The Calder Trophy talk started last summer and now with the stretch drive of roughly 20 games per team remaining the talk is becoming far more frequent. Austen vs Patrik. Laine vs Mathews. Leafs vs Jets.
Go either way and you get favouritism from both sides. Laine's points vs Mathew's underlying numbers. Wait they aren't that far apart.
Laine leads all rookies with 52 points 54 games while Mathews has 49 points in 54 games. Needless to say they are both good, really really good. But points always seem to carry more weight, at least in the court of public opinion.
Mathews is by far the more complete player and has been since day one, he is also a year older with a year playing against adults too. His experience plays a role as much as his natural talent. Laine has all but done everything he can to help will a lacklustre team with loads of talent to be within shouting distance of the 8th spot in the west.
You can argue all you want but Laine is playing with better players and while the two teams are close in results you give the Jets Andersen's level of goaltending and they are firmly in the playoff picture, despite the injury woes.
It's not wrong to say Mathews is the complete, better player. By all accounts he should be but it doesn't mean it will be that way forever. If you are voting for the Calder right now you might side with Laine due to his production and the fact he lost games due to injury. You might also vote for Mathews who with inferior line mates has produced nearly as well and both have 28 goals.
Mathews has nearly an hour more time at even strength in minutes played this season. However in total minutes Mathews is only about 45 minutes ahead of Laine. Paul Maurice has simply allowed him to have minutes other rookies may not get, but that's for the right reasons, the kid is good.
The last time these team met Laine scored the game winner in OT. The Leafs launched out to a 4-0 lead only to see the Jets claw back and win the game in heroic fashion with their rookie sensation leading the charge. Now it's time for round two but in Toronto with Mathews having the support.
Jacob Trouba will be serving the first of his 2 game suspension tonight while Mitch Marner will be missing the game after retroactively being placed on IR. Is that a wash? Maybe, but I say the Jets give up more with Trouba because that leaves Byfuglien and Morrissey as the lone consistent starters. Julien Melchiori slots in to create this:
Melchiori Byfuglien
Morrissey Chiarot
Stuart Postma
The Jets are going to have to score a lot of goals tonight and forwards are going to have to be be much better in their 2-way game. Oh yeah, Hellebuyck can't get pulled either.
So yes it's a showdown between the two Calder Cup leading rookies. Both teams have four players each in the top 50 scorers in the NHL, that we know they can do well. The Leafs just keep pucks out that much better having surrendered 21 less than that Jets this season. They've also scored one more goal than the Jets too so draw whatever conclusion you want from that.
Regardless of who is better this is sure to be a fun game as only twice a year do we see these two players face each other. It's too bad for the Leafs Laine gets another hat trick tonight.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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