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Rookies In Unknown Territory
by Paul on 03/12/10 at 08:00 AM ET
Comments (4)
from John McGourty of NHL.com,
The NHL’s top rookies—Matt Duchene, John Tavares, Victor Hedman, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Myers—are in uncharted territory: None of them has ever played this many regular-season games.
The fear with rookies at this time of the year is that they’ll hit “the wall.” The rookie wall differs for players who came to the NHL from college and those who took the major junior route. College teams play about 40 games. The Western Hockey League has scheduled 72 games the past few years while the Ontario and Quebec leagues play 68.
Last season, Boston Bruins left wing Blake Wheeler became the poster boy for rookies hitting the wall. Wheeler scored in his first NHL game and had 11 goals and 9 assists through 32 games. He had 10 goals and 25 assists over the next 50 games and really slowed down in March. Wheeler was honest about tiring last year and took steps to prevent a similar result this season.
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Comments
Matt Duchene has 47 points and is threatening to get 70 by the end of the season if he keeps up his current pace.
The only reason why Duchy hasn’t been as valuable to the Avs as Howard is to the Wings is because the entire team is doing well. Who’d a thunk that Stewart would be the beast he is? Or that we’d find out some kid named Yip can score? Or that TJ Galiardi and Ryan O’Reilly would be such awesome penalty killers?
The Calder will go to Duchene, Howard, or Myers.
*tin foil hat moment*
I’m thinking it will go to Myers this year. The defensemen position is very difficult, especially for a rookie. Not to mention the whole East coast thing. (I warned you about the tin foil hat)
Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 03/12/10 at 09:05 AM ET
I’m not necessarily saying he should win the Calder, but it’s stupid beyond all reason to leave him out of a rookie discussion.
I couldn’t agree more. And when you add in the fact that he’s 6th in GAA and 7th in Save Percentage, you’ve got a pretty compelling argument for Jimmy Howard as the Calder winner. Heck, his Sv% is better than Brodeur, Luongo, Lundqvist and Fleury. Not bad company for a kid playing his first full season in the NHL.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 03/12/10 at 10:23 AM ET
I think if Myers can finish strong (and last game is a hell of a start) he gets it. Plays crazy minutes against top competition, tied for second in rookie scoring, and he’s changed the way the Sabres play D. They’ve had ZERO offense from the blue line since Campbell left, until Myers. He joins rushes, isn’t afraid to take a shot, and can still get back and be dependable in his own zone.
Posted by TheTick from Buffalo on 03/12/10 at 10:27 AM ET
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*ahem*
Jimmy Howard recorded victory #25 last night to improve to 25-15-8.
With the possible exception of Tavares, none of the others has been nearly as valuable to his team.
I’m not necessarily saying he should win the Calder, but it’s stupid beyond all reason to leave him out of a rookie discussion.
Posted by Primis on 03/12/10 at 08:08 AM ET