Canes Country Members' Choice Awards: The Calder
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 10:18 AM EDT
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While the Carolina Hurricanes 2009-10 NHL season fell short of the expectations we brought to the table back in October, that doesn’t mean there weren’t many bright spots for the players and fans this season. Canes Country thought we’d look back at some individuals whose performances were exemplary, and whose efforts and skill inspired us to keep watching. Using the traditional team and annual NHL Awards as a guide, Cory, Bob and I have each nominated a player from the Carolina roster for nine of these awards. Over the next week, we will ask you, our insightful readers, to vote for and tell us why you think one Hurricane player deserves our recognition for a job well done
The Calder Trophy
What is it?
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. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season. In layman's terms, "Rookie of the Year".
Who received the Calder over the last 3 years?
2009: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
2008: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
2007: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
After the jump Bob, Cory and Hockeymom each make their nominations and tell why.
And the nominees are:
Bob nominates: Brett Carson.
Brett Carson had a spectacular year, but in unspectacular fashion. Does that make any sense? Well, check out his numbers, which are considerably better than vets Aaron Ward and Niclas Wallin when they were in Raleigh. Then, take into consideration that Carson is a rookie.
Each of the skaters averaged about 17 minutes of TOI per game. While Ward and Wallin skated against tougher competition, Carson is the prototype shut down "D" and performed as well as you can ask a rookie to play in the third pairing on defense. He did not seem to make many glaring mistakes in his own end and was physical when he needed to be.
Usually, when you don't notice a defenseman, that means he is doing his job. Brett Carson did his job this past season.
Cory Lavalette nominates: Bryan Rodney
We've been trying to pick different players for each of the awards, and while I've nominated Bryan Rodney, there's no way, in good conscience, I could pick him over Carson or Boychuk. Still, here's what Rodney's done.
Hockeymomof2 nominates: Zach Boychuk
With 31 games this year, twenty-year-old Zach Boychuk stayed long enough this last call up that we got to know him. And watching him out there on the big stage, we never doubted his desire to make an impression. His reputation in Juniors as a phenomenal scoring sniper hasn’t yet translated to the NHL stage. (If you haven't seen his bio and stats, click on this link. He was the 8th ranked prospect in 2008.) Still, we can see determination, hustle, and his love of the game in every shift. I'll be watching his production in Albany's playoffs (starting tonight) to see how his newly acquired knowledge and improved strength and skills work against opponents who aren’t quite so big and fast and wily. We might reasonably project that this summer will be the same magic season of growth for Boychuk as it was for this former Albany roommate Brandon Sutter in 2009.
More than anything, I’m nominating Boychuk for the Canes Country Calder for his self-deprecating confidence (I don’t think that’s an oxymoron?) exemplified so well by that delightful moment during the first intermission at Pittsburgh in March. You remember: when he interrupted Tripp Tracy, to correct Tripp’s errantly stating Boychuk was selected fifteenth overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, "Fourteenth"…….Tripp continues: "yada yada"…more forcefully, still polite and with an earnest grin: "I was picked fourteenth". Of course, he was right.
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While Cory presents a very strong case for Rodney (wink wink), I’m leaning with Boychuk on this one. One of the fun parts of this season was watching the kids grow up on the ice; I think Boychuk is just starting to tap into his potential. You can visibly watch that he was getting stronger and started to play with more grit as the season wore on. (Who knows, maybe he was hanging around Angry Eric after the Olympics!)
Can someone please get Manny a new shirt? He DESERVES one.
Solid play by Carson throughout his games, very quietly impressive – FTW!!
Incidently… how many games do you have to play before you are no longer eligible for the Calder? Im wondering, with 31 games played now for Boychuk will he still be counted as a rookie next year or will he be in his sophomore year?
Once he went past 25 games his rookie status for this year kicked in. McBain and Peters still have eligibility next year. Dwyer a year too old.
here what they say at NHL.com
To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. The player must not be older than 26 years before September 15 of the season in which he is eligible.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I have to admit I voted for lil chuck and for all the wrong reasons. I am not sure he was the rookie with the biggest impact, but he is the guy I felt like made the biggest strides. I felt like Carson and Rodney were both “almost there’s” last season. I had my doubts on Boychuck, but I think his play grew by leaps and bounds over the course of his call-up time this season. I realize that most improved rookie is not the title of the award, but it is my vote =P
Don’t worry – it’s a fan poll. doesn’t count for much. Go with your gut – that’s kinda the point.
(I thought Carson improved tremendously though too and made a much bigger impact. )
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Carson is the winner, but in much the same way that Crosby is the better player to Ovechkin (just to stir the pot), I think Boychuk will be the better player. I think Carson has the ability to play a lot of minutes on the second pair, but I think Boychuk has first line talent. He spent much of the year on the fourth line, stuck with less than stellar players. Even still he made some nice moves. There was the goal from off the face off just outside the offensive zone. Can’t remember the team, but the draw was won back to him and he single handedly beat the entire team and goaltender. I think as soon as Boychuk gets the chance to be on a higher line more consistently he’ll make big strides next year.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Boychuck really has the talent and the skills to be a major player for the Hurricanes in the future…. It’ll be interesting to see how he does next season.
It’s been nice to see over the season how his confidence improved throughout each game…. and I think that is the key to Boychucks game…. he will never be a very big guy… even if he bulks up he will still be small… so confidence is going to be crucial to him playing to his full potential.
I voted for Carson.
"The coaches on the Carolina bench are all grinning like butchers dogs...."
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Apr 14, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I really am looking forward to seeing what he can do next year and truly hope he’s on one of the top three lines. I wouldn’t mind Boychuk – Dalpe – Tlusty at all.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Boychuk and Lines Next Season
I think a Boychuk/Dalpe/Tlusty line would have enormous potential. I am convinced at some point in the next two years or so, Boychuk will be on the line with Staal. It could happen sooner rather than later. Next season is going to be a huge for Boychuk. If he can make the strides in the off-season like Sutter made, he might well play on the first line. To me, the single most impressive thing about Boychuk this season was how many times he drew penalties by using his speed to blow past a defender. It’s too bad the power play wasn’t better or those penalties would have really cost the opposing team.
Tlusty
Tlusty seems to be kind of a forgotten guy but I thought he did well when he was with up with the big boys in Raleigh. I’m looking forward to him as much as anybody next year to take a roster spot and impress some people. I still think it was very good trade on our part to get him for Paradis.
Not going to lie, Cory almost swayed me to vote for Rodney, but Carson’s quietly excellent season made the decision relatively easy. He’s more Glen Wesley than Mike Green, but I prefer that silent and steady kind of D-man anyway so I’m a little biased.
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
by caniacgirl on Apr 14, 2010 12:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I hope it didn’t come off as a knock on Rodney, who I like. He’s just not in the league of the other two as far as what went down this year.
by Cory Lavalette on Apr 14, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Nah you’re good. Rodney is good, but you’d be very hard pressed to make a case for him over LilChuk or Carson.
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
by caniacgirl on Apr 14, 2010 12:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I too
Voted for Zack but Carson is the one and hopefully will get it or actually be a NHL Nominee for the Calder…and all of you ae right on the Money with Boychuk…I actually fgot to see him play 3 times when he was with the Lethbridge Canes..and I had a thought that the kid’s adrinal glads were working ovetime…full of energy and even did a couple opf double shifts…he wouldn’t back down to bigger players..and let is skating and shots on Goal do the talking…and yes he too did a few stints in " Box"…for accidently tripping as he skated by a defender on the wall a time or 2…hehehe…Good thought out arguments folks…we, fans do appreciate the efforts each of you made for these posts…Be safe
" Chadness" is contagious ! Go Canes !!
Carson
…player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League…
I had to go with Carson.
Boychuk’s the flashy new girl in town, but for a D-man to have the year that Carson had in his first eligible year here is pretty spectacular (even if Glen Wesley unnoticeable).
Many say a D-man needs about 300 games in the league to get everyone’s individual tendencies down, absorb the systems that are out there, and begin to steady down.
Thanks to Daniels/Kinnear or maybe even Rowe before he made the jump to the NHL, Carson hit the ground running ice skating.
He had a team Calder year, in my opinion.
Boychuk’s the flashy new girl in town. (!?)
Y’think you might re-word that? Unless of course you’ve seen him in his driving shades?
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Those are actually Timmys’ glasses, he just borrowed them cause timmy wasn’t there.
'AWARDS!' Nobody on this team deserves ANY awards.........well maybe JUSSI.
On that sig line – they had the second best record to the caps in the second half. :shrugs:
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Things have been hectic for another Clicks and Clippings this week – but if you haven’t discovered the blog for the Rats called “The Infestation” , he’s put up several links from local sources today on the Rats preparing for their first playoff game tonight. Lots of familiar names.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
I vote...
Jamie McBain! I know I broke the rules but he really impressed me with his limited time with the team this year.
I like McBain too but he only had 14 games. We can all vote for him next year.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 14, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I can’t wait for McBeast to get into the fray. I voted for Carson ‘cause he was just fantastic. A young (baby) D-Guy steps up on a shit squad and plays mega minutes against the NHL’s best and bounces through partners. Was kinda a gimme for me. That said, you all know I love Lil Chuck. When his nuts drop that kids gonna light the lamp like it’s a hobby.
This is one time there isn’t a loser on the list. All three of those kids stepped up, played for all they were worth with the only hope being able to stay up. The season was over before most of them even got here. That’s is one of the big ones JR missed last year. These kids have heart and don’t care about winning and losing a game. The want to win at every thing they do.
Next year is gonna be way more fun to be a Caniac, even if Mo doesn’t take that cool new job on Mars…
A
'09-'10 needed more than a spoonful of sugar, felt like a broken glass and battery acid suppository.
Young hockey players, the future, the answer. Learn it, then live it.
P6 you f**kin crack me up
when his nuts drop …
ha ha ha
You know, the sad part is, I just realized something.
We have 2 nicknames for McBain here…McCutie and McBadass.
…mix the 2 together…
…and you have McCuteAss. >.< Doh.
Can someone please get Manny a new shirt? He DESERVES one.
How has that not become a fixture here?! We are slacking big time people!!!
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
OMG don’t tell me you told him that too!
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
The scary part…
BREAKING NEWS ALERT…
We have received a report that Jamie McBain has requested an immediate trade from the Carolina Hurricanes to anywhere else on earth…including, oddly enough, Edmonton. His agent is not giving a reason for the sudden demand, but did suggest it had something to do with crazy fans in Raleigh…we’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled post.
…is I don’t know if you’re kidding.
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
Anyone following the Calder Cup????
I thought that we would hear more chatter among this motley crue about the Rats. I went ahead and took the one round 39.99 plunge to watch the Rats in the first round. I am getting round 1 NHL on VS Pens vs Sens and the Rats vs the Baby Pens online……hockey stimulation overload. GO SENS!!! and GO RATS. I have been curious how engaged CC will be in the off season. It is great to see our young boys on the ice. Unlike any other time, I can identify players I know in Albany. It is great. Here’s the link. It is 9.99 per game 39.99 per round or 299.99 for all teams through the championship. It is jumbotron feed, but it is Canes hockey baby.
http://ahl.neulion.com/team/console.jsp
Exnihilo
Calder Cup
I’ll be following it more closely once I get home from school. I live about 30 mins from Hershey, PA and always go to Bears games. So the Bears are my team but the Rats are a close 2nd, and might take the 1st spot when they move to Charlotte. Probably make more Rats games than Canes games next year due to the fact that I live in Boone.
by DomBooneCaniac on Apr 14, 2010 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually had about half of my twitter tweeps tweeting score updates for me, while I watched my boy play baseball in Carrboro. (this time of year I temporarily morph into baseballmomof2) McBain’s goal got a big solo Woo that none of the other parents understood.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 15, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Rodney
I am disappointed that Rodney got so few votes. In my opinion, he should be ahead of Boychuck. Just check the stats: Rodney has more points than Boychuck, even though he played 9 less games. Not that I do not like Boychuck, but people here seems to be voting according to his potential rather than his actual performance. It may all be Cory’s fault with his non-endorsement :).
BTW, did anyone notice that Boychuck only had one shot on goal per game on average? That is pretty low. I know he is still young, but for a supposed sniper like him I would expect more shots. I hope he will get stronger so that he can actually get some shots away.
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