That's how Gelinas is he makes mistakes but he just gets better and better and it's not the next game it's the next shift ! I am hoping his name starts popping up in the conversations like Matta's has even as a dark horse.
- blizzzard

I like the way he's played too...at least as much as a division rival's fan can anyway. Having a nice campaign.

I still think he has the edge right now. If he's back relatively soon he has the best shot. MacKinnon close second. Maatta is beginning...out of necessity...to overshadow the likes of Seth Jones. That's something. We knew he could be good. 24 minutes and more a night good? I don't know.

As Steve Martin says "Be so good they can't ignore you"

Maatta is doing that.
- HopintheCordoba

I have $ 20 bucks that says Mac will win it..

None of those teams are playing well. We should start seeing some injured coming back soon. Malkin, Orpik and maybe Scuderi could be close. I guess the question. We need Malkin back, but if the other two are close, do you continue to rest them with the way the D is playing, or get them back since this next four game stretch isn't that difficult.
- Oneonta Penguin

I heard Malkin would be playing if it was the playoffs. I think that's your answer. They aren't rushing anybody back......and shouldn't.

That is something that gets split down the middle probably. It's easier to make a bad team; then get quality minutes for a stacked team. It's not like Maatta has benefitted from injuries in Pittsburgh. He made the club out of camp.
- Oneonta Penguin

Solid point. Both could've been sent back to their CHL teams. Both would be wasting their time. Monahan was a Top 10 pick. Maatta should have been a Top 10 pick rather easily...although that 2012 draft was HEAVY with fowards. Honestly though Monahan would probably be given an edge anyway. Still, nice to see Maatta doing so well.

I like the way he's played too...at least as much as a division rival's fan can anyway. Having a nice campaign.

- HopintheCordoba

the only bright spot so far haha well I guess Merril to and Boucher but neither of them will be considered and Boucher likely won't even stay up once we get healthy but I am having more fun watching the kids then I am the old guys who make the same mistakes every game as veteran players.

That is something that gets split down the middle probably. It's easier to make a bad team; then get quality minutes for a stacked team. It's not like Maatta has benefitted from injuries in Pittsburgh. He made the club out of camp.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yes, he did make the team out of camp. But he has definitely benefitted from injuries. He's getting more minutes and special teams time (I'm assuming) with the injuries on the back end.

I have $ 20 bucks that says Mac will win it..
- bixll

I can't take that bet. Only because a forward will win it regardless of whether it's Mac or not. Just seems to be the usual deal.

None of those teams are playing well. We should start seeing some injured coming back soon. Malkin, Orpik and maybe Scuderi could be close. I guess the question. We need Malkin back, but if the other two are close, do you continue to rest them with the way the D is playing, or get them back since this next four game stretch isn't that difficult.
- Oneonta Penguin

I forget where I read it, but supposedly Malkin didn't travel to New York because they didn't want him to push too hard. It's Malkin, keeping him out of the lineup isn't easy. I'm score.

Orpik is probably ready, but there's no reason not to be cautious with him.

I feel like they've already been cautious with Scuderi (he's closing in on 8 weeks of recovery), so what's another two games, especially with three days off next week.

the only bright spot so far haha well I guess Merril to and Boucher but neither of them will be considered and Boucher likely won't even stay up once we get healthy but I am having more fun watching the kids then I am the old guys who make the same mistakes every game as veteran players.
- blizzzard

Interesting thing isn't it? I remember Jagr talking about his early days and just enjoying the game. He played well and with a degree of reckless abandon. Kind of free. It's an awesome sight to see a young player fitting so well and looking so good doing it.

Yes, he did make the team out of camp. But he has definitely benefitted from injuries. He's getting more minutes and special teams time (I'm assuming) with the injuries on the back end.
- jmatchett383

That's true. Although you can't forget that he was getting PP and PK time before Martin and Orpik went down. Albeit 2nd unit---but still time. It's increased, yes. But he was getting it.

I can't take that bet. Only because a forward will win it regardless of whether it's Mac or not. Just seems to be the usual deal.
- HopintheCordoba

Brian Leetch won the Calder.

Brian Leetch won the Calder.
- madmike71

I didn't say it's impossible. Just not the usual.

I didn't say it's impossible. Just not the usual.

- HopintheCordoba

I'm kidding. More of a jab at comparing rookies to first ballot HOF'rs.

I'm kidding. More of a jab at comparing rookies to first ballot HOF'rs.
- madmike71

For sure. I'm just happy this conversation is relevant at all, you know?

It sucks that he has to have the workload he does but he's responded very well. Shero looks pretty good right now. Bylsma and Martin kind of do too.

Interesting thing isn't it? I remember Jagr talking about his early days and just enjoying the game. He played well and with a degree of reckless abandon. Kind of free. It's an awesome sight to see a young player fitting so well and looking so good doing it.
- HopintheCordoba

It's just a relief after everyone talking about how we have no prospects and here we have Gelinas doing great Merril doing well and Boucher filling a role it's awesome. The few prospects we do have a looking to be guys who will make an impact in the nhl.

It's just a relief after everyone talking about how we have no prospects and here we have Gelinas doing great Merril doing well and Boucher filling a role it's awesome. The few prospects we do have a looking to be guys who will make an impact in the nhl.
- blizzzard

That's why they play. You just never know who will boom and who will bust. I love seeing guys who just go play and work their way into roles. Pedigree is fine but the work keeps guys around. Good for them.

That's why they play. You just never know who will boom and who will bust. I love seeing guys who just go play and work their way into roles. Pedigree is fine but the work keeps guys around. Good for them.
- HopintheCordoba

Exactly and I think it's not how many of them you have it's how good the ones you do have are

For those who care, Pavel Kubina announced his retirement today.

@CraigCustance: It's not easy for a defenseman to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. Just ask the Minnesota Wild's Jonas Brodin, who wasn't even a finalist last season. However, what Olli Maatta and the Pittsburgh Penguins are doing right now, a six-game winning streak with a defensive group decimated by injury, is the kind of thing that sticks in the memories of voters who turn in Calder ballots after the season. Maatta has been unbelievable and the Penguins won again Thursday night, 5-2 over Brodin and the Wild. Maatta had a goal and an assist, and was a plus-3. He skated 21:46 and continues to establish himself as one of the game's best young defensemen. The Calder race is shaping up to be even tougher than last season. Nathan MacKinnon is cutting into Tomas Hertl's early rookie scoring lead, Valeri Nichushkin of the Dallas Stars is charging back into the picture, and even the Tampa Bay Lightning's Tyler Johnson deserves mention for his efforts while Steven Stamkos is out. But considering Maatta's age and position, it's hard to top the effort he is turning in right now.

If Barrett Jackman can win the Calder in 2003 with a stat line of 82gp 3g 16a 19p 190PIM I don't see why Maatta can't.

@CraigCustance: It's not easy for a defenseman to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. Just ask the Minnesota Wild's Jonas Brodin, who wasn't even a finalist last season. However, what Olli Maatta and the Pittsburgh Penguins are doing right now, a six-game winning streak with a defensive group decimated by injury, is the kind of thing that sticks in the memories of voters who turn in Calder ballots after the season. Maatta has been unbelievable and the Penguins won again Thursday night, 5-2 over Brodin and the Wild. Maatta had a goal and an assist, and was a plus-3. He skated 21:46 and continues to establish himself as one of the game's best young defensemen. The Calder race is shaping up to be even tougher than last season. Nathan MacKinnon is cutting into Tomas Hertl's early rookie scoring lead, Valeri Nichushkin of the Dallas Stars is charging back into the picture, and even the Tampa Bay Lightning's Tyler Johnson deserves mention for his efforts while Steven Stamkos is out. But considering Maatta's age and position, it's hard to top the effort he is turning in right now.
- canadianpenfan

Well said.

Solid point. Both could've been sent back to their CHL teams. Both would be wasting their time. Monahan was a Top 10 pick. Maatta should have been a Top 10 pick rather easily...although that 2012 draft was HEAVY with fowards. Honestly though Monahan would probably be given an edge anyway. Still, nice to see Maatta doing so well.
- HopintheCordoba

And as Calgary fans keep saying, they passed on Maatta twice for a reason. We should be very thankful for Feaster's dumbness.

If Martin Jones continues as he has it won't even be a contest.

other than that I don't see any conceivable reason why Mackinnon, Krug or even Hertl wouldn't be in line before Maata.