McDavid was a more complete player over Panarin and Ghostisbere last year. Plus had a higher ppg than anyone.

If Liane continues to outscore Mathews at their current rates and Mathews gets picked it is almost certainly because of Eastern Bias or bias in general. Anyone can rationalize anything to pick their favorite and that is what happens in most cases with the NHL awards.

Just my opinion.

McDavid was a more complete player over Panarin and Ghostisbere last year. Plus had a higher ppg than anyone.

If Liane continues to outscore Mathews at their current rates and Mathews gets picked it is almost certainly because of Eastern Bias or bias in general. Anyone can rationalize anything to pick their favorite and that is what happens in most cases with the NHL awards.

Just my opinion.
- Aerchon

McDavid missed half a season. Laine missed, what, 4 games? Bad comparison.

If you take out Matthews' nightmare stretch of about 15 games when he couldn't buy a goal, Laine hasn't really been outscoring him. I know you can't just say "take those 15 games out" when having this discussion at the end of the season, but I'm just bringing that up to make the point that it's unlikely Laine is going to really pull away from him in points.

The Jets are a tight checking hard nosed team. If Matthews can do well against them then kudos to him and he may be deserving. I'm sure there will be a lot of Calder focus on this game and both players know it. Its going to be a great match. You've got to know that the players on each team are going to be doing their best to shut down each of them for the sake of helping their Calder candidate.

I wish Trouba was playing though....

McDavid was a more complete player over Panarin and Ghostisbere last year. Plus had a higher ppg than anyone.

If Liane continues to outscore Mathews at their current rates and Mathews gets picked it is almost certainly because of Eastern Bias or bias in general. Anyone can rationalize anything to pick their favorite and that is what happens in most cases with the NHL awards.

Just my opinion.
- Aerchon

Laine vs Matthews.

Tampa Bay had two rookies Johnson and Palat up for the Calder in 2014. MacKinnon won it when Eastern vote split.

Laine has an advantage that the Western vote is less likely to be split.

Well, a few things.

1. Toronto might end up splitting between Matthews and Marner, leaving Laine as the winner.

This is possible and I hope it counter acts the Eastern bias but I imagine it just means Liane has a shot at the #2 spot. The vast majority of Toronto fans and media rarely put Marner as the Calder winner.

2. Laine's worse defenseively and has 5 empty net goals, on top of playing on the team's 1st line instead of the 3rd line. So there's your bias.

Empty net goals really shouldn't be a negative factor. I've seen more NHLers miss an open net than hit it over the years. Getting into a position to score an empty netter shows good positioning. Being on the ice to score one shows the coach trusts you and you have solid defensive awareness.

Laine's being worse than Mathews defensively is very subjective. Liane being on the first line and Mathews on the third line is a HUGE difference in quality of competition. Playing against bottom pairing defenders versus top pairing is massive. Liane has improved defensively as the season has gone on significantly.

3. The question might have been is Marner better than both Matthews or Laine, seeing how his only negative is literally his height and body weight. He constantly outplays both of those 2 guys if you ever watched him skate. He's the play making version of Laine's sniping essentially. Too bad he's injured now, could've seen him sneaking out with the Calder.

I don't watch enough leafs because while I have heard he is in the running I don't think I have ever heard him a preference over Mathews.

4. Werenski is playing the hardest position out of all top 5 rookies in my opinion, and has become the top pairing D-man on his team, which is unheard of in a rookie's first year, to my knowledge (at least lately, in the last few years).

Ekblad

Its a ridiculous year having 4 rookies all seemingly battle for the calder, on most good years you'd get 2 top guys.
- Buggy166

See bolded above.

Last year's was as good or better.

Next years will most likely be weak.

EDIT: I personally think if the Calder was handed out today it should go to Liane. Liane's ppg and quality of competition are superior to Mathews, the only real counteracting argument is how much harder it is to play center. It's not like Liane is defensively irresponsible. Plus minus isn't a great stat but still gives a general indication and his is currently superior to Mathews as well.

Laine gets loads of love and respect from leaf fans and toronto media, h.b. site is not a barometer of such,and it's a Crosby vs OV thing just s canadian version!

McDavid was a more complete player over Panarin and Ghostisbere last year. Plus had a higher ppg than anyone.

If Liane continues to outscore Mathews at their current rates and Mathews gets picked it is almost certainly because of Eastern Bias or bias in general. Anyone can rationalize anything to pick their favorite and that is what happens in most cases with the NHL awards.

Just my opinion.
- Aerchon

Didn't McDavid miss like 40 games?

Laine vs Matthews.

Tampa Bay had two rookies Johnson and Palat up for the Calder in 2014. MacKinnon won it when Eastern vote split.

Laine has an advantage that the Western vote is less likely to be split.
- Leafsandbolts

But, but, but East Coast bias

Hey if the Leafs get to win 6-3 you can have that hatty.
- FlareKnight

Thanks bud! haha. regardless of the score I'm hoping for a good game tonight. I'm sure we can agree to disagree on our teams but both of these teams have bright futures! Toronto has a hell of a young core.

How many of laines' goals are empty net?
- Bullot

Just to clarify, you're asking how many of Laine's goals sealed the win for the jets? I think he has 2 or 3 game sealing goals.

How many of laines' goals are empty net?
- Bullot

I guess you can only hope the "more complete" player will earn the coaches trust enough to be put out there in the last minute and a half to protect a one goal lead.

McDavid missed half a season. Laine missed, what, 4 games? Bad comparison.

If you take out Matthews' nightmare stretch of about 15 games when he couldn't buy a goal, Laine hasn't really been outscoring him. I know you can't just say "take those 15 games out" when having this discussion at the end of the season, but I'm just bringing that up to make the point that it's unlikely Laine is going to really pull away from him in points.
- Jeffmt

8 games.

8 games.
- stormey

Ok, 8. I stand by my point though.

Ok, 8. I stand by my point though.
- Jeffmt

Before making my next point....I think Matthews is a great player, likely more complete and will likely win the Calder.

Now...my next points.
50 points in 52 games >>> 49 in 58.

also I think Toronto fans are mistaken thinking Laine is a one trick pony. He's a great play-maker and like all Fins is solid defensively. He's also a lot faster than he looks because of his long stride.

Jet fans are really happy they "won" the lottery moving up from to second and getting one of the two.

Leaf fans are ecstatic that they got Matthews and deserve to be also.

Didn't McDavid miss like 40 games?
- walshyleafsfan

He played 45 games. A substantial amount of games and well above the 9 minimum. Hindsight being 20/20, if it wasn't obvious before (it was), it is most certainly obvious now how much better he is over the two players he lost to.

The whole McDavid missed half a season, due to being injured because of the play of another, so shouldn't win the Calder was a massive load of garbage.

The best rookie should win the Calder. Currently I think that is Liane, but it is close and if Mathews can finish stronger than he has been so far, or Liane fades, he deserves the award.

You spelled Auston wrong once and Matthews wrong 10 times

I guess you can only hope the "more complete" player will earn the coaches trust enough to be put out there in the last minute and a half to protect a one goal lead.
- stormey

He is a more complete player, but like everyone not named Bozak on the Leafs, he can't win a faceoff in his own end.

You spelled Auston wrong once and Matthews wrong 10 times
- twiztedmike

And Laine that many too. Lucky he doesn't get a vote

He played 45 games. A substantial amount of games and well above the 9 minimum. Hindsight being 20/20, if it wasn't obvious before (it was), it is most certainly obvious now how much better he is over the two players he lost to.

The whole McDavid missed half a season, due to being injured because of the play of another, so shouldn't win the Calder was a massive load of garbage.

The best rookie should win the Calder. Currently I think that is Liane, but it is close and if Mathews can finish stronger than he has been so far, or Liane fades, he deserves the award.
- Aerchon

Laine is a cracking player and can easily win the Calder. So can Matthews. I'd imagine if Matthews stays top 2 in the NHL for even strength goals while playing with Brown and Hyman and keep within 5 or so points of Laine playing with Schiefelelelele/Little, he'll be getting the vote

You spelled Auston wrong once and Matthews wrong 10 times
- twiztedmike

The last huzzah of the defeated internet poster. Gammer and speeling.


Sorry, I should spell peoples names right. It's rude and was unintentional, I just don't bother much for stuff like this.

The last huzzah of the defeated internet poster. Gammer and speeling.


Sorry, I should spell peoples names right. It's rude and was unintentional, I just don't bother much for stuff like this.
- Aerchon

spelling

Before making my next point....I think Matthews is a great player, likely more complete and will likely win the Calder.

Now...my next points.
50 points in 52 games >>> 49 in 58.

also I think Toronto fans are mistaken thinking Laine is a one trick pony. He's a great play-maker and like all Fins is solid defensively. He's also a lot faster than he looks because of his long stride.

Jet fans are really happy they "won" the lottery moving up from to second and getting one of the two.

Leaf fans are ecstatic that they got Matthews and deserve to be also.
- stormey

We decided it wasn't solely about points.

Before making my next point....I think Matthews is a great player, likely more complete and will likely win the Calder.

Now...my next points.
50 points in 52 games >>> 49 in 58.

also I think Toronto fans are mistaken thinking Laine is a one trick pony. He's a great play-maker and like all Fins is solid defensively. He's also a lot faster than he looks because of his long stride.

Jet fans are really happy they "won" the lottery moving up from to second and getting one of the two.

Leaf fans are ecstatic that they got Matthews and deserve to be also.
- stormey

Your point is obviously valid, but it's a part of the story. It hinges on the assumption that Laine grabs a few more points if he played those 8 games (let's call the one point difference a wash, humor me) and that's a good assumption because it's almost a certainty. Let's assume he plays those games and picks up 7 points. Let's assume Matthews gets 3 points in his next 4 (just to get them both at 62). So we've got Laine at 59 points and Matthews at 52, both in 62 games. Now swap linemates. Scheifele/Ehlers vs Brown/Hyman. Does anyone here think that doesn't make up for a 7 point difference?

That's why points don't separate these two, at least not right now.

Well, a few things.

1. Toronto might end up splitting between Matthews and Marner, leaving Laine as the winner
2. Laine's worse defenseively and has 5 empty net goals, on top of playing on the team's 1st line instead of the 3rd line. So there's your bias.
3. The question might have been is Marner better than both Matthews or Laine, seeing how his only negative is literally his height and body weight. He constantly outplays both of those 2 guys if you ever watched him skate. He's the play making version of Laine's sniping essentially. Too bad he's injured now, could've seen him sneaking out with the Calder.
4. Werenski is playing the hardest position out of all top 5 rookies in my opinion, and has become the top pairing D-man on his team, which is unheard of in a rookie's first year, to my knowledge (at least lately, in the last few years).


Its a ridiculous year having 4 rookies all seemingly battle for the calder, on most good years you'd get 2 top guys.
- Buggy166

1. I have not heard of anyone thinking Marner deserves the Calder. While most agree that he has been the more exciting and dynamic Leafs rookie, Matthews has been the better player overall. There will be no splitting of votes.

2. Give Laine credit for having the confidence of Maurice and being on the ice to close a game. Lord knows the leafs could have used a few empty net goals this year!

3. I love watching Marner play, but Matthews does so many little things well on the defensive side of the puck that you do not on the score sheet.

4. How about Zaitsev for the Leafs this year? It is a little more common that you think.

Laine is a cracking player and can easily win the Calder. So can Matthews. I'd imagine if Matthews stays top 2 in the NHL for even strength goals while playing with Brown and Hyman and keep within 5 or so points of Laine playing with Schiefelelelele/Little, he'll be getting the vote
- walshyleafsfan

I have to point out that Panarin played with Kane and still won the Calder... albeit like Laine playing against significantly stronger opposition than Mathews.