Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Hotstove: OK With the Calder Finalists?

May 6, 2013, 11:31 AM ET [32 Comments]
HockeyBuzz Hotstove
RSSArchiveCONTACT
Welcome to the Hotstove! As always, I'm your host, Travis Yost.

Interesting news coming out of the league offices today with the three Calder Trophy finalists being named, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, and Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks emerged from one of the tightest races in recent history -- a race Puck Daddy summed up quite well in an earlier blog post.

The Calder field was, by far, the most crowded for any major award in the NHL this season. Seven players were within four points of each other at the top of the rookie points standings, with Nail Yakupov and Huberdeau tied at the top with 31.

Yakupov also led all rookies with 17 goals, thanks to a final-game hat trick that pushed him to the top. Gallagher was second with 15 goals, while Huberdeau was third with 14 goals after leading all rookies for most of the season’s second half.

On defense, Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild (23:12), Justin Schultz of the Edmonton Oilers (21:26), Brenden Dillon of the Dallas Stars (21:22) and Jake Muzzin of the Los Angeles Kings (17:53) all played big minutes and contributed plenty.


To me, Jonas Brodin's exclusion from the finalists was the most damning. Brodin was likely overlooked due to his paltry point total (2G/9A -- 45 GP), but his value-added came on the defensive-side of the ice, where he blossomed into a true shutdown defender.

This bubble chart kind of identifies where Brodin's value is added: it's driving possession against elite competition in brutal minutes, something he (and, it's worth noting, Dallas' Brenden Dillon) accomplished quite well this year.

NOTE: Blue circle indicates positive possession numbers. Bubble size indicates point production.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic


You'll notice that the finalists tended to fall on the far right side of the graph, identifying success against weaker competition in softer minutes. Personally, I take no issue with that kind of deployment. It's smart coaching, and a great way to ease rookies into the league. If they succeed, it's a great sign of things to come.

But, there's something to be said about guys on the other end of the spectrum: flourishing in roles where most guys would get killed.

I'd have given Brodin a nod.

What's your take on the Calder finalists?

--


Thanks for reading!
Join the Discussion: » 32 Comments » Post New Comment
More from HockeyBuzz Hotstove
» Las Vegas and Seattle Expansion Close?
» Hotstove: Thinking Pacific
» Hotstove: Thinking Atlantic
» Hotstove: Thinking Central
» Hotstove: Thinking Metropolitan