Jimmy is the Real Rookie of the Year

by AnimalDrew on Jun 24, 2010 9:31 AM CDT in Opinion

I told you what was going to happen. The last time that a defenseman won the Calder Trophy, was back in 2002-2003 when Zetterberg (44 points) was screwed out of the Rookie of the Year Award for Barret Jackman...how have their careers gone since then? Zetterberg has a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe and a Selke Nomination. Jackman has accomplished jack squat.

Now I'm not saying that Tyler Myers didn't have a great year. I'm not saying that Tyler Myers isn't going to have a great career in the NHL. I am simply saying that he wasn't the Rookie of the Year. He just wasn't. Sure he popped in 11 goals and added 37 assists...but the main reason he won this award...because Duchene didn't have that great of a season and Jimmy is 26 years old.

Jimmy Howard was the best rookie in the NHL last season.

He finished 8th in total wins by a goaltender while playing less games than anyone finishing above him in that regard and playing for a team that was second in man-games lost due to injury. He finished 5th overall in Goals Against Average with a sparkling 2.26. He also finished 5th overall in Save Percentage...posting a .924. Detroit doesn't make the play-offs without Howard. He's the team's MVP and should have got some consideration for a Hart/Vezina nomination...even though he would have had no chance of winning.

Myers finished just outside the top ten for scoring (among defensemen). He was out of the top ten in goals scored. He didn't crack the top ten in assists either. On a team that was +28 overall, he was only a +13 - twenty five other defensemen did better than him in that department. Of those 11 goals that he scored...only one was a game winner. He didn't crack the top 20 in Time On Ice Average either. Any thoughts of Myers being nominated for a Hart/Norris or even team MVP? No chance.

So someone please explain to me what was so great about this kid's season...or better yet...start the sentence off with the words: "Tyler Myers had a better season than Jimmy Howard because..." and see if you can finish that without using the words "because he's younger" and see if you can make a valid argument. I'm guessing that you can't.

Age is irrelevant. Jimmy was Rookie of the Year no matter what the media says.

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Comments

Actually...relieved Jimmy didn't get the Calder

I’m actually pretty relieved that Jimmy didn’t get the Calder. We don’t need our own Raycroft. I do think Jimmy is much more mentally prepared for the stresses of being an NHL number 1 than Raycroft or many of the young goaltenders who’ve recently had early success (Theodore, Price spring to mind) were. Jimmy’s sophomore season is already going to be more stressful with added media and fan attention to see if he can maintain his level of play. The Calder would have made it that much more intense.

by Tim McElwee on Jun 24, 2010 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

I tentatively agree

because in the long run, a Calder doesn’t really mean anything. I agree with Drew that Howard was robbed, but the officiating in round 2 was a greater injustice than this.

No Limits.

by arkanfel on Jun 24, 2010 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Like you said… it’s the media…

The last time that a defenseman won the Calder Trophy, was back in 2002-2003

Also didn’t Mason win it last year, or was it the year before? I can’t remember

by mikerlz on Jun 24, 2010 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

You posted exactly what was on my mind

Myers had a good year and all BUT the Sabres didn’t make the playoffs because of Tyler Myers, the Red Wings did make the playoffs because of Jimmy Howard though. Howard’s numbers were not only great for a rookie, they were great for the rest of the league and had a better GAA, SV%, and wins than last year’s ROY.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 24, 2010 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

It certainly didn’t hurt that Myers had a Vezina-winning goalie behind him to cover up any mistakes me made in the defensive zone. If Jimmy made a mistake, it ended up in the net.

But to be honest, whether Jimmy was formally recognized as ROY is irrelevant: remember Jim Carey? It’s about what Howard does next year and whether he can carry over his strong play from this year to next. If he puts up the same numbers and plays as strong as he did as a rookie, then no one will care if he didn’t win the Calder.

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by Amerinadian on Jun 24, 2010 2:33 PM CDT reply actions

agreed on the carry-over idea. Calder doesn’t mean much if you cant continue that success. I guess it’s all more of a matter of feeling that he wasn’t appreciated—the margin was pretty big

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 24, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Jimmy doesn't need the Calder

He has this:

Jimmy wins at life.

Back off man, I'm a scientist

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by Ryan Weiss on Jun 24, 2010 2:55 PM CDT reply actions

Jimmy has two (hopefully) rookie of the year trophies right there

…ok, I’m done.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jun 25, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

IMO, Myers won for two (stupid) reasons:

1. He’s 6’7" and analysts and scouts get all hot and bothered by his potential. Even when he doesn’t do anything I noticed they constantly comment on him during Sabres games.

2. He got the Canadian World Junior bump. I’m not entirely sure how it is in the US, but in Canada any player that has played for the U-20 team automatically gets some special stature that they don’t yet deserve. I believe it has a huge effect on the media and fans perspectives on how good certain players are. Just watch a game on TSN and you’ll know what I mean after about 5 minutes.

That said, I too am glad Howard didn’t win. It puts way too much pressure on the player the next season. The only hardware I care about Howard winning in the Cup!

by liddy5 on Jun 24, 2010 7:12 PM CDT reply actions

Myers lead the league in turnovers. I’m surprized that didn’t factor in at all.

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Jun 25, 2010 9:21 AM CDT reply actions