This is the start of my many part series of predicting the winners of each NHL trophy. I will predict and preview one major award per day.
Today, I take a look at the finalists for the Calder Trophy for the most outstanding rookie of the year in the National Hockey League. Here are the nominees:
Patrick Kane, F, Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane took the league by storm after being the number one overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He worked well with fellow rookie Jonathan Toews to amass 21 goals and 51 assists for 72 points in 82 games. He also averaged 18:21 in ice time for the season, a daunting task for a rookie right winger.
Kane also had seven shootout goals, which led all rookies. His shootout percentage was an unbelievable 77.8 percent.
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Jonathan Toews is just as good as Patrick Kane, and they are very similar people.
Toews sat out the first part of the season with an injured knee. He had 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points in 64 games.
He occasionally wore the "A" for the Blackhawks, which is almost unheard of for a rookie. Toews finished the season with a plus-11 rating and a 53 percent face-off win rate.
Nicklas Backstrom, F, Washington Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom is indeed a great player. This Swedish star started the season on a line with Michael Nylander, but ended playing with Alexander Ovechkin at many times, especially in the playoffs.
He had 14 goals and 55 assists for 69 points, second among rookies, behind Kane. Backstrom led all rookie forwards in average ice time with 18:59.
Each of these candidates would be a great recipient of the award, and would come with great promotion to the league.
However, I feel that Nicklas Backstrom would be unable to win this award, because playing with Ovechkin helps boost his stats a lot. And let's face it, anyone playing with Ovie will get their share of ghost assists when Alex the Great rushes 200 feet and wrists one past the goalie.
Toews is great too, but he did not have the kind of season that most people expected him to have. Although he was injured most of the season, I believe he underachieved.
For a guy is 5'8", Kane played very well. He took hits, dished them out and scored some goals. It looks like the league will soon have a new superstar in Patrick Kane. His vast potential makes Kane my recipient for the Calder Trophy for 2008.
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7 months ago
I like Backstrom better, i think he played more of a role on his team and has more leadership for a long term career.
7 months ago
I agree, I think Kane will win, he was the best rookie this year. However, if Toews hadn't of missed time due to injury, he would have ran away with this award. I don't see how you can say he under achieved. This future captain is a better all around player than both Kane and Backstrom, and being hampered by bad knee for most of the season still did not stop him from averaging almost a point per game.
7 months ago
All three have a case. Backstrom payed instant dividends while Toews and Kane both worked together to bring a once forgotten franchise basically back from the dead. Long term I actually like Toews to be the biggest star of the three, however I feel Backstrom is most deserving of the award this year.
7 months ago
KANEKANEKANEKANEKANE!
5 months ago
Backstrom reminds me of Peter Forsberg and thats not just because he is from Sweden.
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