Vancouver Canucks’ GM Jim Benning: Calder-finalist whisperer
Other competition for Hughes
Expecting a rookie like Makar to fill the giant skates of 6’4″ 225 lbs Johnson would be asking a lot, especially defensively.
Offensively speaking, however, a 20-year-old, 5’11” 187 lbs, right-shot Makar scored six points in ten Avalance playoff games this spring, which extrapolates to 49.2 points over 82 games, the exact same rate that Quinn scored in his little cameo while being exactly one year younger.
The next closest challenger looks like 6’0″ 196 lbs, Detroit Red Wings left-shot winger Filip Zadina, who rounds out the top five on my list (found on the next page of this article). Unfortunately for Zadina, the crystal ball shows a second-line opportunity where Detroit’s lack of centre depth will stunt his offensive growth.
If key Canucks like Petey and Boeser take another step in their development… If the team enjoys an increase in creative space due to its newly acquired backbone… If Simmonds isn’t enough of a deterrent against Hughes bashing in New Jersey… If Kakko gets tied up in the NYR’s middle six… If Makar is overplayed and blows a tire… If head coach Travis Green evolves and doesn’t slowplay his talented rookie just to mind the veterans in his room… If Green shelters him defensively on a second or third pairing while favouring him with extra offensive-zone starts and top-powerplay assignments… then Quinn could have an unbelievable season and enough success to kick his brother’s butt in the Calder race.
Unbelievable talent begets unbelievable results, and he has the talent and the pedigree. If the story ever becomes Quinn breaking NHL all-time records it won’t seem out of place, but it ain’t gonna be easy.
Further to his point, even 1980 Los Angeles Kings fourth-overall-draft pick Larry Murphy – who still holds the record for most points ever by an NHL-rookie defenceman after scoring 76 points in 80 games in 1980-81 – could not win the Calder. Rookie NHL defencemen don’t get any respect at all, no respect.
There you have it Canucks fans, with perhaps the fourth-best odds, Hughes has a real shot to win the Calder Memorial Trophy or at least rank as a finalist, which would make it the third season in a row for the Canucks.
Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
After the next few seasons, what are the odds that Jim goes down as the Calder-finalist whisperer? Are Quinn and Podkolzin as talented as I think they are?
If you’d like to dive even deeper into the Calder race then check out my research on the next page, a rough list showing breakdowns and point projections for 38 of the NHL’s best young prospects who have the potential to start their rookie seasons next fall. Be sure to let me know if you have a differnt take on any player, especially if he’s a dark horse who could upset the top of my list.