THN ranks Boeser seventh for the Calder

[Goat James]

Good for Brock, hope he leads the team in goals. He is like the only thing I'm psyched about this year, man rebuilding sucks! 

 

With no generational talents in the fray this time, it’s a more wide-open Calder field than we’ve seen in several seasons.

The question I’ve been asked most this summer: “Who will win the Calder Trophy?”

Our readers and my fellow pundits seem particularly fascinated with the 2017-18 rookie class. That’s an ironic sentiment for what, on paper, is the least fascinating field in years.

But that’s just it. No one knows what to expect. The 2015 draft yielded Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. The 2016 draft gave us Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine. The 2017 draft class provided some talented kids at the top in Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick, but their ceilings aren’t nearly as high. There’s a decent chance the league’s best rookies in 2017-18 are older kids drafted before 2017. Who are the top candidates? Keep an eye on these 10 names. But remember, some of them could wind up not making their teams this year. Think of the list as “best chance to win the Calder – if they do make the team.”

1. Clayton Keller, C, Arizona Coyotes

The Derek Stepan acquisition doesn’t scare me away nor does the presence of Dylan Strome or Christian Dvorak in Arizona. You can’t keep Keller’s shifty, dynamic talent down. Whether he ends up playing center or gets shoehorned into a wing spot this year to ensure he plays on a scoring line, Keller should get a major opportunity. He has the upside to become a Patrick-Kane-like scorer. He’s my pick to lead rookies in points this season and win the Calder. That said, in a relatively modest year for freshmen, I see something like 55 points pacing the class.

2. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins

That the Bruins could toss McAvoy right into playoff action to make his NHL debut on a pair with Zdeno Chara says a lot about how much they need and value McAvoy. He’s a gifted offensive player and a real leader, too. His coach at Boston University, David Quinn, told me everyone on the team worshipped McAvoy. He has a bright NHL future and has the poise and swagger to handle big minutes and pressure right away. He’s my pick to lead all rookies in ice time.

3. Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils

The bigger, stronger Patrick was deemed the more NHL-ready draft prospect by most scouts, but Hischier possesses the niftier offensive skill set and landed on a team that needs him more right away. Patrick will have a tough time cracking Philly’s top two lines, whereas Hischier could realistically start the year centering the Devils’ top line with Taylor Hall riding shotgun. It’ll depend on what Hischier shows in camp and the pre-season.

4. Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild

There’s no more polished rookie in 2017-18 than Eriksson Ek, a two-way center who was good enough to amass seven points in 15 games last year. He spent most of the year back in Sweden because Minnesota wanted him to play more minutes. With Erik Haula and Martin Hanzal gone, Eriksson Ek has a chance to step right in as the Wild’s No. 3 center this year. Some rookie forwards have the skill sets that only allow them to play “scoring line or bust,” but not Eriksson Ek. He has nice scoring ability but can also play a defensive role. He should earn Bruce Boudreau’s trust quicker than most rookies do. He’s less of a “sexy” Calder pick than most but is probably the safest bet to finish top-five in voting.

5. Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators

Chabot isn’t a guarantee to crack the Senators this season, but Marc Methot’s departure helps. Yes, the Senators added left-shot Johnny Oduya, but he’ll be 36 when the season starts. Chabot can force the issue with a strong camp. He’s built to be a true horse on defense, capable of chewing up massive minutes while providing nice mobility and puck-moving acumen. Chabot had a monster 2016-17, winning MVP at the world juniors with Team Canada and reaching the Memorial Cup with QMJHL Saint John.

6. Nolan Patrick, C, Philadelphia Flyers

Patrick lands in a tougher situation than some of the other rookies on this list. There’s no way he unseats Claude Giroux for No. 1 center duties, and even if Sean Couturier is listed as a No. 3, his role is major and secure. He’ll play a lot. The Flyers thus don’t have to rush Patrick into a high-leverage gig right away. More concerning are Patrick’s multiple off-season abdominal surgeries, which kept him off the ice into the summer. Ideally, a teenage rookie gets to put hard work in all off-season in hopes of getting his body ready to compete against grown men in the NHL. Patrick had some of that time stolen from him.

7. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks

Don’t sleep on Boeser. He arrived in Vancouver late last season with NHL-ready polish, joining the Canucks after a great college career at North Dakota. Boeser scored four goals in nine games. He doesn’t have stiff competition for playing time on a rebuilding Canucks team. He’s a legit threat to lead Vancouver in goals as a rookie.

8. Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders

Barzal’s ceiling is as high as anyone’s on this list. He racks up points with aplomb in major junior, including 79 in 41 games with WHL Seattle last season. He’s the ideal fit to become the Isles’ No. 2 center behind John Tavares. But so far Barzal has looked physically overmatched when given tastes of the NHL. He has to show he’s matured and gotten stronger if he finally wants to stick. If he does, though, he could be a special player right away.

9. Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Connor has breathtaking speed and really put it to use in the AHL after he failed to impress in 20 NHL games with the Jets last year. The demotion did Connor a lot of good and he enjoyed a nice goal-scoring spree in the second half with the Manitoba Moose. Connor immediately becomes a Calder threat if he (a) makes the Jets and especially if (b) he can unseat Mathieu Perreault for the left wing spot on Winnipeg’s second line, likely with Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler. Connor could easily score 25 goals playing with those two.

10. Alex DeBrincat, RW, Chicago Blackhawks

DeBrincat’s odds of making the veteran Hawks aren’t outstanding compared to other rookies on this list, but DeBrincat’s potential is too tantalizing not to discuss. He is just the second OHL player ever with three straight 50-goal campaigns. He’s a compact scoring wizard who skated laps around his competition, as Mitch Marner did the season prior. Chicago’s right wing depth behind Kane isn’t great with Marian Hossa gone. DeBrincat could make an immediate impact if he makes the Hawks, especially because his game reminds many of Artemi Panarin’s. DeBrincat can play either wing, too, further upping his odds of cracking the lineup.

Other Calder Trophy candidates to watch:

Julius Honka, Stars; Tyson Jost, Avalanche; Josh Ho-Sang, Islanders; Ryan Pulock, Islanders; Dylan Strome, Coyotes, Evgeny Svechnikov, Red Wings; Mikhail Sergachev, Lightning; Jakub Vrana, Capitals; Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blue Jackets; Adrian Kempe, Kings; Klim Kostin, Blues; Luke Kunin, Wild

[PunjabiCanucks]

It will come down to Eriksson, Boeser, Brazal and DeBrincat in my opinion. 

[MeanSeanBean]

IMO this is pretty fair. I would place Brock at about 4th though myself behind Hischier, McAvoy, and Keller in that.

 

When it's all said and done I think he will be at 2nd since I doubt Keller will have as much opportunity in the lineup as Brock will. Hischier has a good chance of playing top line minutes with Hall, and McAvoy could be anywhere in the line up from first paring to 3rd realistically. 

 

I wouldn't sleep on Jost this year, I think he has the opportunity to play meaningful minutes this year.

 

I would love to see Brock stick on  the top line with Bo and pot 30 goals and win the calder... Man that would be great.

[numb3r 16]

Jost ahead of debrincat imo

[JM_]

seems about right, but I don't know that I'd put Keller over Nico or Chabot over Patrick. Boeser does have an outside shot at it but not if someone out east is having a similar year, just not enough media coverage being in Vancouver to get the votes. 

[redhdlois]

I trust that he will be put in a position to succeed with our new coach........excited to seeing what Brock can do next season :D   

[Stormtrooper Steve]

I read this today... Pretty surprised he's ranked that high from an out of market source, but like they said he's got a spot ready for the taking. I think all of us here have pretty high expectations of him. I'm just hoping he makes the team first. It will be fun to watch what happens after that.

[Nucker 67]

Just nice to even be acknowledged. I think Boeser will have a great year, but maybe not enough to win it. But you never know, 4 goals in his first 9 games on a losing team? That's impressive.  

[Coconuts]

It's really nice just having his talent acknowledged tbh, I'm happy just to see some positive stuff being said about our up and comers. I don't think he'll win the Calder but depending on how he's utilized and who he plays with he's definitely a dark horse.

[IBatch]

Good write up, I especially liked the fact he pointed out the irony in how much attention this year's draft picks are getting given it is generally considered a ho hum class.  Personally I like a defenseman coming out and taking the Calder, either McAvoy or Chabot.  In the latter there is a reason Ottawa could trade Dahlen and not flinch, they had four other guys much higher on their prospect list at the deadline.  

 

Of course I will hope Boeser gets twenty-five to thirty goals and wins it, it's been a long time since Vancouver had a guy before the season started considered a Calder candidate.  It's possible this will become a trend.  Next year Juolevi, followed by Pettersson and Demko, plus possibly a new draft pick or two...if thats the case the corner will be turned and good times are coming.

 

Edit.  I think the player with the highest chance of blowing the competition away is Debricant.  If he ends up playing with Kane as Panarin's replacement watch out. ...is probably the only guy on the list that could be a PPGer.

 

Edit. Chabot was on another plane at last year's world's, taking a team that wasn't supposed to medal all the way to a shootout loss for silver.  Was there, he was on the ice all the time and has a Prongeresque ability to completely control the pace and the game when on the ice.  Not sure if the points will come, but once he gets a shot he won't be going down again.

[EagleShield]

I'm not suggesting that it is, but if his pace from what we saw at the end of last year was a realistic sample, he could have a 50+ point rookie season (given the right lineup spot and PP opportunity). I could still see him starting in Utica do to waiver reasons though.

[Canuck Surfer]

2 hours ago, numb3r 16 said:

Jost ahead of debrincat imo

Jost is, no doubt, a talent.

 

He looked at the WJC's, in his stint with Colorado, and at ND that he would have been better served taking another year in college?

 

I think he's being rushed. We may see him, like Connor & Puljujarvi, in the AHL.

 

Nothing wrong with that either...

[Canuck Surfer]

Joel Eriksson EK

 

Scores his first goal by stealing the puck by applying pressure and a big hit. Makes a nice pass.  And goes to the net for a rebound...

 

Suggests to me he will get a lot of ''working class'' goals. 

 

But he also has some sting in his talent;

 

 

 

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

The only expectation I have for Boeser this is to stay in the lineup all season.  I hope he does as well as he did at the end of last season, but that was far less pressure than there will be at the start of 2017-18.  From all accounts he has the character to handle it, but I'm not going to pile my "scoring 35 goals" expectation on him.  It could happen, but I don't expect it to.

 

[canuckmen84]

I think Boeser lands 3rd or 4th behind Nico, Patrick and Keller. I would not be surprised if Boeser was first or second in goals though as long as he is deployed on the PP and on the left side one timing shots like Ovi.... like he did in North Dakota.

[Pears]

Man when was the last time a rookie lead his team in goals and points? Boeser has serious potential. 

[JM_]

27 minutes ago, Pears said:

Man when was the last time a rookie lead his team in goals and points? Boeser has serious potential. 

I'd love to see a line of Loui-Bo-Boeser, I think that would be the best line we've had in a long time. 

[Pears]

49 minutes ago, S'all Good Man said:

I'd love to see a line of Loui-Bo-Boeser, I think that would be the best line we've had in a long time. 

Yea I could see that. Eriksson will for sure have a better year than last year so we could have an elite 2nd line. 

[granpappy]

i'm surprised joulevi didn't at least make the list of 'others' but the list is just some d.head's guess anyway

[Alflives]

52 minutes ago, S'all Good Man said:

I'd love to see a line of Loui-Bo-Boeser, I think that would be the best line we've had in a long time. 

Boeser with the Twins.  Who cares about defensive side of the puck.  Get the kid the Calder!