Pekka Rinne shafted as Calder Trophy finalists announced

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 22, 2009 1:02 PM EDT

The NHL has announced the finalists for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie each season. The nominees this year are Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason (the presumptive favorite), Anaheim's Bobby Ryan, and Chicago's Kris Versteeg.

Pekka Rinne, who was talked about as being within a hair-splitting decision of Mason's candidacy over the final months of the season, was left out of the top 3 by the voters, the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 207

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Pekka Rinne	52	2999	29	15	4	8	119	2.38	1435	1316	.917	7
2008 - Steve Mason	61	3664	33	20	7	7	140	2.29	1658	1518	.916	10

I'm not here to bash Mason at all, I think he's had a stellar campaign and should be a deserving winner of the Calder. Bobby Ryan led all rookies in scoring, and scored 31 goals, and is another obvious candidate:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Bobby Ryan	64	31	26	57	13	33	12	0	3	0	174	17.8

But Kris Versteeg? Yes, I understand he had a good offensive season as well, but is a significant step back from Ryan in the goal-scoring department.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Kris Versteeg	78	22	31	53	15	55	6	4	3	0	139	15.8

But the NHL writeup informs us that "Of course, his 22 goals and 31 assists, fourth in team scoring was Important [sic], but Versteeg brought an alternately witty and off-the-wall sense of humor into the dressing room. Check the Web for some of his teammate-teasing videos, the teammates' responses, and his dressing-room rap session." Oh, so he's got the wacky factor working for him, does he? Well, Versteeg ain't got nothing on our Finnish netminder:

You're telling me this guy doesn't belong in Vegas?

Simply put, Pekka Rinne made a colossal difference for the Nashville Predators this season, and without his performance the Preds would have been in the race for the first overall draft pick. He should certainly have been included in the Calder Trophy finalists.

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Booo

PHWA missed big time on this one

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 22, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

I never would have expected Pekka to win, and all three nominees had great seasons, but I really don’t get why Versteeg got in when Pekka didn’t. Only thing I can think of is (1) Chicago is a hot hockey market right now or (2) They just wanted to pick from playoff teams.

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by pwnicholson on Apr 22, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

I had Rinne third on my ballot, but it was close. Versteeg played a lot of minutes and was a solid defensive player for one of the best teams in the league.

I think Rinne just needed some more starts to challenge Mason.

by James Mirtle on Apr 22, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

CAL GOT SCREWED!!

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by nathaneide on Apr 22, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah,

I think Clutterbuck (did I spell that right?) would be better than Versteeg. I wish there were 4 spots. Mason, Rinne, Cal, Ryan

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 22, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

i think it’s too bad that the only criteria for calder are goals/assists and GAA/sv%. clutterbuck sets an record for hits and doesn’t even get a nomination…. booooo !!! don’t get me wrong, i hate the guy for breaking my favorite player (giordano), but let’s just say that versteeg is not going to set any new standards in the league. mason wins it, hands down.

by walkinvisible on Apr 23, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Rinne would have gotten more sniffs had the Predators made the playoffs as well. Not saying that as a detriment to him but it would put him that much more into the spotlight.

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by Zachary Zielonka on Apr 22, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

Rinne

Chicago makes the playoffs without Versteeg and it isn’t really that close. Ryan had a lot to do with the Ducks success – especially late in the year on the monster line where he was arguably the most effective of that line. Rinna and Mason were equally valuable to their respective teams – both moreso than Ryan and a distance Versteeg. The difference between Mason and Rinne was which made the playoffs. Mason also finished stronger than Rinna in the last 5 games of the year.

Mason>Rinne>Ryan>>>Versteeg

The reason Versteeg got in… He plays for Chicago.

by kakemono on Apr 22, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Can’t say I really disagree with any of this. Versteeg, or as we call him, VERSTEEG!, had a great year and for a while looked like a definite candidate for the Calder, but he came back to earth towards the end of the year, especially after getting moved around and not really finding a solid line to play on.

Second City Hockey

by Killion on Apr 22, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions