[tigerthelion]

This writer is completely out to lunch. I hate writers who try to gain notoriety by writing foolish articles like this one.

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Interesting theory, but it doesn't hold water. If you look here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nhl.com/trophies/calder.html">http://www.nhl.com/trophies/calder.html</a><!-- m -->

It clearly says in the first paragraph "The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League"

Case closed.

But also in the paragraph it says: "To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. The player must not be older than 26 years before September 15 of the season in which he is eligible"

Basically that's what he's basing his theory on, that Ovechkin has pro hockey experience and really isn't a rookie. I still dont agree with him, the first paragraph supersedes that imo. I dont care if Ovechkin played 10 years in a pro league in Russia, its still his first year in the NHL and the award is for players in the NHL.

Good point. You're absolutely correct in stating that is what he is basing his opinion on but obviously, since the NHL has deemed Ovechkin eligible, he doesn't seem to have a case. He's reaching. The Russian league Ovechkin played in must be deemed as NOT A MAJOR professional league. Actually, I think if a player went from major junior to the AHL for a season, and then went to the NHL he would be eligible for the Calder wouldn't he?

BTW, why is Cheechoo allowed to blatantly elbow Pronger with the referees LOOKING and nothing is called? *cough*double standard *cough*