With the teams now down to their final games of the 2009-10 season, which National Hockey League rookie is your choice to win the Calder Trophy? If asked a couple of months ago, just about everyone would have assured me that New York Islanders' left winger John Tavares would have been a lock to take home the Rookie of the Year honours. But right now?
Tavares has slipped to 2nd place overall in the rookie scoring race behind Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene in total points (Duchene has 52 points and Tavares has 45 - and tied with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers). Also, Duchene has moved past Tavares in the goals department as well.
Niclas Bergfors of the Atlanta Thrashers deserves some consideration as he picked up his pace in the latter half of the season following his trade from the New Jersey Devils. The Swedish right winger had 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 54 games for the Devils before being traded to Atlanta in early February along with defenseman Johnny Oduya, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick for 31 year old Ilya Kovalchuk and defenseman Anssi Salmela. Berfors has been solid in the Thrashers line-up, recording 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) in the 22 games he's appeared for Atanta. That puts him in a tie with Tavares for 2nd overall in the rookie goal scoring race with 21, two goals back of Duchene.
Then there's a strong case to be made for having a goaltender as this year's choice. Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask leads all rookie netminders in 3 top categories: highest save percentage, goals against average and shutouts. Detroit's Jimmy Howard is way out in the lead for most wins (33) and is 2nd to Rask in the other categories. Howard has appeared in 58 games compared to Rask's 40 appearances.
As far as goalies winning the Calder Trophy, it's not usually in the cards although Andrew Raycroft won the hardware in 2004 and Ed Belfour before him way back in 1991. It's my guess that it will again be a player outside the goal crease this year.
With the Islanders on the outside looking in on this years Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tavares will likely get a lot of votes, but if Duchene and the Avalanche put together any kind of run (right now they look to face the San Jose Sharks in the 1st round) he could snag the trophy. Rask will likely be a bridesmaid this year as even if the Bruins do squeak into the playoffs, they'll look like they won't go very far and the Finnish netminder will not have a chance to shine - although he does have 2 shutouts in this last week, so maybe he is peaking at just the right time for the Bruins.
I'm guessing that Duchene continues playing excellent hockey in his last few games this year that he will take the Calder Trophy, but Tavares will be the guy many will automatically vote for because of all his good press over the last couple of years and his performance in the early-to-mid-season. Duchene needs your consideration NOW when the chips are down and the playoffs are getting ready to begin.
is deadly around the net.
