Who should win the Calder?

[HOCKEY_GURU]

I know its early but so far my favorite is Phaneuf, 10 points in 17 games so far and playing very solid D, like a 10 year veteran, and his points have been timely enough thats its helped Calgary win many games otherwise they would have lost, I know one can easily argue for Croby or Ovechkin, and perhaps they are as deseving, but of no Fault of Ovechkin ( given an impossible task with a weak supporting cast) seems like no matter what he does washington still gonna be bad, and seems to me like Crosby often ends up with easy third assists ( not to say hes not playing great) just by the players that are around him... so for my money thats who Id vote for now.....

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[Roughneck]

I can't argue against Phaneuf, but there is still alot of hockey to be played. Crosby is doing remarkable for an 18 year old in this league, and I acn't see him not winning if he leads rookies in scoring, by whatever margin. But I think if Dion can keep up with his scoring and get reasonable points (at least lead rookie d-men in goals for example) and make the highlightes with his hits, then there is a good chance he could pressure the two.

Its unlikely as far as I'm concerned, I'd just be happy with a nomination for the guy, so I will definitely be pulling for him. Its still Crosby's to lose and Ovechkin's to win right now (he will get bonus points for playing on such a weak team).

 

[FLYLine27*]

Crosby will win it unless he goes down with a serious injury.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Crosby will win it unless he goes down with a serious injury.

Crosby will win it unless somebody takes it from him by vastly outplaying him. The hype is worth something, specifically that you can not tie him and hope to win, or even nudge slightly above him and expect to win. I am not saying it is right, though he earned that hype with amazing play over the past few years, but that is the reality.

 

[FLYLine27*]

Crosby will win it unless somebody takes it from him by vastly outplaying him. The hype is worth something, specifically that you can not tie him and hope to win, or even nudge slightly above him and expect to win. I am not saying it is right, though he earned that hype with amazing play over the past few years, but that is the reality.

I just can't see that happening.

 

[pei fan]

seems to me like Crosby often ends up with easy third assists ( not to say hes not playing great) just by the players that are around him... .....

I'm not sure what an easy third assist is but so far
Almost all of Crosby's assists have been first assists and I can only think of one
second assist.Most of them have been the key to the goal and not the actual
goalscorer.

 

[The Frugal Gourmet]

I think Ovechkin's been more impressive than Crosby.

Christ... 10 goals? Come on.

 

[pei fan]

Anyway,the best player at the end of 82 games should win the Calder.Let's
leave it at that for now. There's still some hockey to play.

Had there been an NHL last year most all these contenders would have been sophomores this year.That's why it's a heck of a race.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I think Ovechkin's been more impressive than Crosby.

Christ... 10 goals? Come on.

For what it is worth, Crosby was 17 as recently as 3 months ago.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/players/3737/

I would actually call them about equal right now, but I will give Crosby one edge, I am not entirely sure that AO would be up to this level when he was only a handful of months into his 18th birthday. But strictly looking at each of them, right now, it is a wash.

 

[chara]

Ovechkin: 10 goals and on pace for 60 playing without the likes of Lemieux, Recchi, Palffy, Gonchar, etc...

He is Washington's MVP by a landslide. Same could not be said of any other rookie in the league.

 

[The Frugal Gourmet]

For what it is worth, Crosby was 17 as recently as 3 months ago.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/players/3737/

I would actually call them about equal right now, but I will give Crosby one edge, I am not entirely sure that AO would be up to this level when he was only a handful of months into his 18th birthday. But strictly looking at each of them, right now, it is a wash.

I can honestly say I'm floored by your argument that less experience makes a player a better rookie. Never heard that one before.

And, I don't think it's a wash. AO looks better to me.

 

[pei fan]

Just another point-anybody notice how each time some has a 3 point night
then all of a sudden there's a thread about how they will win some award.
So why didn't the threadstarter make the thread when Phaneuf had 7 points in 1 less game.

 

[Transported Upstater]

tick tock...tick tock...tick tock...tick tock...

 

[KariyaIsGod*]

Crosby.

He's been the most impressive rookie...

 

[Biscuit Bullet]

Crosby plays on a line with Recchi and Leclair, correct?

AO plays with Halpern (career high 22 goals I think) and Willsie (AHL veteran, NHL newcomer)

Even if Crosby gets 20-30 more points than Ovechkin, I think Ovechkin is deserving. The argument that he has no supporting cast relative to Crosby simply CANNOT be refuted.

Also, being 2 years younger should not give SC any leverage in the race. He very well may turn out to be the better player by the time he's AO's age, but the Calder goes to the most impressive rookie performance. I would venture to say that AO would have 5-10 more points at this point playing on the Pens.

I am not bashing Crosby or overhyping AO in any way whatsoever. I just think that producing a PPG on a team full of scrubs is more impressive than producing 1.5 PPG on a team loaded with skill and veterans who have scored hundreds of goals during their careers.

 

[Epsilon]

Henrik Lundqvist is the best rookie in the NHL right now. Hopefully he gets enough starts to contend for the award.

 

[Nash]

Ovechkin: 10 goals and on pace for 60 playing without the likes of Lemieux, Recchi, Palffy, Gonchar, etc...

He is Washington's MVP by a landslide. Same could not be said of any other rookie in the league.

You state that Ovechkin is doing well without gifted linemates. Then you make a point that he is his team's MVP by a landslide and that no other rookie is in the same boat. I guess that must be hard to be a standout on a sub par team. Wouldn't Crosby be a standout on the Capitals if he and Alex changed teams?

By the way, most hockey columnists have said Crosby has been the best player (MVP) on the Penguins so far this season. It probably isn't as much of a landslide, but it is still very impressive considering his teammates' past accomplishments.

Personally, I think that Ovechkin, Crosby, Phaneuf and Lundqvist are all pretty damn close right now and that it will likely be a race to the end. I think it is tougher for an 18 year old to adjust to the NHL and that Crosby will likely have a better second half then the other 3, but that's just my opinion. Also, European leagues tend to have shorter seasons and many Euro rookies tend to burn out a little towards the end of the year because they are not used to such a lengthy grind.

 

[Charge_Seven]

The question is: How much should +/- come into play for the Calder?

Phaneuf, Crosby, Vorobiev, Meszaros, Steen, Ovechkin, and Miller have all been great thus far (I apologize for leaving anyone out).

But at the end of the season, if Crosby has 82 points, and owns a -45, and Steen has 74 points, but owns a +25, should Steen get consideration?

I think we all know it'll be Crosby or Ovechkin, and that's fine, they're both phenominal, but how much should something like +/- come into play?

 

[salty justice]

Seabrook has been playing just as good as Phaneuf. Both guys look like they have been in the league for 5 years. But neither of them will be able to play so spectacular to take the spotlight away from Crosby.

Unless something seriously goes wrong Crosby should easily win the votes. I like Ovechkin a lot more, but they would be shooting themselves in the foot if Crosby didnt win. If Crosby doesnt win it then it will go to AO, I dont think anyone else will be able to keep up with these two, including guys like Vorobiev and Steen who are fairly close behind at the moment.

 

[bert]

At this point Crosby and Ovechkin have been in a league of their own. While most seasons play like Phaneufs could warrent serious calder consideration this year he is simply outclassed.

Phaneuf falls under the same category as the likes of Vorobiev, Seabrook, Richards, Steen, Meszaros, Miller, Wellwood, Perezhogin, Ward and many others. He has been a great rookie so far but Crosby and Ovechkin have been the best players on there respective teams. Phaneuf hasnt even been the best defenseman on Calgary.

 

[Claypool_*]

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.

 

[pitthockey81]

For PR sake in the league it is really a two man race no matter what anyone says. Picking any other player would hurt the league as far as outsider perspective is concerned since Crosby and Ovechkin are considered the Labron James type players of the NHL.

Do you go with Ovechkin's goal scoring ability, or Crosby's great vision and passing ability?

My vote goes to Crosby. Ask anyone who has watched him play more than once, he does things that don't often show up on the scoresheet (ie, drew 7 penalties in a recent game)

 

[Epsilon]

For PR sake in the league it is really a two man race no matter what anyone says. Picking any other player would hurt the league as far as outsider perspective is concerned since Crosby and Ovechkin are considered the Labron James type players of the NHL.

Do you go with Ovechkin's goal scoring ability, or Crosby's great vision and passing ability?

My vote goes to Crosby. Ask anyone who has watched him play more than once, he does things that don't often show up on the scoresheet (ie, drew 7 penalties in a recent game)

Thankfully the media vote on the Calder trophy and it isn't just chosen by the league. Lindros didn't even get a sniff of the award in 1993, he was something like 4th in the voting. Which shows that hype only goes so far with the media, and hopefully the same thing will happen this year.

Here's the best argument for Lundqvist: if the season were to end now, it's very likely he would be a Vezina trophy nominee. No one else, not Crosby, Ovechkin, Phaneuf, Vorobiev, or anyone, is as close to the top of the NHL heap at their position as Lundqvist is.

 

[Jester]

For what it is worth, Crosby was 17 as recently as 3 months ago.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/players/3737/

I would actually call them about equal right now, but I will give Crosby one edge, I am not entirely sure that AO would be up to this level when he was only a handful of months into his 18th birthday. But strictly looking at each of them, right now, it is a wash.

normally you make very good arguments, but you have to know that has NOTHING to do with whether a player does or does not deserve the Calder. A rookie is a rookie, the comparison begins and ends there... shouldn't be affected by how old they are when they are rookies. if that was the case, explain Ichiro?

IMO, if Ovechkin and Crosby end with the same point total then Ovechkin CLEARLY deserves the Calder over Crosby given the difference in talent that the two players are playing with.

 

[PatrickRoy]

Pitthockey81,
I would have been shocked if you had said anyone other than Crosby.

Since everyone keeps suggesting that Crosby is the Pens best player are you Pen fans admitting that your rebuilding w/ overprice vets has been a bust??
I mean to say Crosby is better than the likes of Mario,Plaffy etc is a huge statement.

The winner of the Calder is months away and could go in any direction yet this arguement of Crosby /Ovechkin goes on.