Blue Jackets rookie given Laine & Matthews a serious run for the Calder Trophy.

Could a member of the Blue Jackets really claim the Calder?

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HockeyFeed
Published 7 years ago
Blue Jackets rookie given Laine & Matthews a serious run for the Calder Trophy.
Keystone Press

Prior to the start of the regular season there were two very clear cut favorites to win the Calder Trophy at the end of the regular season, Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews and Winnipeg Jets second overall pick Patrik Laine.

Both men have done an excellent job of living up to those expectations, Laine currently leads the National Hockey League in goals scored with 11, two more than any other player currently boasts. Largely that has come off the back of two hat tricks, but he's also ranked in the top five of points produced this season with 15, two very impressive feats.

As for Auston Matthews he's played first line minutes against the NHL's best competition, and despite that has managed to continue producing for the Leafs with six goals and five assists thus far. To say he has lived up to expectations would be an understatement, and this despite some early struggles for Toronto out of the gate.

There is however now an unexpected challenger making a very strong case for a Calder nomination of his own and it's a player that prior to the season not many, if any, would have out in the conversation, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.

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Werenski is currently tied with Austom Matthews as far as total points go with 11, except he's doing it not only as a member of the Blue Jackets but also as a defenseman. It's somewhat reminiscent of the surprise surge we saw from Philadelphia Flyers' defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere not so long ago and it's been very impressive thus far. 

While he currently sits four points behind Patrik Laine, he's currently played in three fewer games than the Jets forward, leaving him some room to close the gap, and with two fewer games played than Auston Matthews he could surpass that 11 points by the time he has the same number of games played.

Of course these are not the only three players in the conversation with players like Mitch MarnerJimmy Vesey and William Nylander all realistic candidates as well, making this a a very interesting race early in the season.

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