Vancouver Canucks: Can Quinn Hughes win next year’s Calder Trophy?

Quinn Hughes: Our Bright Hope

After a second-consecutive impressive season with the University of Michigan in the NCAA, Quinn Hughes turned pro in March 2019 and delighted Canucks fans with his skill level, poise and hockey IQ. He immediately became the Canucks’ most dangerous defenceman and gave the team an added dimension from the blueline.

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In helping the Canucks go 3-1-1 in his five games, Hughes picked up three assists and made more highlight-reel moves in those five games than the combined Canucks defence did all season.

However — and this is a big however — history is not on Hughes’ side when it comes to discussing his 2019/20 Calder chances. Since the 2004/05 lockout, only two defensemen have won the Calder: Aaron Ekblad in 2015/16, and Tyler Myers in 2009/10. Hughes would have to have an exceptional season to break down the stigma behind the Calder.

There is no doubt that Quinn Hughes has the talent to (at the very least) challenge for the Calder next season, but he is going to have to stay healthy, be paired with a steady partner (Chris Tanev perhaps?) and receive some prime power play minutes to allow him to inflate his offensive numbers. He could have all the fancy stats in the world, but unless Quinn Hughes puts up the first 50-point season from a Canucks defenceman since Christian Ehrhoff in 2010/11, it’s unlikely he warrants serious consideration.

Being the optimists that we are, we fully believe that a healthy Quinn Hughes can do just that. After an exciting debut for the team, and four impressive appearances since, he’s the most talented young Canucks defenceman to come through the system since Alex Edler‘s debut.

Jack Hughes

Not since Henrik and Daniel Sedin played their rookie seasons together for the Canucks in 2000/01 have two brothers with such obvious talent vied for the Calder Trophy. While the Sedins never seriously challenged Evgeni Nabokov for the award (Daniel finished 8th in voting, while Henrik garnered no votes), both Quinn and Jack Hughes are fully expected to be at the forefront of the pack – we could be in for a real humdinger of a battle between these two incredible athletes.

What could hold Jack Hughes back is the likelihood of him being the New Jersey Devils’ second line center, rather than immediately being inserted onto their top line. With previous top pick Nico Hischier entering his third NHL season, it would seem unlikely that the Devils would throw Jack Hughes into the lion’s den when they have a perfectly capable and highly-talented center ahead of him.

With Hughes set for the second line, and the Devils being challenged offensively outside of the two young stars and Taylor Hall, Hughes may well struggle to generate Elias Pettersson-type numbers. Just look at who his wingers could be: Jesper Bratt, Miles Wood, Blake Coleman and Stefan Noesen are the only credible options, with Hall and Kyle Palmieri already on the Devils’ top line. Could Jack Hughes be realistically expected to win the Calder with such inferior linemates to carry?

It could be very easily argued that Hughes will have the better opportunity to shine, and the team mates to pull off the Calder victory.

Cale Makar

Anyone who can score such a beautiful goal, on his NHL debut, in the NHL playoffs, against the Western Conference’s top team, has to be considered a serious contender for the award. Cale Makar was the recipient of this year’s Hobey Baker Award, so he already has experience of beating Quinn Hughes to prestigious awards, and will be playing primarily behind the Avs’ top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

If you’re a betting person, Cale Makar is a very good shot for next season’s Calder Trophy. However, the same requirements apply to Makar as they do to Quinn Hughes: he needs a 50-point season to even begin to turns heads.

For me, Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar are the two most exciting rookies lining up for NHL teams next season – the fact they are defenseman should not lessen their chances of winning the Calder, but with so much hype around Jack Hughes, it’s going to be harder for either to stake their claim. There’s also a very good chance that both have excellent seasons and split the vote, allowing someone else (Jack Hughes) to win the award instead.

The more I think about it, the more I believe there should be a Calder award for each position. Who’s with me?

Kaapo Kakko

I can’t understand why so many people are saying they’d take Kakko first in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He’s a fantastic talent and will have a long and successful NHL career I have no doubt, but he’s no Jack Hughes.

But while Kakko may be no Jack Hughes, to me at least, he does have a trump card: he’ll likely slot into the New York Rangers’ top six from the get-go, and be heavily relied on for offense. With the Rangers selling off their UFA assets at the deadline, their top six is ready for an infusion of youth, and it’s entirely conceivable that come October 2019 their first line has a certain Kaapo Kakko pencilled in.

Playing on such a young, fast and dynamic team, in all situations – could we see Kaapo Kakko as next year’s Calder winner?

Filip Zadina

In nine games with the Detroit Red Wings, Filip Zadina had a goal and two assists and a -5 rating. He didn’t set the world on fire, but his talent has been proven at every level he’s played at and, just like Kakko, he’ll be primed for a top six team starved of offense.

He put up a respectable 35 points in 59 games in the AHL last season, and will surely be brought up from the Grand Rapids Griffins for good next season. He’s an outside bet, but is a player who has the skill level to challenge for Calder nominations.

Eeli Tolvanen

Long-touted as an elite NHL goalscorer, Eeli Tolvanen has been slowly brought on by the Nashville Predators – perhaps too slow, as it’s now reached the point where some Preds fans are worried he’s a bust, and the Preds were even rumored to be considering moving him for a rental at the deadline. That didn’t happen, and with the Preds unlikely to bring back Wayne Simmonds next season, there’s a natural spot for Tolvanen about to open up. Like Zadina, he put up 35 points in the AHL last season, but in seven fewer games; his two points in four NHL games with the Preds was also more impressive than Zadina’s three in nine.

Eeli Tolvanen is an electrifying prospect – and should also be considered by those wanting to back a dark horse for the 2019/20 Calder Trophy.

There are many others out there who could challenge for the Calder – Anaheim’s Sam Steel, Arizona’s Barrett Hayton, Florida’s Aleksi Heponiemi, to name just three – but it’s clear that the 2019/20 Calder race is going to be a hotly-contested one. Hughes will have to stay healthy for the full season, and have a season for the ages, to ensure a Calder triumph.

We have faith he can do it – how do you feel about his chances?