metaldude26

I think it’s high time we saw the NHL create a new award. Let’s tentatively call it the Nalder, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie defenseman. In 66 years of giving the Calder to the league’s top rookie, only ten defensemen have won the award, most recently to Buffalo’s Tyler Myers. A defenseman basically only wins the trophy when there are no better options at forward or in goal. I mean, you’d either have to throw up like 50 points and end up top ten in defensemen scoring in the league or have very little competition from your forward and goaltending compatriots. In other words, to win the award as a defenseman you have to be special or downright fortunate.

Welcome to Cage Match, a new article series pitting the fantasy merits of players up against each other and seeing what shakes out. The first rule of Cage Match is you definitely do talk about Cage Match. Spread the word, I love the attention!

Like the kickback on a gun, Charlie Coyle has gone and smacked the hockey world right in its face. Coyle didn't receive much hype leading up to last summer's draft coming out of the relatively unknown EJHL but he showed enough promise for the San Jose Sharks to pick him up in the first round (28^th overall).