NHL Awards: Looking Forward To 2015-16 Season
By Adam Savard
Jack Eichel – Buffalo Sabres
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Jack Eichel puts on a team cap after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The competition for the Calder Trophy will get hyped as a two player race between Eichel and Connor McDavid. There is zero chance either doesn’t start in the NHL and both come in with expectations not seen in decades.
It will help both players that their teams are expected to make major steps forward this season. The Edmonton Oilers added Cam Talbot in-goal and Andrej Sekera to boost the defense. Both players, along with the development of Oscar Klefbom and addition of Griffin Reinhart, make the Oilers better on defense now and in the future.
Offensively McDavid wil slide into a scary top six forward group. Being surrounded by Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakopov, along with his own skill and vision, McDavid will step in and be expected to contribute right away. I believe he will do that and finish second for the Calder Trophy.
Jack Eichel is in much the same place as McDavid. A terrible team last year with significant upgrades throughout the lineup, Eichel will also find himself with impressive line mates, possibly including Tyler Ennis and Evander Kane.
For me this comes down to where they play. McDavid needs to adjust to a more physical Western Conference game compared to Eichel in the East. Both players will have their growing pains and may find a game or two in the press box as part of the learning process.
Both players will also show signs of fatigue as the season goes on. It’s part of being a rookie and adjusting to training, travel, practice and game routines. The grind of Western Conference play will be a factor here and, I believe, give Eichel the slightest of edges.
I believe Eichel finishes the season stronger than McDavid and voters remember that, honoring him with the Calder Memorial Trophy at the 2016 NHL Awards ceremony. The voting here should be incredibly close and if McDavid wins it’s not as if Eichel is being robbed. Both will deserve the honor but there can be only one. There are plenty of NHL awards in both players future. Hopefully for both fan bases that includes the Stanley Cup.
As a third nominee there are several quality rookies to choose from. I’m looking at Max Domi for opposite reasons to consider McDavid and Eichel. Arizona is not faced with the pressures of winning right away and needs more goal scoring punch. Domi could and should make the team this year and play big minutes without much pressure. He can learn and grow in the league and should be a force as the season goes on.
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Vezina Trophy