Grabner Serious Consideration For Rookie Of The Year

[RGM81]

all that and you still haven't mentioned Streit quarterbacking their PP and leading the D.

Or Blake Comeau, one of the most understated 20-goal men this year.

[jolivei2008]

Or Blake Comeau, one of the most understated 20-goal men this year.

I love comeau, understated by far!
love to see him in a habs uni

[roy.the.greatest]

Sounds like P.K. Subban, the best rookie D-man this year, can have some considerations with his strong second half of the season (now 10th for most points). Like many rookies, Skinner is pretty cold since the all-star week-end... but he cumulated enough air miles to be a Calder trophy candidate.

[TMacfreak91]

Personally I don't even think Bobrovsky is worth a mention. His stats aren't really THAT spectacular IMO anyways. I also don't see Subban getting any votes either. Though I think he's the top defensive rookie, his offensive numbers aren't enough to push him into consideration, he is on what's considered to be one of the more defensive minded clubs and he's a -2...when Myers won it last year his +/- was spectacular.
While I think that Grabner or Couture deserves it most with Skinner as the likely #3 I find it remarkable that NO ONE is mentioning Tyler Ennis. He's been relatively consistent the entire season and is right up there in the top 5 for most of the major categories (2nd in assists, 5th in goals, 4th in points). Do I think Ennis will win? Not likely but if he keeps up his pace, he CERTAINLY warrants consideration.

Steve

[roy.the.greatest]

A sure thing is the rookie crop this year is not really good. Nothing huge in 2010-11. Last year was also a soft year.

[edthesandwich]

Pierre LeBrun says his top three includes Washington Capitals blue-liner Jon Carlson, who scarcely warranted a mention in this thread. And yet, he's second among rookies in ice time, first in plus-minus and tops all first-year players in blocked shots. He's been a major contributor to the Capitals' vastly improved defense, and that's something the voters are sure to be aware of.

Unless a forward really stands out (with Ovechkin or Malkin-type totals), the Calder voters tend to favor outstanding first-year defensemen or goalies. I wouldn't be surprised to see the committee settle on two forwards and one defenseman, or one forward, one D and a goalie. I love Skinner, Couture and Grabner, don't get me wrong ... they've all made impressive contributions to their teams. But you won't convince me that they're SO far ahead of Carlson or Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford when it comes to overall impact.

I could see one of the big three forwards getting left out of consideration, and possibly even two if the nominating committee sticks to historical precedent. Look at last year ... Matt Duchene finished exactly one point ahead of John Tavares in the scoring race. That was it. 55-54. Identical goal totals, but Duchene had the extra assist. And yet Duchene made the ballot, and Tavares didn't. Myers and Howard, two equally deserving candidates, were named the other nominees.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that only one of the three forwards makes the ballot, along with Carlson or Subban (my money's on JC) and Crawford. It'd suck to have two of the three forwards miss out, but it's that kind of year for first-year players. And not rewarding Carlson or Crawford simply because they aren't forwards would be a disservice to the trophy.

[Wickabee]

A sure thing is the rookie crop this year is not really good. Nothing huge in 2010-11. Last year was also a soft year.

I disagree. It may not have a Crosby, Ovechkin or Malkin, but this is a pretty good crop of rookies who will mostly have some staying power in the league:
Jeff Skinner
Logan Couture
Michael Grabner
PK Subban
Cam Fowler
Brad Marchand
Taylor Hall
Tyler Ennis
Jordan Eberle
Magnus Paajarvi
Kevin Shattenkirk
Tyler Seguin
Jon Carlson
Corey Crawford
Sergei Bobrovski
Michael Neuvirth
James Reimer
Corey Schneider
Braden Holtby
Jonathan Bernier
Bryan Bickell
All of these guys are considered "rookies" I'm not saying they're all superstars, or ever will be. But there's not a guy on there who I doubt will have a long career, barring injury (and maybe team space for goalies). I'll agree last year's was weak, with only a small handful of guys worth talking about (Tavares, Duchene, Myers, Karlsson and maybe Kane).