Kings Gameday: Did Drew Doughty Just Lose the Calder?
by RudyKelly on Jan 3, 2009 9:59 AM PST
9 comments
LA Kings (15-16-6) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (21-10-7)
7:30 PST, Fox Sports West
Drew Doughty is probably the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy right now, not necessarily because of his play but because no one knows who the hell the other candidates are. The other candidates were supposed to be guys like Jakub Voracek, Kyle Turris, Steve Stamkos and Fabian Brunnstrom, guys with hype and sterling minor league records. Instead, those players have struggled while guys like Kris Versteeg and Patrick Berglund have excelled. Here are the stats for both:
Pretty good. How the hell you're supposed to compare those stats to Drew Doughty's, I have no idea. Doughty has 12 points on the season, but he also has the most time on ice for the team that has allowed the fewest shots on goal in the NHL. Doughty's best chance to win the Calder relies on the fact that everyone knows who he is (being the 2nd overall pick and all) and no one knows who Kris Versteeg (who was a 5th round pick) and Patrik Berglund (who plays for St. Louis) are. I think Doughty would beat Berglund in a vote because he has the USC Theory working for him* but Versteeg is a different story. He plays for the NHL's sweetheart team, he's on TV a lot, and he just looked great in the NHL's signature event, scoring a goal and an assist in the Winter Classic. I think Doughty just got passed.
*East Coast Bias is the idea that because no one watches the West Coast teams, East Coast teams usually are considered better; USC Theory flips that and posits that because no one watches USC play, everyone just assumes they're amazing and votes for them. I'm a USC fan, but if they get voted higher than Utah I will never stop screaming. Seriously, I'll follow Coaches' Poll voters around going, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" until I get arrested.
Of course, I can't say that I'd blame anyone if Versteeg were to win because I don't know who you are supposed to compare a forward and a defenseman. It's like asking someone what they like more, Ocean's Thirteen or the color blue and then getting pissed at their answer. (Besides, everyone knows the correct answer is blue.) Does Versteeg get penalized because he's 22 and Doughty is 19? Does Doughty get penalized that he plays on a bad team? Who knows? It's stupid, but I think Doughty needs to score about 30 points to win the Calder this year. Anything less, and I think Versteeg will take it and everyone will kind of shrug.
Prediction: Kings win, 5-4. Goals by Doughty (x2), Kopitar, Brown, and SImmonds.
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A defenseman is only going to win the Calder in a season where there are no standout offensive players. Unfortunately, if voters don’t know any of the candidates, they look at stats. Doughty has probably been the most effective rookie for being on a bad team, helping the team to the fewest shots against, an effective penalty kill, not to mention the fact that he leads all rookies in ice time.
He has a “shot”, probably a better shot than Stamkos. He’ll be a candidate, but I think he’ll end up losing to Steve Mason of Columbus, the first rookie goaltender since Glenn Healy in 1955 to have three consecutive shutouts.
Fuck you, Denis Gauthier
All I know is that somebody had better win it over Bobby Ryan. I don’t think I want that kid’s name on the useless piece of hardware. I think with Vesteeg’s head start, Mason’s netminding, and Doughty’s sympathy votes, Ryan should be safe (plus that whole playing on the west coast thing), but you never know.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I agree that for now mason has passed Doughty. I’d still rate Doughty above Versteeg though since he is playing more important minutes and situations. I wasn’t aware Healy played as a sperm in the 50’s.
I agree that Mason gets it if he keeps up this form. He’s been incredible, and is in the process of taking a crappy team to the post season.
Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.
If the BJs make the playoffs without Brassard (who had been the leading candidate because he was ahead of Versteeg in rookie scoring at the time), then Mason will win it. His 03 Giguere impression over the last 4 games has pumped up his “rep” in the media.
Don't bRuin your life. Make love with a Trojan
First win...
…in the third jersey. Quick played outstanding plus we actually had a few bounces go our way. Sully and Brown made their shootout goals definitive, it was great to see the way they finished off their shots. If only Kopi could get his goal scoring back on track. Go Kings.
Go Kings!
Bobby Ryan
Yes Earl, i saw your post, but Bobby is on pace for 61 freakin’ points this year (Currently 20 pts in 21 games after his goal tonight)! I think the odds of Versteeg cracking the 60 barrier are slim (though he got plenty of publicity in the Winter Classic), and Doughty doesn’t stand a chance against forwards who are going to put up 50+ point numbers or a solid goaltender in Mason.
I’m hoping Bobby doesn’t win it because I’d like us to be able to sign him for a reasonable sum, but at the same time I love that the kid is producing at this rate. Here’s to hoping he can climb out of that whole “number 2 pick behind Sidney Crosby” shadow.
Yeah, it’s definitely a bit of mixed success for B-Ry. It’s definitely nice to see the talent that made him a #2 pick (and I don’t really care if he’s always given the “not Crosby” label — I know who I’d probably rather be paying in two years), but yeah, the more he accomplishes, the more he deserves two summers from now.
Let’s just hope that west coast bias keeps on delivering. Go to bed early, east coast Calder voters!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
82 | 51 | 20 | 11 | 113 |
|
Phoenix
|
82 | 50 | 25 | 7 | 107 |
|
Los Angeles
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82 | 46 | 27 | 9 | 101 |
|
Anaheim
|
82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 89 |
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Dallas
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82 | 37 | 31 | 14 | 88 |
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