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Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:41 pm EDT

Mason, two other guys up for Calder; somewhere, Doughty weeps

By Greg Wyshynski

(Note: The NHL Awards announcement schedule and the return of our rumors and playoff smack-talk chat at 1 p.m. EST will push the Puck Headlines until the 1 p.m. hour. Adjust lives accordingly.)

The Calder Trophy nominees have been announced today by the NHL. Seen Stamkos?

We kid the kid, who managed to have a nice rally statically in the latter part of his first season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. But at the start of the season, the notion that Steven Stamkos isn't among the Calder finalists would have been stunning.

And yet here we are: The finalists for rookie of the year are goalie Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, forward Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks and forward Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The question about whether Drew Doughty's consistent and impressive rookie season would be overlooked as a defenseman on a bad team with good stats (27 points in 81 games) has been answered: uh-huh.

There's no question Versteeg deserves Calder consideration; but a nod to Doughty's year as an ice-time leader (23:49) for his team would have been dandy.

Breaking down the field ...

Why Mason Deserves the Calder: He's as much the Blue Jackets' MVP as their rookie of the year, playing 61 games to the tune of a 2.29 GAA and a .916 save percentage. His 10 shutouts led the NHL, and we'll leave whether that's a tribute to his abilities or to Ken Hitchcock's system for the pub debate circuit. He's been chatted up as the rookie of the year all season, and it's difficult to imagine him not taking the hardware. Unless ...

Why Ryan Deserves the Calder: As compelling as Mason's story is, Ryan's has its own appeal; after all, he's The Guy Who Emerged From Sidney Crosby's 2005 Draft Shadow. Ryan had to wait his turn for rookie glory, as the Ducks navigated through economic and personnel decisions. When he came up to the Ducks again this season, he was a difference-maker: Leading all rookie scorers with 31 goals and 57 points, and helping the Corey Perry-Ryan Getzlaf line dominate down the stretch to carry the Ducks into the postseason. An argument can be made for Ryan as the Calder winner, especially since his sample was only 64 games. But Mason's case is still stronger.

Why Versteeg Deserves the Calder: Fourth on the Blackhawks in scoring (22-31-53), Versteeg added some vital secondary offense to Chicago. He hasn't exactly been a model of offensive consistency in the second half of the season, but he's still a legitimate candidate. Obviously, back-to-back Calder wins would be a coup for Chicago.

But like Ryan, he's not Steve Mason. And it's Mason's year.

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50 Comments

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  1. jibblescribbits
    1. Posted by jibblescribbits Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:53 pm EDT

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    We should re-name the Calder to "Token Western Conference award"
  2. GT
    2. Posted by GT Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:54 pm EDT

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    Bobby Ryan's great, but I think it'll go to Mason, deservedly so.
  3. Mike
    3. Posted by Mike Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:56 pm EDT

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    Versteeg doesn't have a prayer of winning...
  4. 19Bigbird
    4. Posted by 19Bigbird Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:59 pm EDT

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    Do you think Pekka Rinne would have gotten consideration if Nashville made the playoffs?
  5. Runnin up on ya !
    5. Posted by Runnin up on ya ! Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:02 pm EDT

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    Mason or Ryan?
    Ryan: almost a ppg player.
    Mason: 10 shutouts as a rookie.
    Edge (slightly): Mason
  6. Margaret
    6. Posted by Margaret Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:05 pm EDT

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    They're all amazing, but it's pretty much a shoe-in for Mason... He's awesome! Love him
  7. Rhonda
    7. Posted by Rhonda Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:12 pm EDT

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    Interesting that nobody from the last draft class made the cut. Which may be a good thing. I think there's too much pressure on 18 year olds to come in and make an impact immediately.
  8. Blackhawk_Michael_74
    8. Posted by Blackhawk_Michael_74 Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:14 pm EDT

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    Since I'm a Hawks fan I'd love for Versteeg to win, but I really think Mason has it locked up.
    Flamers go down in 5! Can't wait to see Keenan get fired. He's a POS.
  9. Daniel H
    9. Posted by Daniel H Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:15 pm EDT

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    Where is Pekka Rinne?
  10. M
    10. Posted by M Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:15 pm EDT

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    Bobby Ryan could have disappeared from the Anaheim lineup and the Ducks may still have made the playoffs.
    If Mason did not play in goal for Columbus, they would be chasing the Colorado Avalanche for the bottom spot in the West, if not the New York Islanders.
    Mason wins, but I would not be surprised to see Ryan win.
  11. schwab
    11. Posted by schwab Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:16 pm EDT

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    Rinne should have been nominated over Versteeg.
    Obviously Mason had a slightly better season than Rinne, just like Ryan has a better season than Versteeg, but I still think Rinne deserves the nod over Versteeg.
  12. M
    12. Posted by M Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:16 pm EDT

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    Oh Keenan won't get fired when the Flames win in six.
  13. Muktuk
    13. Posted by Muktuk Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:24 pm EDT

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    Mason. While I see the validity in the Ryan point, part of the game must surely be showing up ready to play hard night after night. Versteeg put in a long season for a rookie this year and in my books that counts for something. It's all Mason's though and he earned it.
  14. Sctlaw
    14. Posted by Sctlaw Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:25 pm EDT

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    Pekka Rinne almsot got nashville in with similar numbers. Mason alomst played Columbus out at the end, espceilaly in big games against St Louis. Not saying Mason out, but if he is a candidate much less leading candidate then a peer with simlar numbers needs to be nominated as well.
    If Mason wasnt from Canada, and Rinne was, or at least Rinne played on a team that had been packed an shipped to Hamilton, who would hvae been nominated?
  15. Scot C
    15. Posted by Scot C Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:30 pm EDT

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    CAL CLUTTERBUCK.
    MOST HITS EVER IN AN NHL SEASON.
    Not up for official consideration why?
  16. Dan Bylsma
    16. Posted by Dan Bylsma Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:32 pm EDT

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    what a joke whoever voted was smoking something Drew Doughty is an absolute stud and deserves a spot on that list
  17. zombiemilton
    17. Posted by zombiemilton Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:33 pm EDT

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    Bobby Ryan could have disappeared from the Anaheim lineup and the Ducks may still have made the playoffs.
    You're aware that Bobby Ryan scored thirty goals and Anaheim only made it in as the eighth seed, right? I don't see how you take him off the team and have them still make the playoffs.
    It should've been Mason, Rinne, Ryan. I don't know what Versteeg is doing there, this award isn't for the guy who ' best managed to do well as Toews/Kane's linemate and then disappear when removed.'
    And Doughty played a lot of minutes and wasn't very good, I don't quite understand how that's even remotely worthwhile. Maybe Vincent Lecavalier should get the Hart.
  18. Adam V
    18. Posted by Adam V Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:34 pm EDT

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    Any thoughts on Steve Mason becoming another Jim Carey? Vezina and Calder in one year, only to become invisible afterwards? Anything's possible...
  19. Adam V
    19. Posted by Adam V Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:36 pm EDT

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    @ Scott - I love Cal but "hits" is easily the dumbest and most subjective stat ever in the history of the NHL.
  20. Journeyman
    20. Posted by Journeyman Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:39 pm EDT

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    I'd go with Ryan. When Selane went down, he carried them and kept them in the race.
  21. BluesFan44
    21. Posted by BluesFan44 Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:41 pm EDT

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    too bad tj oshie was hurt....
  22. A Yahoo! User
    22. Posted by A Yahoo! User Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:45 pm EDT

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    I agree. Mason has practically held that entire team on his shoulders this entire year, and he's done it very well. In the most important position on a hockey team, a team's goalie is the foundation and must perform at his best each game to get the W for himself and his team. Mason has shown that he has the "balls" to keep his hockey team moving, and has made hundreds of brilliant saves all season long to get his team to where they are now. Although Mason has not single-handedly brought this team around, but he has put forth his maximum effort to help his team to their first ever Stanley Cup playoffs, and for that I believe he is this years Calder winner.
    Although it is unfortunate that it seems they will be eliminated in the first round, they do stand a very good chance at next years Cup, given the CBJ keep their core players.
  23. wsscarlett
    23. Posted by wsscarlett Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:46 pm EDT

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    There are plenty of kids overlooked in the Calder noms.Drew Daughty...Luke Schenn.....John Mitchell had an impressive year too.Brassard in Columbus was a lock for at least a nomination before he got hurt.
    IMO the award should go to Mason.
  24. Blubby
    24. Posted by Blubby Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:47 pm EDT

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    Players on LA never gets respect, the same thing happened with Kopitar..
    Versteeg is overrated.. and a diver
  25. blues_fan_mk
    25. Posted by blues_fan_mk Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

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    I'd have to echo the Rinne sentiment and find it even more disturbing that he wasn't mentioned once in the entire article while somehow Drew Doughty is in the headline!

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