The Race For The Calder

[doniceage]

by Russ_Cohen on Sun, 02/21/2010 - 15:23
There are still a lot of hockey games to be played but I thought it would be fun to give a list of my top ten Calder Candidates as it stands right now. My preseason pick was John Tavares.

1) Buffalo – Defense – Tyler Myers – He’s a plus player in his rookie season!
2) Colorado – Forward – Matt Duchene – He’s leading his team in goals.
3) Islanders – Forward - John Tavares – He’s on pace for 20-something goals.
4) Flyers – Forward - James van Riemsdyk – He’s tied for the rookie lead with six GWG.

http://www.sportsology.info/node/14913

[cnshockey]

It's a 1 man race. It's duchenes to lose and he won't

[Spaltung]

It's a 1 man race. It's duchenes to lose and he won't

I don't think that he is the clear-cut winner. Myers is definitely in the conversation as well.

[mrbungle]

I think that Myers is really a benefactor of being on an already developed Buffalo team that has the best goalie in the NHL behind him. Duchene got onto an Avalanche team that sucked last year and helped them be one of the success stories of 2009-10.

I would say that Duchene and Rask (I'm surprised he's not on that list) have a good chance of doing it.

[zunato]

I guess the writer doesn't realize that Niemi is not eligible for the Calder.

[scla6986]

I think an injury is about the only thing that'll stop Duchene from winning this one and give Myers an honorable mention.

[Estovia]

Myers - Yes, he has one of the top goaltenders behind him, but he's also 4th in rookie scoring as a defenseman, leading rookies in assists and ice time. Last year, the Buffalo defense corps were terrible, this year... not so much. He's on pace for 44 points, last year's leader for Sabres Defenseman had 45.

Duchene - The Avalanche have gone, quite literally, from worst to first. But where Myers has stepped in an made better a team that isn't that different from last year's, it's not like Duchene is doing it all himself. Most of the core players are there, but it's with new (and like upgrading from a Chevy Nova to a Porche) improved goaltending.

I don't want to detract too much from Duchene, don't get me wrong. He leads rookie scoring a goals, which is nothing to scoff at. But where he has come in to be the 2nd line center on a Colorado team who made a number of moves to get to where they are in the standings now, Myers has stepped in to be the top pairing defenseman on a Buffalo team that lost their top scoring defenseman last year, and added only Mike Grier and Steve Montador.

I think the race is pretty tight. The only thing clear cut about it is that they are really the only two candidates, regardless of who else is eligible. I personally think the edge goes to Myers, if only because his accomplishments are that much more impressive and that much more unique than Duchene's. But I can fully understand why anyone would say Duchene as well.

[Prime B]

Duchene<->Myers

It could go either way right now.

No one else is worth mentioning as it stands now.

Tavar-who?

[cnshockey]

I believe the guy you are thinking of is Tavabust. He would be good with Steven Stambust.

I hate them both

[HammerHawks]

I have to agree with Andy here, I think Duchene will win it, he's having an excellent year. Did anyone REALLY think he would do what he's doing now? Leading the AVS to the playoffs? In a word (besides Avs fans), no.