:Why does everyone forget Cam Ward? He wasn't as highly touted as a lot of these guys coming in but with the help of Staal has made the Canes a legit team.
Who should win the Calder?
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:Why does everyone forget Cam Ward? He wasn't as highly touted as a lot of these guys coming in but with the help of Staal has made the Canes a legit team.
Epsilon
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DoobieDoobieDo said:
Why does everyone forget Cam Ward? He wasn't as highly touted as a lot of these guys coming in but with the help of Staal has made the Canes a legit team.
Because he's not performing anywhere near as well as Lundqvist or Labarbera. Ward's GAA is over 3.00 while Lundvist is at 1.75 and Labarbera is a shade over 2. His save percentage is under .900 while Labarbera is over .920 and Lundqvist is at almost .940.
it'll be a dark horse...someone that will be better then crosby and ovechkin overall...maybe someone like jeff carter, mike richards...or a rookie goalie? thats just my guess..
Crosbyfan
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- Nov 27, 2003
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Due to the phenom effect (The Kid) and the sophomore effect (last years rookies have had an extra year to mature) and the veteran effect (a lot of the older NHL stars went thru the motions last year and are rusty as heck) a lot of rookies have been fast out of the gate.
Age should not be a factor in the judging of the Calder. Correct me if I'm wrong but it's supposed to go to the top under 23 year old that had never played an NHL season (rule brought in after Larionov won it at age 33 LOL in his first "pro" season).
That said my homer pick (read cheering for) is still Sid. He had barely over 2 minutes on the powerplay last night against NYR. Lemieux and Recchi had over 6 minutes and Jagr had over 12 for New York.
Yes Lemieux is a HOFer who will help Sid score points (and vice versa also) along with Recchi, Gonchar etc. but Sid has been difficult to stop at even strength without being hauled down on a lot of his better scoring chances only to watch from the bench on the powerplay opportunities he created.
Ovechkin obviously is in different circumstances. With the Capitals "firepower" even Edzo, if Washington would allow him to coach, would find it difficult to keep Alex on the bench while the PP minutes ticked away. So Alex has benefited, to some extent, by the lack of current and "known to be future" (read past their prime, and rusty from the year off) HOFers taking up his prime PP icetime. At the same time he could benefit from better linemates.
Obviously not ideal circumstances for either one, and yet both are performing far above reasonable expectations. Both are very young and will improve as the season progresses (whether or not they keep scoring at their present pace) . I think the Calder race is too early to call, but these guys are two of the best and youngest in an extremely talented field. It may be a long time before we have a Calder race this interesting.
Age should not be a factor in the judging of the Calder. Correct me if I'm wrong but it's supposed to go to the top under 23 year old that had never played an NHL season (rule brought in after Larionov won it at age 33 LOL in his first "pro" season).
That said my homer pick (read cheering for) is still Sid. He had barely over 2 minutes on the powerplay last night against NYR. Lemieux and Recchi had over 6 minutes and Jagr had over 12 for New York.
Yes Lemieux is a HOFer who will help Sid score points (and vice versa also) along with Recchi, Gonchar etc. but Sid has been difficult to stop at even strength without being hauled down on a lot of his better scoring chances only to watch from the bench on the powerplay opportunities he created.
Ovechkin obviously is in different circumstances. With the Capitals "firepower" even Edzo, if Washington would allow him to coach, would find it difficult to keep Alex on the bench while the PP minutes ticked away. So Alex has benefited, to some extent, by the lack of current and "known to be future" (read past their prime, and rusty from the year off) HOFers taking up his prime PP icetime. At the same time he could benefit from better linemates.
Obviously not ideal circumstances for either one, and yet both are performing far above reasonable expectations. Both are very young and will improve as the season progresses (whether or not they keep scoring at their present pace) . I think the Calder race is too early to call, but these guys are two of the best and youngest in an extremely talented field. It may be a long time before we have a Calder race this interesting.
Hockey Guru...Speaking of playing well in difficult situations...Seabrook doesn't have the benefit of playing with as much talent (or as good a team) as Phaneuf, and I know it's early, but his stats are better.
That being said, Crosby or Ovechkin are shoo-ins.
That being said, Crosby or Ovechkin are shoo-ins.
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Legionnaire
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Devonator said:
You know, I understand what you're saying, but Phaneuf is playing the much harder position, and playing it like an experienced veteran. I don't care how many points those two score, he'd be my pick.
I can agree that I think Calgary is better than ChicagoGaryU said:
, but there stats seem fairly similar to me, but Seabrook has played 2 less games at this point, nonetheless they have the same point (Phaneuf with the edge in goals) and Phaneuf seems to play a touch more (though that should decrease as Regehr gets back into the fold) while Seabrook has the edge in plus minus 4 to 1.Pretty tight, but the '03 'Dub defensive class just keeps getting better.
MojoJojo
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Claypool said:I Love how peoples excuse for Crosby to NOT get the Calder is because he plays with experienced veterans. Crosby is the Penguins bets player too ya know.
So? Ovechkin has been the caps best player by a huge margin. Ovechkin is carrying the worst team in the NHL on his shoulders. I would have to give it to Ovechkin so far.
MojoJojo
Registered User
MojoJojo said:
So, is it more impressive to outplay a bunch of AHLers or more impressive to outplay future HHOF members and offensive dynamos like John leClair who are the reason Sidney scores points according to most Ovechkin nut huggers?
DrMoses said:
I think the point being made is that Crosby is not carrying Pittsburgh the way Ovechkin is Washington. Sidney has been, game in/out, the best forward on Pittsburgh but he hasn't shown that he can carry the team on his shoulders this year. The Pens are underachieving miserably - and Crosby's still only one piece of the Penguins offense (albeit an important one).
Ovechkin is Washington's offense. He is the only reason Washington's AHL calibre offense can compete at NHL level.
Crosby is not singlehandedly carrying his team - a team underachieving
Ovechkin is singlehandedly carrying his team - a team overechieving
What would happen if their roles were reversed (Sid in Wash..Alex in Pitt)? Would Sid be carrying Washngton? Who knows - it's a hypothetical. The Calder isn't awarded based on hypotheticals, it's based on what's actually happening. That's why, at this point, Ovechkin should get the Calder.
Up to this point in the season IMHO....
Ovechkin
Lundqvist
Phaneur/Crosby
Labarbera
Pavel Vorobiev
Ludqvist
After that you've got a number of rookies having very good seasons, but haven't a hope of contending... Svatos, Richards, Steen, Ward, Perezhogin, Whitney, Wellwood, Miller, Lundqvist.
There's an absolute ton of impressive rookies so far, even being top 10 would be a fine achievement this season.
Ovechkin
Lundqvist
Phaneur/Crosby
Labarbera
Pavel Vorobiev
Ludqvist
After that you've got a number of rookies having very good seasons, but haven't a hope of contending... Svatos, Richards, Steen, Ward, Perezhogin, Whitney, Wellwood, Miller, Lundqvist.
There's an absolute ton of impressive rookies so far, even being top 10 would be a fine achievement this season.
Zine said:
Zine....you seem to be getting what im saying about impact, and i counted so far out of the Flames 8 wins.. had Phaneuf not come thru bigtime in about 4-5 of them.. they probbaly would have been losses...and thats the impact I'm talking about, and Calgary's record would possibly look like that of Pittsburgs, I agree with the poster that talent wise hes not in the league of Crosby or Ovechkin, but his talent + intangibles is making him have a bigger impact... by no means would I ever suggest any coach would take him over the other two.
oilers144 said:
If the award were given out after 15 games, then perhaps. Thankfully, it's given out after 82 games, which is a long way to go. Proclaiming Ovechkin as the winner when we're only 1/5th of the way through the season, is rash, to say the least.
McDonald19
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bleedgreen
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sydney has lived up to his expectations, and im really impressed with his hustle. in the end though, im going with ovechkin. im not going to get in some stat, linemate, team quality, age debate - its irrelevant to me. im blown away with ovechkin, he is a monster. i just think he is the better player right now, all the other stuff is irrelevant. who cares who is better tomorrow? especially for this award. ovechkin deserves the credit, i just think he has played better. nothing against crosby.
ive never chirped up on this whole debate, i chose to wait until i saw them both. i have center ice and have watched them both equally. no bias to either guy.
ive never chirped up on this whole debate, i chose to wait until i saw them both. i have center ice and have watched them both equally. no bias to either guy.
Porn* said:
Steen has been playing real well this season... too bad you won't get unbias people telling you that on these boards. I was watching the Leafs/Canes game last week and he was probably the only reason why they were in that game ... other than eddie.
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