An independent blog on the New York Islanders, the NHL and AHL by a guy from New York.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

2011 Calder Memorial Trophy Spotlight

Update:  Congratulations go to Jeff Skinner.

Carolina's Jeff Skinner, San Jose's Logan Couture and the New York Islanders’ Michael Grabner have all been selected as finalists for the 2011 Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the NHL’s top rookie player.
19 year old Jeff Skinner, 7th overall pick of the 2010 Entry Draft led all rookies with 31 and 32 for 63 points in 82 games and finished the season with a +3 rating.  Skinner and was the only rookie chosen to appear in the NHL All-Star Game.

Logan Couture, 9th pick overall in the 2007 Entry Draft played like a star veteran for San Jose this season.  Couture was 32 and 24 for 56 points in 79 games this season.  He finished the year with an impressive +18 on a deeply talented San Jose team.  NHL.com reports that his 32 goals set a franchise rookie record, and he broke the NHL record for most game-winning goals scored on the road by a rookie.

Our hero, Michael Grabner, the Vancouver Canucks 14th overall pick in the 2006 Entry Draft exploded in the Islanders system and helped the team mount an impressive second half performance.  Grabner, who was 34 and 18 for 52 points in only 76 games, finished with a +13 rating.  He won honors at the 2011 All Star skills competition as the leagues fastest skater. Coming seemingly from nowhere, Grabner was claimed off waivers from Florida and made the most of his new opportunity by scoring a rookie-best 34 goals in 76 games on the Island – the most by a first-year player since Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in 2005-06, NHL.com reports.

Good luck Gremlin!


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