Calder Trophy Rankings: McTavish, Marchenko enter the fight

The 2022-23 NHL season is halfway through and the race for the Calder Trophy continues.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov caused a stir in the last edition of this ranking, but the return of Frederik Andersen sabotaged his playing time – the rookie has not played since January 15. Edmonton Oilers All-Star Stuart Skinner has been on the sidelines of that list all season, but he only got into five games in January — and won just one win — thanks in part to the reappearance of Jack Campbell. It’s hard to justify giving rookies spots that don’t play much.

Two forwards make their debuts on the list in this edition.

5. Mason McTavish, Ducks

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Welcome to the leaderboard, McTavish.

The Ducks forward’s 17 points in 27 games is the highest among the rookies since December 1. Thanks to his wintry push, McTavish now sits third in the rookie standings, one point behind Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti in second. He is also tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kent Johnson for the fifth-most goals in the class.

After bouncing around as a winger and lynchpin of the bottom six for the early months of the season, McTavish earned his first spin as Anahiem’s ​​No. 1 center on Jan. 4 against the Dallas Stars. He rewarded the faith of his coaching staff with a goal and an assist to win 2-0.

McTavish rolled on two days later against the San Jose Sharks in his second straight game at the top and became the first rookie to have a four-point game this season. Though he settled down with two points in his last nine contests to finish January, McTavish remained the Ducks’ first-line center for the remainder of the month.

A timeslot has officially opened for the 2022 World Junior Championship MVP, and he’s been a bright spot for the struggling Ducks. Time will tell if he can build a convincing Calder case in the second half of the campaign.

4. Kirill Marchenko, blue jackets

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We’re not sure Marchenko will get much love for the Calder Trophy from the people who decide the winner — the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association — but we’re giving him a spot here.

One thing is certain: Marchenko can fill the goal. He is currently second-highest goals scorer in rookie alongside Stars youngster Wyatt Johnston despite playing in 24 fewer games. Marchenko’s 2.06 goals per 60 minutes at all skill levels ranks fifth highest in the league among players who have played at least 20 games, behind the likes of David Pastrnak, Connor McDavid, Tage Thompson and Jason Robertson. That’s decent company.

It’s quite strange that Marchenko, 22, hasn’t registered an assist yet. The Russian winger is One of three Player in NHL history who scored his first 13 career points in goals, along with John McKinnon (13 in 1926-27) and Joe Malone (16 in 1917-18). He also surpasses all rookies with six power-play goals, was the first rookie to score a hat-trick this season, and has averaged the shortest ice time of any freshman player to reach the 10-goal mark this season.

Marchenko spent the first few months of the season in the AHL and didn’t make his NHL debut until December 6. Who knows what his numbers would look like over a full season? We take over the world.

3. Logan Thompson, Golden Knights

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Thompson and the Golden Knights aren’t the dominant forces they were in the early months of the season, but an extended rough stretch isn’t enough to completely eradicate the 25-year-old goaltender’s Calder Trophy case.

Thompson’s save percentage and goal-versus-average are both still top 20 among goaltenders with at least 15 starts this season. He’s also one of 12 goalies – and the only rookie – to have surpassed 1,000 shots. He’s still chasing his 20th win of the season, but he’s tied with Nashville Predators stud Juuse Saros for the ninth-most wins in the league. Simply put, Thompson earned his place in the All-Star Game.

Though Vegas left top spot in the Pacific Division, Thompson has had a couple of big performances in recent losses, including a 36-way save during a Jan. 28 shootout against the New York Islanders.

The Calder chase no longer seems like a Thompson-Matty Beniers duel given the recent slippage of Thompson and Matty Beniers. But Thompson could work his way back up to second on that list if he and the Golden Knights can regain their preseason mojo. However, that task was made even more difficult when captain Mark Stone was sidelined indefinitely following back surgery.

2. Owen Power, sabre

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On January 23, Power finally lit the lamp for the first time of the season – then it promptly went on to a three-game scoring streak. The power is switched on, so to speak.

His glowing run began franchise record for the longest scoring streak by a Sabers rookie defenseman, making him the third youngest NHL rearguard to streak more than three games in the past 35 years. Not too shabby for a 20 year old.

His scores aren’t overwhelming, but that doesn’t make Power all that impressive anyway; he remains a constant presence for the Sabers night after night. He leads all rookies in average ice time and records the second-most minutes for Buffalo, behind only Norris Trophy nominee Rasmus Dahlin. That those minutes weren’t disastrous for the young Sabers also has something to say: Buffalo beat their opponents 55-40 with power on the ice in 5-on-5, controlling over 50% of shot attempts. expected goals and scoring chances.

Despite his workload, Power is up 12 on the season, the highest in the rookie class. He also ranks among the top 5 first-year players in wins over substitutes (1.2) and goals over substitutes (6.9). After discovering his goalscoring abilities in his first full NHL season, can the first overall winner of 2021 continue to piece it all together?

1. Matty Beniers, Kraken

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We told you Beniers would start scoring again. Following the release of the last edition of this leaderboard on January 3rd, the Kraken Center went on a five-game scoring streak, setting a franchise record. This kind of production is exactly what the Kraken have come to expect from their first-ever draft pick and budding star.

This type of production also earned Beniers a selection on the Pacific Division’s first All-Star list. Unfortunately, the 20-year-old missed Seattle’s last two games through injury and that illness kept him out of the All-Star Game, which is a shame. Who wouldn’t love to see the Calder Trophy leader take on some of the best and brightest in the league?

Beniers leads the rookie lead in points – he’s seven ahead of second-placed Perfetti – and goals. He cruises at 2.71 points per 60 minutes at all ranks and is proving extremely valuable to Seattle’s playoff ambitions: Beniers averages the third-most ice times of any Kraken forward, is tied with Vince Dunn for the third-most points on the team and is tied second place for goals of equal strength.

Beniers has previously been kept pointless in his last five competitions his stint on the sidelines. Hopefully the break gave him a chance to rebound and return to help Seattle stay at the top of the division.

Recognitions: Matias Maccelli (ARI), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF), Jack Quinn (BUF), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Stuart Skinner (EDM) Calen Addison (MIN), Kaiden Guhle (MTL), Jake Sanderson (OTT), cabbage Perfecti (WPG)

(Analysis sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

Source: www.thescore.com