The annual Calder Trophy award is given to the player who has had the most proficient first year in the NHL and is the de-facto award for the Rookie of the Year.
The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season. The voting is conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the conclusion of each regular season to determine the winner.
The 2012 daft class will be on display next season in the NHL and it could well be a thrilling battle for the Calder Trophy, as several NHL picks battle for recognition.
This season’s draft was heavily dominated by defencemen and it may well happen that a blueliner can win the award next year – although that has only happened on two occasions since the 1996-97 season.
Nail Yakupov would be among most people’s leading candidates for the Trophy and he has added to that chance by heading to Edmonton to play for the Oilers.
There he will have an outstanding chance of leading the rookie tables in scoring especially if he has Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sam Gagner as his center, and he could easily top the 52 points that this year’s winner of the Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche scored on his way to scooping last year’s prize.
Yakupov has an uncanny knack of scoring and it has to be remembered that he will be part of a very dangerous Oilers offence next year.
Yakupov is sure to be pushed by a few others and those would include Ryan Murray and Teuvo Teravainen.
The former will hopefully figure on the Blue Jackets roster next season and we expect him to be an all-round force on defence. Whilst his offence isn’t a major part of his game, he remains leading candidate for the Calder.
Teravainen has the spectacular combination of elite-shooting skills and blazing speed, which will help him be effective at the NHL level. He could well thrive alongside the talented Blackhawks forwards in Chicago and he has the potential develop into a star.
Those who bet on hockey reckon he’s another who has a shot at picking up the Calder Trophy on the way.
Friday, 29 June 2012
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Johnson hammers home message
The USA hammer team for Betfair London 2012 has been finalised following the culmination of the recent Olympic trials, which were held in the shadow of the Tiger Woods building at Nike headquarters.
The team will include Kibwe Johnson, who last year became the first American in 12 years to throw over 800 metres, and who qualified for London 2012 by throwing the hammer just one inch short of 246 feet.
He then showed how much Olympic inclusion meant to him by lying down on an image of the Olympic rings in the centre of the hammer field.
An added incentive to throw well was the fact that Johnson’s grandparents are regular visitors to the Olympic Games, having attended each one since Montreal 1976, and the thought of them seeing their grandson in action also spurred him on.
Unfortunately, Chris Cralle will not make it onto the plane for London despite finishing second in qualifying with a throw of over 243 feet, as he does not have the Olympic ‘A’ total of 255 feet, 11 inches on his card, so the second spot goes to A.G Kruger who was third in qualifying and who will contest his third Olympics, having turned out at both Athens and Beijing. His best place so far is 27th.
As for the women’s hammer team, Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson and Jessica Cosby all earned a trip to London. Campbell threw a record 235 feet six inches to qualify in first place, Bingson was just short of that, while Cosby threw just over 232 feet to finish third.
Campbell also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, as did Cosby, and both know they will need to improve again to defy the betfair betting odds and be among the medals, in a sport dominated in the main by eastern Europe.
The team will include Kibwe Johnson, who last year became the first American in 12 years to throw over 800 metres, and who qualified for London 2012 by throwing the hammer just one inch short of 246 feet.
He then showed how much Olympic inclusion meant to him by lying down on an image of the Olympic rings in the centre of the hammer field.
An added incentive to throw well was the fact that Johnson’s grandparents are regular visitors to the Olympic Games, having attended each one since Montreal 1976, and the thought of them seeing their grandson in action also spurred him on.
Unfortunately, Chris Cralle will not make it onto the plane for London despite finishing second in qualifying with a throw of over 243 feet, as he does not have the Olympic ‘A’ total of 255 feet, 11 inches on his card, so the second spot goes to A.G Kruger who was third in qualifying and who will contest his third Olympics, having turned out at both Athens and Beijing. His best place so far is 27th.
As for the women’s hammer team, Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson and Jessica Cosby all earned a trip to London. Campbell threw a record 235 feet six inches to qualify in first place, Bingson was just short of that, while Cosby threw just over 232 feet to finish third.
Campbell also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, as did Cosby, and both know they will need to improve again to defy the betfair betting odds and be among the medals, in a sport dominated in the main by eastern Europe.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Punters' Wimbledon guide - Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwanska has been the biggest recent mover at the top of the WTA rankings. The world number three has been on the edge of the elite group of players for some time – she ended 2008 ranked 10th - but she has broken through in the last few months and is now a serious challenger for majors.
The Pole’s win at San Diego last August was her first title for more than three years, but she has won five more since, including Premier Mandatory victories at Tokyo, Beijing and Miami. Whether she can transfer this form to majors is the big question that is asked of so many players who find the ingredient for consistently beating the best.
The answer should be yes. Radwanska has something special about the way she sets up opponents during rallies, a throwback to a bygone era when guile and use of angles were crucial. She is one of the best scramblers around but does not lack the power necessary nowadays. Her rapidly shrinking Betfair Tennis odds reflect her standing in the women’s game.
A double slam winner as a junior (including at Wimbledon), Radwanska looked set for a distinguished career at SW19. She reached the last 16 in her maiden slam appearance in 2006and followed up with quarter final runs in 2008 and 2009. A second round exit last year was a major disappointment, as she certainly has the game to prosper on grass.
Increased confidence has been a key factor in Radwanska’s improvement over the past year and a big win over a main rival will be the last piece in the jigsaw. Punters who bet on Wimbledon will note that she has won just five of her meetings against Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. The last four of Wimbledon would be the best place to improve that record.
The Pole’s win at San Diego last August was her first title for more than three years, but she has won five more since, including Premier Mandatory victories at Tokyo, Beijing and Miami. Whether she can transfer this form to majors is the big question that is asked of so many players who find the ingredient for consistently beating the best.
The answer should be yes. Radwanska has something special about the way she sets up opponents during rallies, a throwback to a bygone era when guile and use of angles were crucial. She is one of the best scramblers around but does not lack the power necessary nowadays. Her rapidly shrinking Betfair Tennis odds reflect her standing in the women’s game.
A double slam winner as a junior (including at Wimbledon), Radwanska looked set for a distinguished career at SW19. She reached the last 16 in her maiden slam appearance in 2006and followed up with quarter final runs in 2008 and 2009. A second round exit last year was a major disappointment, as she certainly has the game to prosper on grass.
Increased confidence has been a key factor in Radwanska’s improvement over the past year and a big win over a main rival will be the last piece in the jigsaw. Punters who bet on Wimbledon will note that she has won just five of her meetings against Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. The last four of Wimbledon would be the best place to improve that record.
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