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The Penguins, hockey and more, by the PG's Seth Rorabaugh. |
We'll be previewing the seven NHL awards which count throughout the day. (Sorry Lady Byng fans.) Here we'll preview the Calder Memorial Trophy which goes to "the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL." We will also be hosting a live chat for the awards show beginning at 7 p.m. Click here to join the fun.
Logan Couture, C - San Jose Sharks (32 goals, 24 assists, 56 points, +18)
Michael Grabner, RW - New York Islanders (34 goals, 18 assists, 52 points, +13)
Jeff Skinner, C - Carolina Hurricanes (31 goals, 32 assists, 63 points, +3)
Who we'd vote for: Grabner. After being discarded by the Canucks and Panthers, Grabner became a dominant player. Using his dazzling speed, Grabner hit the 30 goal mark. Additionally, he became a strong shorthanded player and collected six shorthanded goals, second-most in the NHL. And while Couture and Skinner have the benefit of playing for much more stable franchises, Grabner produced while being a member of the Islanders circus.
Who will win: Skinner. Grabner's chances took a big hit when the New York-based chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association announced they would not participate in the voting process in protest of the Islanders banning PWHA member Chris Botta. That's not to suggest Skinner isn't a deserving candidate. He produced a healthy amount of points for a first-year player. Additionally, playing on the East Coast probably gives him an edge over Couture.

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