NHL 2010-11: Top 15 Calder Candidates

The NHL season is just around the corner and one of the most exciting stories is the race for the Calder Trophy.  Last year, Tyler Myers emerged as one of the most dominating young players in the game and won the award in a landslide vote.

This year, there are many notable defensemen who could take the trophy again, but they will have to fight off a number of other young hopefuls.

Here are the top 15 players to keep a close eye on for the 2010 NHL season.

15 - Logan Couture

Couture barely makes the list at No. 15 and also just makes the cut for Calder candidate eligibility, after playing in 25 games last year.  He might be a longshot to win, but if Pavelski or Thornton go down for any amount of time, he will get ample opportunity to show off his skills.

He has a great two-way game with good offensive upside.  Although he’s a better playmaker than scorer at this point in his career, he has the potential to grow in both areas. 

14 - Tyler Ennis

Ennis only played 10 games last year and six more in the playoffs with the Buffalo Sabres, but he played so well that he will easily stick in the pros this season.  He is part of the new wave of smallish and speedy NHLers as the rules are tailored to let players like him shine.

He will fly under the radar for a while, but by year's end, he could be a surprise finalist.

13 - Michael Grabner

Grabner is a talented winger who comes with a lot of promise, but it is unknown if he can put it all together yet.  Without question, he will get a significant chance to prove himself as he was traded from the stacked forward ranks in Vancouver to the offensively-challenged Panthers during the Draft.   

In Florida, he should see a lot of ice time on the top two lines, which is best suited to display his great skating and goalscoring abilities.  He will be given every opportunity to be one of the year's best rookies.

12 - Brayden Schenn

The Kings are excited about Schenn.  He's got great hockey sense to go along with his smooth skating.  He doesn't shy away from contact and with a strong training camp, could find himself on the roster with a chance at 50 points this season.  

With Schenn's competitiveness and strong two-way play, he will eventually take over the second line center spot behind Anze Kopitar.   

11 - Thomas Greiss

Greiss made an impression last season as he backed up Nabokov.   He had 16 starts, posting a respectable .912 save percentage.  The 24-year-old out of Germany also played in a couple games during the playoffs and did not look out of place.

Greiss is one the top prospects to come out of Germany and was drafted in 2004.  This backup could turn some heads in San Jose.  He should see more starts and might even steal the No. 1 job if he can capitalize on the opportunity.

Playing on a top team like San Jose will also get him more exposure.    Some people think that playing on a West Coast team will make players a longshot at hardware consideration, but last season, Henrik Sedin proved that the only thing that matters is your play on the ice.

10 - Nazem Kadri

Ask any Leafs fan what they want from Kadri, and they will tell you all about the big expectations.  He is blessed with phenomenal skating ability and top-end offensive talent, but one of the major obstacles for him landing the Rookie of the Year honor will be his supporting cast.

He will also need to dispel the critics who say he doesn't compete hard enough every game and makes questionable decisions on the ice.   However, playing in a hockey-mad market like Toronto should provide all the necessary motivation one will need.

9 - Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson

Many Oilers fans are currently mourning their disaster of a season from 2009, but there is reason for optimism as they have a few players who could wind up as the NHL's best rookie this year.

Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, or MPS, is expected to bring his great skating and scoring ability to Edmonton this year to help turn around the fortunes of the team.  He can make defenders look silly with his high-end acceleration and creative hockey sense, and he has all the tools necessary to be a top-line talent in the league for years to come.

8 - Jonathan Bernier

Bernier is mentally strong, has quick reflexes, and bounces back quickly after soft goals.  His confident demeanor can be infectious for the team in front of him, and he is mature beyond his years with a reputation of raising his game when the pressure is on.
 
This is music to the ears for Kings fans, as they hope he can accelerate his learning curve fast enough to lead this team to the promised land sooner than later.   All the skills are there, it's just a matter of proving it on the ice.

7 - Jordan Eberle

Eberle is pure offensive skill and is ready for the NHL.

He will join Paajarvi-Svensson to form a formidable youth movement in Alberta.  One of his best attributes is his 100 percent effort level as he brings his A-game every shift.  He has a lot of scoring potential and knows how to find open space on the ice.  He may lack prototypical NHL size, but his skills do more than enough to compensate.  

He also became the youngest player to make Team Canada for the 2010 World Championship and did not look out of place.  

6 - Michal Neuvirth

This two-time Calder Cup champion is ready to shine.  Has a nice mix of agility and technical skills while displaying poise beyond his years.  Perhaps one of his best qualities is his ability to recover, as he never gives up on a play.  

Many people have Varlamov penciled in as the Capitals' goalie of the future, but Neuvirth could win the starting job because Boudreau likes to go with the hot hand.  

5 - Mikael Backlund

As Calgary’s best prospect, Backlund made his NHL debut last year and did not disappoint.  His impeccable hockey sense and playmaking ability should provide the kind of spark this team needs.       

Like most young players, he will need to add pounds to his frame and improve his consistency, but that will come with time.  Backlund is one of the few bright spots on an otherwise uninspiring club.   If he can stick on the top two lines, he has the chance to put up a lot of points. 

4 - Jamie McBain

This youngster turned many heads in his late call-up last season for the Hurricanes.   

He has a good all-around game and already looks like a polished defenseman.  Carolina will hope this continues as they need all the help they can get on defense.  McBain will see big minutes in 2010 and could easily be a Calder finalist.

3 - P.K. Subban

Already a fan favorite with his poise and superb skating ability, Subban should be a key cog on the Canadiens defense for years to come.   Not afraid to lay the body despite his size, or quarterback the power play, he displays excellent offensive skills and creative vision. 

If Subban can live up to his hype, he will emerge as one of the best young blueliners in the game today.

2 - Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall was drafted first overall for one simple reason.  He has every attribute you could ask for in a forward.  He blends deadly skating ability with grit, scoring flair, and leadership.  

He will enter training camp with a ton of media attention and organizational pressure, but he has the type of character to deal with it in stride.  By NHL standards, he is still very raw, but if he figures it out soon, we will see the newest addition to the league's superstar club. 

1 - John Carlson

Carlson hopes to make it back-to-back Calder wins for defensemen in 2010.  

Given all the variables required to win the award, Carlson may be in the best position to win Rookie of the Year honors.  He is already a skilled offensive defenseman who knows how to take care of his defensive responsibilities.  He also gets to enjoy the chance to rack up a lot of points playing on the league's most potent offensive team.  He will play in any situation, log big minutes, and put his name on the Calder map fairly quickly.