For hockey fans, one of the most intriguing races of every new season is the NHL’s Calder Trophy Race. By its very nature, the award is always being contested by new faces, and is not full of the same old, same old. There are also the surprises such as Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat who came out of nowhere to finish second and third in voting last season. At LWOS we plan to follow the race closely, giving you our top 10 Candidates today, and then taking a look after approximately 20 games per team, 40 games, 60 games and at the end of the year.
Note Each Player’s name links back to our latest scouting report on him.
2014-15 Calder Trophy: 12 to Watch
12) Nikita Zadorov, Defence, Buffalo Sabres: Zadorov has a booming slapshot and the offensive skills to play on the powerplay in the NHL, and the Sabres will ask the young Russian to do so this year. He also has great size and the ability to throw the types of booming hits that will get him featured in highlight packages. Its tough to win this award as a defenceman though, but the last defenceman to win the award is a teammate on the Sabres.
11) Anthony Duclair, Right Wing, New York Rangers: The speedy 19-year-old had such a tremendous pre-season that the Rangers were forced to make a trade with the Florida Panthers in order to clear a contract spot under the 50-man limit for him to make the squad. Duclair is a speedster, who has a tremendous wrist shot and release. He may be undersized, but doesn’t let that get in the way of battling for pucks in the corners and in front of the net. If he can keep the pre-season momentum; he could take home the trophy.
10) Aaron Ekblad, Defence, Florida Panthers: I’m a big fan of Aaron Ekblad, and rated him as the top prospect in the 2014 NHL, so why do I have him so low on this list? Well, since 1998, only two defencemen have won the award (Barrett Jackman, Tyler Myers) so that’s one strike against him. Add in the fact that defencemen usually need a little longer than forwards to develop, and I’m not sure that this 18-year-old can put up the raw offensive numbers to win the Calder. Ekblad is very talented, and might end up with a better NHL career than those in front of him, but he may not be the best rookie.
9) Evgeny Kuznetsov, Centre, Washington Capitals: Kuznetsov would be a lot higher on this list, but he was outplayed in the pre-season by teammate Andre Burakovsky and finds himself starting the year on the Capitals fourth line. Kuznetsov is incredibly skilled though, and if he can have a strong start to the year and move himself up the lineup to play with some of the Capitals skilled players, he can put up the kind of numbers necessary to win this award.
8) Alexander Wennberg, Centre, Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets are starting the season with injuries galore in their forward group, as Nathan Horton, Boone Jenner, and Brandon Dubinsky are all out of the lineup for a considerable length of time. The injuries create opportunity, and I believe that Wennberg could be someone who takes advantage of the early season opportunity to cement a place in the lineup. The talented Swede put up 16 goals in 50 games playing against men in the SHL last year and that experience will serve him well.
7) Sam Reinhart, Centre, Buffalo Sabres: When we look at the Buffalo Sabres this year, its all about youth. The Sabres will likely have a very tough season, but the development of the young players is really the goal. One of the most important youngsters the Sabres have is Sam Reinhart, the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft. Reinhart has skill, and is an incredibly smart player. He will get plenty of top 6 ice time which can help him in his quest for the award, but he’s hurt a little by the quality of his linemates.
6) Andre Burakovsky, Centre, Washington Capitals: As mentioned above, Burakovsky outplayed Kuznetsov in training camp and earned the job as the Capitals second line centre. He’s a pure sniper who had 41 goals in 57 regular season games, and 10 goals in 14 playoff games for the Erie Otters in the OHL last season. He’s got a big role on a talented offensive club, and if he gets some powerplay time as well, could put up the numbers needed to challenge for the award.
5) John Gibson, Goaltender, Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson has been stellar at every level, whether it was the US NTDP, the World Juniors, the OHL, or the AHL. He even came up late in the season last year and looked good for the Ducks in the playoffs. The Ducks are a strong team, and it looks like he will platoon with Frederik Andersson in the Ducks net to start the year. Playing behind a strong hockey club, he should be able to put up good numbers, and that’s what the Calder Trophy always comes down to, the numbers.
4) Filip Forsberg, Left/Right Wing, Nashville Predators: Forsberg played in 13 games last year putting up a goal and four assists, as the Preds were patient with the young Swede. This year he’s had a good training camp and there are some indications he could start the year in the Predators top six and getting plenty of powerplay time. The Predators will play a much more offensive style under Peter Laviolette, and Forsberg has the talent to put up points in the NHL. He could get plenty of opportunities to show why he’s been so highly touted for so long.
3) Leon Draisaitl, Centre, Edmonton Oilers: After he put up 105 points for Prince Albert in the WHL, the Oilers made Draisaitl the highest drafted German player ever at third overall in the NHL draft. The key to this ranking is the fact that Draisatl will likely centre the Oilers second line. Edmonton is absolutely loaded with offensive depth on the wings, but only has Ryan Nugent Hopkins down the middle, and so Draisaitl will be flanked by a pair of talented players in Edmonton.
2) Johnny Gaudreau, Left Wing, Calgary Flames: Gaudreau was absolutely electric year for Boston College with 80 points in NCAA action, becoming the first player in more than a decade to do so and running away with the Hobey Baker award. Johnny Hockey may be undersized, but he has a ton of skill, and will likely be a go-to player on the Flames powerplay right from the start of the season. The expectations are high here, but I think Gaudreau will live up to them.
1) Jonathan Drouin, Centre/Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning: Speaking of high expectations, there are none higher than those being placed on Jonathan Drouin, the third overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft. He’s scored over two points per game in each of his last two seasons in the QMJHL. He was even more productive than Halifax Mooseheads teammate, and 2013-14 Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon when they played together in 2012-13. Drouin is injured and will miss the start of the season but could be ready to make his debut as early as Monday. He should get top six ice-time, and may even see some time with Steven Stamkos at even-strength and/or on the power play this year. His skill combined with the high scoring lineup he joins make Drouin the clear Calder Trophy favourite.
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