spot & has the PP clicking. You telling me that isn't impact or Makar stirs the Av’s drink & they cannot win without him.

I never referred to metrics btw.

Hughes has the Canucks pushing for a PO spot & has the PP clicking. You telling me that isn't impact or Makar stirs the Av’s drink & they cannot win without him.

I never referred to metrics btw.
- Nighthawk

I had no idea guys like Pettersson, Boeser, et al, were so useless this year that Hughes was the one driving the Canucks to the heights of one of the better non-playoff teams.

Good info, thanks.

Hughes has the Canucks pushing for a PO spot & has the PP clicking. You telling me that isn't impact or Makar stirs the Av’s drink & they cannot win without him.

I never referred to metrics btw.
- Nighthawk

The Canucks added a lot more than the Avs did during the offseason. The Avs were also extremely lucky to make the playoffs last year with a laughable 90 points. Now they're in the mix to win the West and have the best goal differential in the league.

I have no idea who is more impactful for their team because 95% of the hockey I watch is the Flames. You know how impactful Hughes is, but you really have no idea how impactful Makar is.

true. It may be correct in this case, but not always. Erik Karlsson always scored a lot of points, but he was nowhere near the best dman.
- prock

exactly

im not trying to make a case for Hughes > Makar. I am just simply saying that point totals should in no way equate to how good a defenseman is. Makar is probably the easy frontrunner right now, hes having an incredible season and is a heck of a player.

Hughes has the Canucks pushing for a PO spot & has the PP clicking. You telling me that isn't impact or Makar stirs the Av’s drink & they cannot win without him.

I never referred to metrics btw.
- Nighthawk

you are a homer though after all

exactly

im not trying to make a case for Hughes > Makar. I am just simply saying that point totals should in no way equate to how good a defenseman is. Makar is probably the easy frontrunner right now, hes having an incredible season and is a heck of a player.
- Codes1087

There's not really a better way to pick the award unless all the voters somehow manipulate time to watch the majority of everyone's games.

The awards are dumb.

The Canucks added a lot more than the Avs did during the offseason. The Avs were also extremely lucky to make the playoffs last year with a laughable 90 points. Now they're in the mix to win the West.

I have no idea who is more impactful for their team because 95% of the hockey I watch is the Flames. You know how impactful Hughes is, but you really have no idea how impactful Makar is.
- Hunkulese

Myers/Benn/Miller/Hughes/Fantenburg/Ferland(injured)

Kadri/Nichushkin/Burakovsky/Donskoi/Makar/Graves/Francouz

There's not really a better way to pick the award unless all the voters somehow manipulate time to watch the majority of everyone's games.

The awards are dumb.
- Hunkulese

never said they weren't

and i completely understand how these votes are made in regards to defenseman, i am just simply countering your points on advanced stats and metrics to what makes a defenseman have a good year

never said they weren't

and i completely understand how these votes are made in regards to defenseman, i am just simply countering your points on advanced stats and metrics to what makes a defenseman have a good year
- Codes1087

If a defenceman plays for a coach that wants them to shoot at the first opportunity better than a defenceman that plays for a coach that wants them to pass more to create better opportunities?

Different systems can have major impacts on players' advanced stats and that doesn't really tell you anything about how good a defenceman is.

If a defenceman plays for a coach that wants them to shoot at the first opportunity better than a defenceman that plays for a coach that wants them to pass more to create better opportunities?

Different systems can have major impacts on players' advanced stats and that doesn't really tell you anything about how good a defenceman is.
- Hunkulese

are we really going to get into how coaches/systems/teammates/jersey colors/whether a player has had lasik eye surgery really play into what makes a defenseman either a norris or calder candidate? I really don't have the time or patience if this is the road this conversation is going down.

Makar.

Yep.