2018-19 Calder Trophy Contenders

[MatthewFlames]

You better edit and put Juuso Riikola in at #26 or you'll miss out on the Calder winner in your article

 

[The Note in MI]

Thomas won’t be a contender. He’s going to get 4C playing time albeit on a more non traditional scoring line. I don’t anticipate more than 25-30 pts in even a breakout season from him this year mostly thanks to the blues depth. Nothing against him as a player, I think he could be a 2C on other teams. Perhaps he gets moved into a greater role if one of Schenn or ROR is hurt and he takes off, but seems very unlikely.

More likely a contender from the Blues would Kyrou as he will be playing 2nd line minutes with Schwartz and Schenn and will get points just by osmosis with that line. He seems to be much more NHL ready than anticipated and his speed makes him dangerous on the breakaway and as F1 pressuring the defense. Expect he could hit 50+ if he plays 82 games.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

Playing defense in the NHL is really hard. I see Dahlin as the best player on this list eventually but not this season IMO

 

[42]

I must have missed that. When did that happen?

Its not on the Capfriendly transaction wire.

This afternoon.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

I'd put money down on Yamamoto at least being a nominee

 

[LastWordArmy]

This afternoon.

Aww, so after we published

 

[Maitz]

Drouin and Lehtonen gonna break his back if that would ever happen

I hope if he plays on the first line that lekhonen is not there...

 

[MinimaMoralia]

Pettersson Svechnikov and Dahlin the obvious heavy weights.
Wouldn’t count out guys like Yamamoto or Kotka however.

 

[mouz135]

I'd put money down on Yamamoto at least being a nominee

I wouldn't

 

[MinimaMoralia]

I wouldn't

Meh. Had a huge second half last season. Very strong pre-season. Could be on the wing of MCD or Draisaitl. He’s definitely got a case on paper at least.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

I wouldn't

Yam will have a better linemate than any other rookie

And I'm a Leafs fan for the record

 

[snipes]

Meh. Had a huge second half last season. Very strong pre-season. Could be on the wing of MCD or Draisaitl. He’s definitely got a case on paper at least.

He’s a salty Vancouver fan.

Wouldn’t be shocked in the least if Yamamoto had more points than Pettersson this year.

 

[42]

He’s a salty Vancouver fan.

Wouldn’t be shocked in the least if Yamamoto had more points than Pettersson this year.

No.

 

[LastWordArmy]

Yam will have a better linemate than any other rookie

And I'm a Leafs fan for the record

Isn't the top line going to be

Nuge - McDavid - Rattie

 

[mouz135]

He’s a salty Vancouver fan.

Wouldn’t be shocked in the least if Yamamoto had more points than Pettersson this year.

I'm not salty at all. You continuously overvalue your players. I've watched this kid all preseason and all last year as well. Yes, he lights it up against AHL rosters, but against actual NHL rosters, he has been mediocre at best. If he doesn't have the puck, he's invisible, and when he does have it, 90% of the time he gives it away or is shoved off it. Time for him to show up against actual competition. Then I'll give credit.

Go read your own forums, plenty of Oil fans express these exact concerns also.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Shumakov will still be young enough to win it next year. No hurry.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

Isn't the top line going to be

Nuge - McDavid - Rattie

The linemate I pointed out wasn't McDavid, it was Draisaitl

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I think Pettersson will easily have 10+ more points than any other rookie this year.

 

[dm1371]

Maybe Dillon Dube?

 

[ookhaab]

I think Pettersson will easily have 10+ more points than any other rookie this year.

Svechnikov will have 10+ more goals than any other rookie this year.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

There are so many contenders, serious contenders this season, can't remember the last time when was this many.
- some are bigger, more serious than others, but all contenders (i consider few that got sent to minors as contenders as well,
those players are projected to be called up quite quickly)

(gotta remember, there are always injuries in a long NHL season,even from early on and before the season,
talented young guys are always lurking for that top 6, or a starting G role role if a chance appears)

Donato&Vaakanainen (Boston)
Dahlin (Buffalo)
Välimäki&Dubé (Calgary)
Svechnikov&Necas (Carolina)
Jokiharju&Kahun (Chicago)
Kamenev (Colorado)
Abramov (Columbus)
Heiskanen&Hintz (Dallas)
Rasmussen&Zadina (Detroit)
Yamamoto (Edmonton)
Borgström (Florida)
Kotkaniemi (Montreal)
Tolvanen (Nashville)
Tkachuk (Ottawa)
Hart (Philadelphia)
Thomas&Mikkola (St. Louis)
Cirelli (Tampa)
Pettersson (Vancouver)
Brännström (Vegas)
Niku (Winnipeg)

 

[Artorius Horus T]

You better edit and put Juuso Riikola in at #26 or you'll miss out on the Calder winner in your article

Yeah but is he eligible? He is 1993 born.

 

[Albatros]

He's eligible alright, and will be next season too if he plays 25 games or less.

 

[MinJaBen]

You guys are sleeping on Warren Foegele. Not surprised, but he has as much of a shot as any of the Canes' prospects that have made the opening night roster given his AHL play last year, his cup of coffee with the club last year, and his preseason play this year.

 

[42]

There are so many contenders, serious contenders this season, can't remember the last time when was this many.
- some are bigger, more serious than others, but all contenders (i consider few that got sent to minors as contenders as well,
those players are projected to be called up quite quickly)

(gotta remember, there are always injuries in a long NHL season,even from early on and before the season,
talented young guys are always lurking for that top 6, or a starting G role role if a chance appears)

Donato&Vaakanainen (Boston)
Dahlin (Buffalo)
Välimäki&Dubé (Calgary)
Svechnikov&Necas (Carolina)
Jokiharju&Kahun (Chicago)
Kamenev (Colorado)
Abramov (Columbus)
Heiskanen&Hintz (Dallas)
Rasmussen&Zadina (Detroit)
Yamamoto (Edmonton)
Borgström (Florida)
Kotkaniemi (Montreal)
Tolvanen (Nashville)
Tkachuk (Ottawa)
Hart (Philadelphia)
Thomas&Mikkola (St. Louis)
Cirelli (Tampa)
Pettersson (Vancouver)
Brännström (Vegas)
Niku (Winnipeg)

Good list. I'd add Vesalainen to it.