Richard Cloutier: The Top 10 Rookies Blog

Richard Cloutier: The Top 10 Rookies Blog
- Maxbone

Fist! The suck it Oilhorse is getting old so from now on it will be MJL and Bucky4life can go fist themselves.

Fist! The suck it Oilhorse is getting old so from now on it will be MJL and Bucky4life can go fist themselves.
- ruttager17

Most confusing comment in history.

Most confusing comment in history.
- Maxbone

Not really, just something I do. MJL is an ass that just comes here to dispute anything and everything you say, and Bucky4life is just an ignorant A-hole.
Now that that is out of the way, thank you for leaving Freakarenko off of your list, I think I just heard Garth's head explode

Not really, just something I do. MJL is an ass that just comes here to dispute anything and everything you say, and Bucky4life is just an ignorant A-hole.
Now that that is out of the way, thank you for leaving Freakarenko off of your list, I think I just heard Garth's head explode
- ruttager17

Only reason I left Grigorenko off the list is that word was around today that the Sabres will be bringing him to camp but are sending him back to Junior. They need to move someone out in the off-season to make room for him.

Only reason I left Grigorenko off the list is that word was around today that the Sabres will be bringing him to camp but are sending him back to Junior. They need to move someone out in the off-season to make room for him.
- Maxbone

Would be a smart move as they would not eat a year of his contract for a lockout shortened season. Now if he happens to perform like Charlie sheen on coke and impress the hell out of everyone, can they really send him back? Good list though, and will be tough competition from all rookies as they have all been playing and should come flying out of the gates.

Richard Cloutier: The Top 10 Rookies Blog
- Maxbone

Very entertaining as usual my friend. Bravo.

Nice move Clouts by putting Markström there.

How did i not think of him?

Still think Kreider should have been top 10 prospect on the list but thats just me.

I really don't see how Huberdeau could be left out of the top 3, let alone the top 10. I feel like outside of Schultz, Huberdeau, Tarasenko, and Yakupov, the order could go any way.

Only reason I left Grigorenko off the list is that word was around today that the Sabres will be bringing him to camp but are sending him back to Junior. They need to move someone out in the off-season to make room for him.
- Maxbone

*cough* Leino.

*cough* Amnesty buyout.

Being east of Winnipeg, I don't know much about Yakupov or Schultz... Do you seriously believe they can contend for rookie of the year?

Richard Cloutier: The Top 10 Rookies Blog
- Maxbone

Solid and relatively unbiased descriptions of these prospects, Clouts! Nice work! I would, however, argue that Granlund could be even more of a threat to challenge for the Calder than you say. Given the players that he'll likely play with, the shortened schedule, and his AHL prep, I could see him pumping out a similar start to the one that RNH had last season.

A year ago Granlund was my pick for winning this season's Calder Trophy, but after seeing Schultz do so well he's gotta be the clear favorite.

Nice move Clouts by putting Markström there.

How did i not think of him?

Still think Kreider should have been top 10 prospect on the list but thats just me.


- Arosen74

WHO???

Not sure I can give Schulz a clear cut edge yet. Yeah he has been doing brilliantly but like any rookie (especially d man) he is going to have bumps. Also considering he has never played this many games before it is possible to see him wear out

Being east of Winnipeg, I don't know much about Yakupov or Schultz... Do you seriously believe they can contend for rookie of the year?
- laughs2907

Who are these Schultz and Yakupov characters that you speak of? Being east of winnipeg all you should know about is Freakarenko. I would like to subscribe to your news letter sir.

A year ago Granlund was my pick for winning this season's Calder Trophy, but after seeing Schultz do so well he's gotta be the clear favorite.
- atc

Really depends on how well his transition to the NHL goes though. I think it's harder for defensemen to adjust. Schultz is also on the smaller side and not at all physical. He's never seen forwards with the size and speed he is about to play against so I think he will have to sacrifice some of that offensive flash for his first season or so to compensate or be nothing but a liability defensively, a la Cam Fowler.

Really depends on how well his transition to the NHL goes though. I think it's harder for defensemen to adjust. Schultz is also on the smaller side and not at all physical. He's never seen forwards with the size and speed he is about to play against so I think he will have to sacrifice some of that offensive flash for his first season or so to compensate or be nothing but a liability defensively, a la Cam Fowler.
- SteveTambellini

There's also the tremendous difference in competition between the NHL and AHL. Schultz at no point even went up against the best forwards in the league, because all three of them were on his team.

Schultz being guaranteed the Calder is insane. Sure he could win it. But given the quality of forwards that will likely make their debut's in this shortened season, I'd be surprised if Schultz finished in the top 3 in Calder voting.

There's also the tremendous difference in competition between the NHL and AHL. Schultz at no point even went up against the best forwards in the league, because all three of them were on his team.

Schultz being guaranteed the Calder is insane. Sure he could win it. But given the quality of forwards that will likely make their debut's in this shortened season, I'd be surprised if Schultz finished in the top 3 in Calder voting.
- mochoson

Saying Schultz is guaranteed the Calder, and Saying you would be surprised if he even finishes top 3 are both equally idiotic comments. Can you find some middle ground there???

Saying Schultz is guaranteed the Calder, and Saying you would be surprised if he even finishes top 3 are both equally idiotic comments. Can you find some middle ground there???
- ruttager17

"Justin Schultz is guaranteed to win the Calder"

or

"Justin Schultz is certainly a Calder candidate. But given he is a defensemen and the plethora of talented forwards set to make their debut's, I doubt he finishes in the final 3 in Calder voting"

The middle ground you speak of is called "logic". I have attempted to apply some. Cloutier did nothing of the sort. Not that complicated.

"Justin Schultz is guaranteed to win the Calder"

or

"Justin Schultz is certainly a Calder candidate. But given he is a defensemen and the plethora of talented forwards set to make their debut's, I doubt he finishes in the final 3 in Calder voting"

The middle ground you speak of is called "logic". I have attempted to apply some. Cloutier did nothing of the sort. Not that complicated.
- mochoson

Well also using that same logic is that the guy who did so well in the AHL, will be playing with much of the same cast he did well with in the AHL so hard to count him out of being the top 3 as he immediately comes in with chemistry. Yes his competition will be tougher and yes there will be a lot of great rookies coming in, but it is hard to ignore the advantage he comes in with. Guarantee for the calder is a pretty big reach, but so is will finish out of the top 3. No one really knows.

Well also using that same logic is that the guy who did so well in the AHL, will be playing with much of the same cast he did well with in the AHL so hard to count him out of being the top 3 as he immediately comes in with chemistry. Yes his competition will be tougher and yes there will be a lot of great rookies coming in, but it is hard to ignore the advantage he comes in with. Guarantee for the calder is a pretty big reach, but so is will finish out of the top 3. No one really knows.
- ruttager17

At no point did I say he's guaranteed to finish outside of the top 3. "Guaranteeing" anything before the season even starts, ESPECIALLY regarding rookie players who we have yet to see play at NHL level is retarded.

Saying he's playing with "much of the same cast" is kind of ridiculous too. He's playing with the Big 3. That's likely it. He's not, at least initially, going to to get anywhere close to the same amount of ice time.

He will obviously get to play with the big 3 as well as some other really talented players. But Mikel Granlund is going to get to play with Parise, Heatley, Koivu. Huberdeau will get to play with Weiss, Versteeg, Flesichman. Tarasenko will get to play with Backes, Steen, Macdonald, Oshie, Berglund, etc.

"Guaranteeing" he will be rookie of the year is ridiculous. I am not and at no point discrediting his abilities. Simply stating that as a defensemen, he's a long shot to win the Calder from the jump.

Who are these Schultz and Yakupov characters that you speak of? Being east of winnipeg all you should know about is Freakarenko. I would like to subscribe to your news letter sir.
- ruttager17

I have Freakarenko bed-sheets.

What no Grigorenko?

At no point did I say he's guaranteed to finish outside of the top 3. "Guaranteeing" anything before the season even starts, ESPECIALLY regarding rookie players who we have yet to see play at NHL level is retarded.

Saying he's playing with "much of the same cast" is kind of ridiculous too. He's playing with the Big 3. That's likely it. He's not, at least initially, going to to get anywhere close to the same amount of ice time.

He will obviously get to play with the big 3 as well as some other really talented players. But Mikel Granlund is going to get to play with Parise, Heatley, Koivu. Huberdeau will get to play with Weiss, Versteeg, Flesichman. Tarasenko will get to play with Backes, Steen, Macdonald, Oshie, Berglund, etc.

"Guaranteeing" he will be rookie of the year is ridiculous. I am not and at no point discrediting his abilities. Simply stating that as a defensemen, he's a long shot to win the Calder from the jump.
- mochoson

Honestly I think the 3 candidates for the Calder will be Huberdeau, Granlund, and Tarasenko. Schultz has a chance but it would require a very solid season on his end. I don't really see Yakupov being in that conversation though.