Simply put, as more than one GM has told me in the past, it's one thing to stand out on a team that isn't all that good. It's another to be solid contributor on one that is.
“The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.”
It’s based on regular season performance, and you’re not Dean Lombardi trying to assemble a team. Remember when the likes of Kopitar and Doughty broke into the league and stood out on bad teams as well? Did you ding them for failing to get the Kings to the playoffs then as well?
I didn’t realize Yanni Gourde powered the Lightning into the playoffs. I guess those other players I named had nothing to do with that.
Did you know that Teemu Selanne’s Jets in ‘93 failed to qualify for the playoffs that year? Using your litmus test, I’m guessing you would’ve voted for Alexei Zhitnik in 1st place in the Calder Trophy ballot that year.
Gourde would’ve been a fine selection for a 3rd place vote, but you sure proved everyone how different you are. Way to go.
I wish the PHWA would revoke voting rights for these “writers” who display incompetence. Like the dude who left out Doughty and Subban and had Giordano, Hamilton, and Mason on his Norris Trophy ballot. This is what happens when bloggers are passed off as journalists.