CaliSports News – NHL Awards Predictions

Today the NHL is hosting their annual NHL awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand hotel.  We here at CaliSportsNews.com decided to unite our NHL department together and create a panel to predict who we thought were going to be the winners of the top six of these prestigious trophies. So without further ado, here we go …

CALDER TROPHY  (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR)

Nominees

Aaron Ekblad – Florida Panthers

John Gaudreau– Calgary Flames

Mark Stone – Ottawa Senators

Predictions

Emily Redenbach – Aaron Ekblad 

Ooh, my favorite category. It’s where I look for my new future husband every year. Just kidding. I actually changed my mind as I was writing this. The obvious choice is Gaudreau. I mean his name is “Johnny Hockey.” As a Kings fan I saw first hand just how good he is. Pity he was on the opposing team.

Personally I think forwards get more recognition because goals look fancy but Ekblad led all rookie defensemen in goals, power play goals, power play points, shots and fewest shot attempts against per 60 minutes. That’s doing his job better than any other rookie in several key areas expected (and some not) of a defenseman. He also finished second in assists, blocked shots, and plus/minus, so not only are his defense skills sharp but he’s an all around player. I expect he’ll have his name in the Norris Trophy candidacy soon.

Lori Hultin – Johnny Gaudreau

Ok, I’m going to confess that I saw very little of Stone’s play during the season but I’m certain from looking at his stats that he is a very deserving candidate. He led all rookies in plus-minus and shared first in the League in take-aways. At 22, he clearly has a long career ahead of him.

Ekblad is absolutely a star who set records for his Florida Panthers club in goals, assists and points by a rookie defenseman. His 39 points were two shy of the NHL record for an 18-year old defenseman, set by none other than Bobby Orr!  But Johnny Gaudreau has been anointed “Johnny Hockey”! He is exciting to watch and helped lead his team to their first playoff spot in five years. He ranked first among all NHL rookies in assists and power play goals and topped rookie forwards in average ice time per game. And despite his small size, he held up against the “big boy” Canucks and Ducks he had to face in the playoffs! No doubt in my mind that Gaudreau gets this award.

Mike Walters – Johnny Gaudreau

This is difficult but I will go with Johnny on this. He had 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points. But Stone also had 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points. This one could go either way, but I think they will go with Gaudreau. I think part of it is he is 5’9″ which is small for a winger but his speed and determination might give him the slight edge.

Jeff Duarte – Johnny Gaudreau

It’s a close race for the Calder Trophy this year but my gut feeling is telling me that it’s going to Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau.  The five foot nine sensation of the Calgary Flames took the NHL world by storm last season with some impressive clutch play despite his small frame and that just might have been enough for the voters to lean his way.