The Calder race is already on for the 2009 candidates, as we speak. There are already a few surprises, and players that were not expected to do this well. Derick Brassard, Kris Versteeg, and Mikhail Grabovski have never been mentioned as Calder candidates in the past.
The current success of these three players is already surprising. Brassard, in Colombus, doesn’t have such a great team around him, but is flourishing as the first line center.
Versteeg, a fifth round pick, is the biggest upset so far, and out of nowhere he stands second in rookie scoring and looks like the perfect fit for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in Chicago.
And at this pace, Grabovski, who was traded from Montreal to Toronto, could possibly get 35 goals or more this year.
A few years ago, after the 2003-04 season, I remember there were actually three surprise nominees: Micheal Ryder, Andrew Raycroft, and Trent Hunter. This year, we are all expecting guys like Steven Stamkos, Kyle Turris, Fabian Brunnstrom, Jakub Voracek, and Kylo Okposo to be leading the race, but they’re not, which makes the Calder race for 2009 that much more interesting.
Obviously there have been other surprise Calder winners in the past. So here are a few of them:
Peter Stastny - 1981:
Peter Statsny won the Calder in 1981 (39 goals, 70 assists for 109 points) and was the most prolific player in the 1980’s after Wayne Gretzky. Stastny’s Calder trophy is a surprise when you know the whole story around it.
The Stastny brothers coming to America was a huge deal back then. Marcel Aubut literally, and illegally, hid Peter, Anton, and later Marian to get them out of their native communist Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia).
It made news all around the NHL too. Peter and Anton, the first two to come over to America, risked incarceration (Peter was given 18 months jail time back in his homeland and Marian was subject to intense interrogation), they risked their lives to play in North America. They played for the Quebec Nordiques in a league they knew nothing about and in a country they didn’t even know the language of.
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about 1 month ago
I think leaving Drew Doubty out of the discussion is a mistake. The kid is playing 25+ mins a game...scoring, leading rushes, big hits, PP QB, PK...he is doing it all and i think he is the front runner at the moment...unless Brassard or Graboski score 40, they don't have a chance against Doubty...but good read man! well done!
from about 1 month ago
Hmm. You may be right. Doughty looks solid for his age. More than Grabovski for sure. I'll have to include him for the mid-season review! thanx for the reminder!
about 1 month ago
Great article, Sebastien!
Go Kris Versteeg!
about 1 month ago
Drew Doughty. No question. I'm not going to sit here and say that the Kings have one of the best PK units in the league because of him, but it sure isn't hurting them. Drew Doughty. Calder winner.
Or Bobby Ryan, but that's just my Ducks bias speaking.
Nice article, good information.
from about 1 month ago
I hope the Ducks realize they cant send Ryan back to the AHL. He's too good for that now.
about 1 month ago
Great piece. Pavel Bure is my favourite player of all time as well. It bothers me that the Canucks still haven't retired his number and that he hasn't been inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame.
from about 1 month ago
Pavel didnt get along great with management before he got traded. Actually, I think he asked to be traded...maybe thats why they haven't retired his number yet.
about 1 month ago
If the Ducks send down Bobby Ryan it'll be because they need some cap relief, not because they don't realize he's not good enough. He's replacing B-Mo right now.
about 1 month ago
Luca Sbisa of the Flyers' is a dark horse in my opinion. He probably won't win, but you have to admit that the Flyers' General Manager Paul Holmgren must have seen this coming when he traded up in the draft in order to pick Sbisa.
about 1 month ago
I think Brassard is the favorite at this point in the season, because he is putting up the numbers, but the maturity of Drew Doughty is unbelievable. As I wrote in an article I just wrote, if Brassard scores under 80 points at the end of the year, the Calder will go to a defenseman, either Doughty, Luca Sbisa, or perhaps Bogosian if he comes back and shines brightly. Nice research in this piece though.
about 1 month ago
Sbisa won't win, but he is doing unbelievably on the Flyers, more than his 7 assists show. And I thought Brassard wasn't technically a rookie...didn't he play 21 games a few years ago?
from about 1 month ago
He played 17 games last year. He's still elligible cause its less than 25 games.
from about 1 month ago
He played 17 games last year. He's still elligible cause its less than 25 games in one season.
from about 1 month ago
Ah okay, thanks Sebastien.
about 1 month ago
Grabovski is going to keep tearing it up this year. He's got the Calder locked up.
But maybe I am just saying that cuz I am a Leaf fan, lol
about 1 month ago
Another rookie to consider is Steve Mason.
He's outplayed both Pascal Leclaire and Fredrik Norrena so far this season. If he can capture the starting job in Columbus and carry them to a playoff spot, it would be hard to claim that Grabovski, Brassard or Versteeg is better.
from about 1 month ago
Absolutely. I was just thinking if he keeps it up he'll be a good candidate. Hes 6-2-1 in 9 games with 922 SV% pretty darn good for a rookie goalie in Columbus!
He's doing much better than Leclaire in his first year.
about 1 month ago
bossy was my favorite!
I m torn between versteeg and brassard (of the jackets). had at last a point in nine of his last 12 games
about 1 month ago
i know i know stamkos isnt looking nothing special right now but look for him to come flying out of the gates in the 2/3 of the season.
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