Jeff Skinner Wins Calder Trophy

by Bob Wage on Jun 22, 2011 8:54 PM EDT in NHL Awards Show 2011

Carolina Hurricanes Jeff Skinner poses with Calder Trophy after meeting with the press at the NHL Awards Show

Las Vegas, NV Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner accomplished what no other player in franchise history has been able to accomplish, he was voted as the NHL's top rookie and was awarded the Calder Trophy.

Skinner thanked his teammates and the Hurricanes organization, but most importantly to him, he thanked his family.

The final tally was a close one as Skinner picked up a total of 1055 points while Logan Couture collected 908, and Michael Grabner had 497. Skinner had a better percentage of first place votes though as his 71 first place votes almost doubled second place Couture's 41.

All I can add at this point is that it could not have happened to a more deserving person or player. Video of his press conference is after the jump.

I'll have my final thoughts about this hectic two days sometime on Thursday.

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WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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by Great Ice-Pectations on Jun 22, 2011 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Just came from the “official” Canes viewing party. A hush fell over the crowd as we waited for the envelope to be opened. Then the crowd stood and roared when his name was called. We got quiet again for the speech, and then more woohoos as he finished. Great moment in Hurricanes history, right there.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Jun 22, 2011 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

+1

no surprise here… the kid is simply awesome!!!

by randycane on Jun 22, 2011 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Nice consolidation prize for the fans.

What?!?! No Coach of the Year for Mo? What is wrong with the judges! Sheesh.

On a seerious note: congrats Skinner. You deserve that award.

Now make the rest of the week and sign the Juice!

by WStout on Jun 22, 2011 9:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Check out What, No Jagr? on Twitter @WhatNoJagr

by WhatNoJagr on Jun 22, 2011 9:34 PM EDT reply actions

Way to go Sk8erboi.

So proud :)

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Jun 22, 2011 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

Couture was robbed...

Couture + 18 … Skinner + 3

Couture more goals…more game winning goals…on and on

Obviously more media bias here than there was at the all-star game

by vwhirlwind on Jun 22, 2011 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Skinner had more overall points and a weaker supporting cast

Skinners also a lot younger than Couture and didn’t have the advantage of playing in the league last year like Couture did.

by keebler elf on Jun 22, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

you forgot jeff skinner 2.6 penalties drawn per 60 minutes of ice time. couture 0.8

by ECUCanesFan on Jun 22, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the stupid hockey media and their blatant North Carolina bias.

When will the tyranny end.

by Iggy Reilly on Jun 22, 2011 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

it will end or slow way down

when the canes win the cup 2 years in a row…

What did you do during the summer when the playoffs are over ?
Go Canes & Checkers !!

by CaniacSteve on Jun 22, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, obviously Skinner should have had a better +/- stat than Couture who was on a team that went to the Western Conference finals, played with better linemates, had more ice time, played in 40 previous NHL games on a team with much better defense to really have qualified for that award…

…such bias in the media. Clearly they shouldn’t have paid any attention to Skiner’s overall points and performance as one of the few forwards on a much weaker team to even have a positive +/-.

by Squeaky83 on Jun 23, 2011 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

A lot of it may have very well have had to do with the media – Skinner is an unreasonably likeable kid and the league and news outlets never let us forget it. The league likes to market it’s stars. It helps them make money.
And did you watch the all-star game? I was 8 feet from the red carpet and the girls were throwing themselves at Skinner – some were crying. I thought I was watching the Beatles.The kid is a star, on and off the ice. It is what it is.

But all that aside, imagine what Skinner could have done on J.Thornton’s wing… probably could have seen 50 goals at least. For that matter you can put a curling stone on a line with Thornton and it would score 30 goals.

by Caniac1026 on Jun 23, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention all 7 Puck Daddy contributors picked Skinner to win the Calder, Including Ryan Lambert who we all know loves his southern market teams. (Please note, that was sarcasm there.)

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by Great Ice-Pectations on Jun 23, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Also forgot he won the same award as voted by the players themselves… I’m sure they’re all biased as well.

by Squeaky83 on Jun 24, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

CONGRATS SKINNER

Came home from work to hear the news of his Calder win… been celebrating ever since!

I live in Las Vegas and last night I was mulling over the idea of going down to the Palms and see if I could have run into Skinner. I ended up just staying home cause I didn’t want to be all “OMG Skinner, please sign my Canes draft hat” + I had the feeling that he wouldn’t be walking around the casino much since he’s still underage =P

At any rate.. I’m so proud of him and still so excited that he’s playing for the Canes. I got to see him drafted in LA.. watched live on tv him scoring in his first ever shootout.. watched live on tv him scoring his first goal.. witnessed along with the rest of the world the madness that was the NHL All Star celebrations.. and now seeing him take home the Calder.

“Impressive. Most impressive”

"It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times..."

by Gramm Matthew Esq. on Jun 22, 2011 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Wooooo Hoooo

was glad for Skinner…but what fried my butt about the awards show and in the case of the Calder award…it seemed Skinner’s highlight reel was lees in time and substance than the other players were…but seeing I didn’t have a stop watch I’ll not beat a dead horse about it and get no where fast…Again Congrats to Jeff Skinner…now the marketing arm at the front office can use this award to try …again i say try to bolster Season Ticket sales…as well as try to increase the youth hockey outreach programs as well…which is a good thing…..get them interested while they are young…

What did you do during the summer when the playoffs are over ?
Go Canes & Checkers !!

by CaniacSteve on Jun 22, 2011 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

Very deserving … Canes now have six major trophies since the lockout … two Selkes, a Calder, a Conn Smythe, the Price of Wales and, of course, the Stanley Cup. Not too shabby.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jun 22, 2011 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/6688754/who-walk-away-vegas-winner

sportsnation has a poll up for your picks of each award…Jeff Skinner (Center, Carolina Panthers)

by ECUCanesFan on Jun 22, 2011 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

this poll also lists Martin St. Louis (Goalie, Tampa Bay Lightning), and on another award lists him as Martin St. Louis (Right Wing, St Louis Blues)

by ECUCanesFan on Jun 22, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

and spells loui eriksson’s name wrong…and spells pittsburgh wrong

by ECUCanesFan on Jun 22, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

They spelled Pittsburgh wrong? * facepalm *

by unyieldingflan on Jun 23, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Ward also got 4 votes for Veznia, only 100 behind Tim Thomas. Almost there!

by hurricane9 on Jun 23, 2011 5:15 AM EDT reply actions

So proud

This couldn’t have happened to a nicer human being, let alone professional hockey player. What a terrific representative for the Hurricanes organization and hopefully he collects a little more hardware along the road ;)

Follow me on Twitter @LeePhillips18

by Lee Phillips on Jun 23, 2011 7:02 AM EDT reply actions

Well said

by JussiJuice on Jun 23, 2011 7:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I just read that JR plans on using the Calder trophy itself as a top 4 defenseman.

“We feel strongly that the trophy can, if placed strategically in front of the net, stop its fair share of shots while we continue to shave money off our payroll,” Rutherford was quoted as saying.

Team owner Peter Karamanos was unavailable for comment, sport fishing off Costa Rica in his 150-foot yacht The Rosie. His spokesperson Paul Maurice responded to an email by writing, “Pete has faith in Caldy pulling some tough, tough minutes in our second pairing next year, we’re real excited to have him in the mix.”

"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."

by Sergeant Stinky on Jun 23, 2011 7:03 AM EDT reply actions

Now there’s my Stinky. Dude, someone hacked your account while u were on vacation.

Hell, Mo would still not play him.

by WStout on Jun 23, 2011 10:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

A stronger and faster Jeff Skinner

Imagine what that will be like.

“I have a ton to improve on,” Skinner said. “I plan to get stronger and faster for next season. I want to help our team get better.”

Skinner credits teammates

by curiouscanesfan on Jun 23, 2011 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

Give me some Skin

What a deserving young man…could not have happened to better player and a nicer guy…..hope to see him in the Red and Black for many many years to come….

Great day for the Canes Nation…..

by littlepig on Jun 23, 2011 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Awesome job, and very endearing acceptance speech as well!

by Hockeydog on Jun 23, 2011 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Great for the kid. Congrats.

The only criticism was that he needed to thank the Caniacs before thanking his “image and makeup” team.

by CanesBigHitter on Jun 23, 2011 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

Well maybe he is more like Bieber than I thought? (…. wink, wink, cocky head nod, point….)

by CanesBigHitter on Jun 23, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Good stuff, they got it right.

by Go_Shelf on Jun 23, 2011 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

he is very articulate!

i watched his speech and he did really well speaking off the cuff. IMO. so well raised and charming and awesome. so proud this organization scooped up this prize. woo hoo!

by emmarose on Jun 23, 2011 6:24 PM EDT reply actions