Logan Stankoven Maintains the Lead over Matvei Michkov | Calder Trophy’s race
The race for the Calder Trophy will be highly competitive this season in the NHL. Several rookies have entered the league this year and will be battling each week to win this prestigious honor. A weekly report will be published to track the performances of the key players in this marathon, which is currently led by Dallas Stars prospect Logan Stankoven.
Version française ici.
To access content on prospects, including Montreal Canadiens prospects pool, and everything surrounding the NHL Draft, you can visit the TSLH Prospects section, subscribing to our various audio platforms, checking our YouTube channel, using the search bar at the top of the page, and exploring our TSLH Espoirs : Le Guide for free. Don’t forget Patreon as well!
Logan Stankoven Maintains the Lead over Matvei Michkov in the Calder Trophy race
Logan Stankoven continues his excellent start to the season with the Dallas Stars. The organization currently sits 3rd in the Central Division with 14 points in 11 games. Only Matt Duchene has accumulated more points than the rookie so far, with the 21-year-old winger recording 10 points in 11 games compared to 15 for the veteran. The coaching staff trusts him, and for good reason. Logan Stankoven is averaging 15 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time per game, the 7th highest on the team. The only negative note is his shooting percentage of 3.7%, as he has scored just once on 27 shots. It’s likely that this will normalize soon.
For his part, Matvei Michkov has accumulated 9 points in 12 games, the second-highest total on the Philadelphia Flyers behind Travis Konecny (10 points). Despite an average ice time of 18 minutes and 10 seconds, John Tortorella has begun to slightly reduce the playing time of his young prodigy over the last three games. This isn’t to punish him but is part of the development process currently underway for the young player. The goal is to hold him more accountable, as Matvei Michkov tends to take shortcuts at times, a common issue for the Flyers players, who are in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens Remains in the Race for the Calder Trophy
Things haven’t been going well for the Montreal Canadiens in recent weeks. Criticism has been pouring in from all directions, targeting the team, the head coach, and management. Many fans and journalists seem less patient than expected, negatively commenting on every decision made by the organization. Fortunately, one thing has remained positive since day one of training camp: Lane Hutson. It’s great to watch him on the ice. It’s not perfect, but the Canadiens’ 2022 second-round pick shows his skills in every game.
Many veterans should indeed take note of him. With Lane Hutson, there’s no half-measure. Every time he steps onto the ice, he gives his all and never stops. Mistakes are frequent and sometimes costly, but he is one of the few whose effort is unquestionable. Additionally, his performance of 7 points in 12 games, despite not being use on the first power-play unit, is remarkable. Martin St. Louis is possibly one of his biggest fans, as Lane Hutson averages 22 minutes and 56 seconds of ice time per game and is getting more penalty-killing duties.
Maxim Tsyplakov Shouldn’t Be Overlooked for the Calder Trophy
Another player joining the Calder Trophy race is Maxim Tsyplakov of the New York Islanders. The Russian has 7 points in 12 games so far for Patrick Roy’s squad, which is currently second to last in the Metropolitan Division. The prospect is tied for second on the team with two other teammates, trailing only Kyle Palmieri. The Islanders have the second-worst record for goals scored since the start of the season in the NHL. Hopefully, Maxim Tsyplakov will bring consistent offensive production throughout the season. Casseau will greatly need it to keep his job.
We can also include Dustin Wolf and Justus Annunen among the Calder Trophy candidates. The two rookie goaltenders currently hold records of 3-2 and 4-2, respectively. While their goals-against averages and save percentages aren’t outstanding, they still show promise. Both have demonstrated that they can compete at the NHL level, making them players to watch as the season progresses.
Commentaires