Ivan Demidov: Almost no one is picking him as the Calder Trophy favorite (in the NHL)

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Ivan Demidov: Almost no one is picking him as the Calder Trophy favorite (in the NHL)
Credit: Getty Images

Last year, we spent the year wondering if Lane Hutson would win the Calder. He finally did.

And this year, in Montreal, we wonder if Ivan Demidov will play in such a way as to allow the Canadiens to once again have a Calder winner on their hands.

We also wonder whether Alexander Zharovsky will succeed Demidov in Russia… which is likely.

In the last few weeks, since Juraj Slafkovsky came on board to energize the youth line, Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen have clearly moved on to the next level.

The result? Both are in the NHL's top 5 for rookie points.

(Credit: NHL.com)

But will it be enough to see Demidov win the Calder? It's only mid-season right now, so a lot can change.

According to NHL experts, the answer is currently no.

As can be seen in an NHL text, where 12 experts were asked to vote (informally) for the Rookie of the Year, only one of them placed the Russian in first place. So he's by no means THE favorite.

Jesper Wallstedt received three first-place votes and Matthew Schaeffer the other eight.

It's worth noting, however, that Demidov is ahead of the Wild goalie in the rankings, even though he has two fewer first-place votes.

But the fact remains that when you look at the points (five points for first place, four points for second place, etc.), you can see that Schaeffer has a good lead over the other guys in the top-4.

  • Matthew Schaeffer: 56 points
  • Ivan Demidov: 44 points
  • Jesper Wallstedt: 37 points
  • Beckett Sennecke: 27 points

Like last year, the race is shaping up to be between a goalie, a defenseman, a talented Russian, and an excellent forward from California. In the back?

Oliver Kapanen (four points) and Jakub Dobes (one point) rank sixth and eighth respectively. Yaroslav Askarov (seven points) is fifth.


overtime

– Speaking of the Islanders defenseman: he's sick.

– Really?

– It was settled quickly.

– Interesting.

– Tom Wilson is day-to-day.

– Still.

– Kent Hughes will speak to the media tomorrow at noon.

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