Brandon Bochenski - Darkhorse Calder Candidate?

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KallioWeHardlyKnewYe

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This is simple.

Candidacy is a matter of being a rookie. Bo is a rookie and isn't expected to win the Calder. Ergo, he is a darkhorse candidate, just like any rookie who isn't Crosby, Ovechkin, Carter, Phaneuf or Lehtonen.
 

boredmale

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yup.

But lets remember this is the preseason ;) light it up all you want.

I heard racine looked real good last night and i thinK Aubin isn't that bad a backup either.
 

nneate

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boredmale said:
I heard racine looked real good last night and i thinK Aubin isn't that bad a backup either.

I thought JS Aubin was looking much sharper then Tellqvist, he certainly would be a capable backup.
 

Porn*

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racine looked incredible last night...but it could be all adrenaline of playing@home for his family. He's from the montreal area.

Aubin looked great last year in the ahl and hasn't been too shabby so far this preseason. Telly up until tonights 1st period has been decent to good... he played well tonight after the first four goals :joker:

NO clue who makes it... tough call!
 

KStewart113

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WOW, he looks great with Spezza. It might not have been agaist a Vezina goaltender, but a hat trick in the NHL is something special for a rookie like him! Sens made a good draft pick here.
 

NyQuil

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The fact that he plays with two budding superstars will be a hindrance in that much of his success, rightly or wrongly, will be attributed to them.
 

armani

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Bochenski has been really impressive thus far in preseason. He has scored in every level of hockey he has played in and looks like another late round steal by the Sens' scouting team.
 

bert

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Good point Nyquil, I totally agree with you. Even if he does lead rookie scoring this year, we know it has ALOT to do with his linemates. I am a sens fan and he is a darkhorse thats for sure. I really couldnt care less if he wins the calder but if he has great chemistry with Spezza and Heatley it means we get another top 6 forward and that in my opinion is terrific.
 

Wondercarrot

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he doesn't have the skill, talent that guys like crosby, ovechkin, phaneuf, carter, richards, etc... have... i'm sorry he just doesn't.

Luc Robitaille didnt have the talent those guys have either....but he ended up the highest scoring LW of all time.

on a side note, has he improved his skating and defense yet? Cause a 7.5B rating doesn't sound too great.

Well we all know that those ratings have been scientifically proven to never be wrong...so i guess you have a point there....
I also seem to remember a group of fans from a particular team defending to the death that Jason Allison's skating and defence are not a factor since all he does is put up points.
So how about we leave it at this:

He has an astounding shot, could definitely lead rookies in scoring, and he is a much better skater than Jason Allison.
Could he win the Calder? Why not?
We are talking about a guy who was the runner up for the Hobey Baker in college, and he did lead the AHL in rookie scoring last year. Its not like he's suddenly shown up at camp and learned how to score.
 

Dr.Sens(e)

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I think the key theme to remember is Bochenski as a "Dark Horse", meaning it would be an upset for him to actually win it, but people should keep an eye on him just the same.

While many poolsters have been killed by paying too much attention to pre-season scoring in past, Bochenski really is slated to play with Heatley and Spezza, and having scored 30 goals and 70+ points in the AHL last year, it's not like he doesn't have some scoring pedigree to him. He also was one of the perennial leaders in scoring in the NCAA before that. The guys has scored everywhere and there is probably a 50-50 chance he'll spend the majority of the season playing with those two (he'll definitely start the season with them).

The best pro comparison I've heard is with Ray Sheppard (for those who remember him). Great hands, great shot, good instincts and average skater with out much physical presence to his game. Parrish might be another comparable. But let's face it, with the right linemates, either of those guys could have won the Calder.

The problem for Bochenski is of course that he'll have to outscore Ovechkin, Crosby and others to have a chance. It's possible, but I doubt it will happen either.

But the one comparison for the Calder I will make is the 1994 Calder race. That year Renberg played with Leclair and Lindros and won it, despite the fact Yashin had as many points and was the leading scorer on the Sens by 30 points, while Renberg was the third leading scorer on his line. Yashin was the more talented player, and playing on that line was the career highlight for Renberg, but it didn't change the outcome of that vote (although you could argue playing in a smaller Canadian market like Ottawa could hurt Bochenki like it did Yashin).

Anyways, I wouldn't put Bochenski as one of the favorites, but he's definitely moved into the top 10 list of candidates for the award. No other player will be put in a better position to win it at least.
 
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Steven Seagal

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19bruins19 said:
He will be on the first line, but so will rookies like Crosby, Ovechkin, Carter, Vanek, possibly Michalek, etc.

Then there is Phaneuf, Suter, and other defensive prospects.

Don't forget goaltenders like Lehtonen, Toivonen, and Ward.

I think that Bochenski will have no shot at the Calder trophy, mainly because of the competition.

in the end, it all comes down to point production.

if Bo has a great season and puts up better numbers both offensively and defensively than Crosby, then he'll win it.
Easy as that.
 

zbubble

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Well Parise and Vanek were better prospects last year, and Bochenski had a better season than they did.

What crap is this? Vanek had 8 more goals than Bochenski. Bochenski had 34 goals and Vanek had 42. Sure Bo had more assists but goal scoring is what opens people's eyes. Nash and Kovalchuk aren't stars because they get assists.

And everyone seems to have overlooked Ryan Miller too.
 

turnbuckle*

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Dr.Sens(e) said:
I think the key theme to remember is Bochenski as a "Dark Horse", meaning it would be an upset for him to actually win it, but people should keep an eye on him just the same.

While many poolsters have been killed by paying too much attention to pre-season scoring in past, Bochenski really is slated to play with Heatley and Spezza, and having scored 30 goals and 70+ points in the AHL last year, it's not like he doesn't have some scoring pedigree to him. He also was one of the perennial leaders in scoring in the NCAA before that. The guys has scored everywhere and there is probably a 50-50 chance he'll spend the majority of the season playing with those two (he'll definitely start the season with them).

The best pro comparison I've heard is with Ray Sheppard (for those who remember him). Great hands, great shot, good instincts and average skater with out much physical presence to his game. Parrish might be another comparable. But let's face it, with the right linemates, either of those guys could have won the Calder.

The problem for Bochenski is of course that he'll have to outscore Ovechkin, Crosby and others to have a chance. It's possible, but I doubt it will happen either.

But the one comparison for the Calder I will make is the 1994 Calder race. That year Renberg played with Leclair and Lindros and won it, despite the fact Yashin had as many points and was the leading scorer on the Sens by 30 points, while Renberg was the third leading scorer on his line. Yashin was the more talented player, and playing on that line was the career highlight for Renberg, but it didn't change the outcome of that vote (although you could argue playing in a smaller Canadian market like Ottawa could hurt Bochenki like it did Yashin).

Anyways, I wouldn't put Bochenski as one of the favorites, but he's definitely moved into the top 10 list of candidates for the award. No other player will be put in a better position to win it at least.


Good points. It appears that many a Leaf fan has touble comprehending what Darkhorse Calder candidate means....perhaps they can be excused since the last Calder favourite they had was Britt Selby. ;) Okay...and Wendel Clark, a former runner up to Gary Suter.

Sheppard, who I played against in minor hockey, came damn close to winning the Calder in his premiere season - he popped 38 goals and was named runner-up to Niewendyk, who, of course, scored 51 goals that magical first season. Speaking of darkhorse candidates, perhaps one of the good young defencemen like Suter, Barker or Whitney will have terrific campaigns and overshadow the forwards and Lehtonen. Is Miller eligible?
 

Bileur

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zbubble said:
What crap is this? Vanek had 8 more goals than Bochenski. Bochenski had 34 goals and Vanek had 42. Sure Bo had more assists but goal scoring is what opens people's eyes. Nash and Kovalchuk aren't stars because they get assists.


Yeah, and I never got why anyone liked Adam Oates, that guy was useless.
 

nneate

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turnbuckle said:
Good points. It appears that many a Leaf fan has touble comprehending what Darkhorse Calder candidate means....perhaps they can be excused since the last Calder favourite they had was Britt Selby. ;) Okay...and Wendel Clark, a former runner up to Gary Suter.

Sheppard, who I played against in minor hockey, came damn close to winning the Calder in his premiere season - he popped 38 goals and was named runner-up to Niewendyk, who, of course, scored 51 goals that magical first season. Speaking of darkhorse candidates, perhaps one of the good young defencemen like Suter, Barker or Whitney will have terrific campaigns and overshadow the forwards and Lehtonen. Is Miller eligible?

Kronwall :)
It's going to be an interesting race indeed. I'll be hoping for a darkhorse.
 

Transported Upstater

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Bileur said:
Yeah, and I never got why anyone liked Adam Oates, that guy was useless.



Yeah, how could anyone think playmakers aren't valuble?

I would say most good centers are at least as good at setting people up as they are finishing.

Oates was the best passer outside of Lemieux and Gretzky in the early 90's. Although Pat LaFontaine IMO was also awesome.
 
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