Calder Trophy Finalists Announced

A new trending topic on Twitter recently, titled #thekidforcalder, was in reference to former Ontario Hockey League player Jeff Skinner’s chase for Calder Trophy nomination as the NHL’s top rookie in the 2010-11 season.

Well, let the campaigning continue.

Skinner, as well as Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks, and Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders are this year’s nominees for the award.

It won’t be easy for the Carolina Hurricanes’ forward, as both Grabner and Couture scored more goals than the 18-year old, with 34 and 32 respectively. 

However, even though Skinner did not lead in goals (31), he did lead all of the rookie class with 63 points, and was the youngest player ever named to an NHL All-Star roster.  As well, he was the 7th-youngest player to record a 30-plus goal season in the NHL.

What’s so extraordinary about this year’s class of nominees is that it’s the first time since 2005-06 that there were at least three rookies that scored 30 or more goals in a season.  That season, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Marek Svatos, and Petr Prucha were the all impressive foursome that accomplished the feat.

Couture is also a worthy candidate, leading all rokies with 10 power-play goals and 8 game-winning goals.  He also finished second on the Sharks behind Patrick Marleau for goals and was sixth on the team with 56 points.  He is also the only finalist for the award playing in the post-season, helping the Sharks to the regular season Pacific Division title.

Grabner also has made a solid case for himself as well.  Besides leading in goals, he led all rookies with 6 shorthanded goals and finished third with 52 points, all while being bounced around from the Florida Panthers, to the Vancouver Canucks, before finally finding a home in New York with the Islanders.  He also won the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater competition at this year’s All-Star game in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The award winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2011 NHL Awards from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas. The 2011 NHL Awards will be broadcast by VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada.