Testing the Sean-O Rookie Theorem

The theory that no matter how good a rookie is at the start of the season; there will be a darkhorse rookie to tear it up in the second half to win the Calder Trophy. In addition, Jason Spezza is always in the running.

That's how the savant of the Face Off Hockey Show believes the Calder race always turns out. Last year was true, as many thought it could be John Tavares or Matt Duchene-- but Tyler Myers walked away in a runaway over Duchene and Jimmy Howard. Steve Mason caught fire in 2009, while Andrew Raycroft in 2004 over Michael Ryder and Barret Jackman in 2003 over Rick Nash and Henrik Zetterberg.

At the start of the year, many thought it would be one of the Edmonton trio of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, or Magnus Paajarvi (Svensson). When they got off to a slow start, Logan Couture of San Jose kind of took the reigns over. Even with that, Jeff Skinner of Carolina has caught fire as of late, but even now-- Michael Grabner on Long Island has come on as of late, although he could be frowned upon because he's up for the Cy Young Award for more goals than assists.

The big thing with the theorem, and it's genius from Sean, is that for the most part-- most rookie usually can't keep up a torrid pace for a long season; especially when they're still getting their feet wet with the pace from the jump up in ranks. At the same time, you can really tell the elite guys that can actually maintain their pace throughout the season-- though a few have had a sophomore hiccup; then regaining their composure mid-way through the season or the season after. Then again, there's guys like Raycroft who fall off the map after one good season or Jackman, who has been proned to injuries through his career.

We still have time to see if the theorem holds true, but by the looks of it-- Sean-O could have another notch in his belt with this moral victory. If he could only get that Washington/Vancouver Stanley Cup final-- he'll be gold.

2009-10 Green Jacket and Cy Young Winners

With the year coming to a close, the fantastic awards like the Rocket Richard Trophy for the most goals in the season (Sidney Crosby and Steve Stamkos) and the Art Ross Trophy for most points in the season (Henrik Sedin); as well as the William Jennings Trophy for least goals against (Martin Brodeur). But there's plenty of unhallowed awards that are unofficially handed out, but widely known.

First, which was great that this coincided with the Masters tournament, the Green Jacket award. In the Masters, the Green Jacket is awarded to the winner of the tournament and for the player who shoots the lowest score under par, or the best minus. This year, it goes with Patrick O'Sullivan of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, themselves, were just horrific thanks to the injuries and pure rebuilding the team is going through, but O'Sullivan took it to new height with a -35 on the year, with was a difference of 85 to the Plus/Minus winner Jeff Schultz, who was a +50. O'Sullivan did this in only 73 games, so who knows what could have happened in those nine missing games. Shawn Horcoff and Rod Brind'Amour were tied for second at -29.

The Cy Young is a baseball award in the MLB for the best pitcher in the league, mostly based on record. The hockey version of it is the player with the biggest difference between goals and assists. The winner this year is Guillaume Latendresse of the Minnesota Wild with 27 goals and 13 assists, a difference of 14. Latendresse had a big jump after going to Minnesota from Montreal, but for a non-playoff team. Matt Moulson of the Islanders was second (30g, 18a-- 12 diff.) and Brian Gionta was third (28g, 18a-- 10 diff.) for this award.

Yes, this was a filler post, but it's something fun. I'm about fun....or not. Plus, you really want to recognize the craptasticness of the league worst and who is scoring more than they're dishing.

Cy Young and Green Jacket Update As Of 12.31.08

All of these stats for the Cy Young and Green Jacket are at the end of the games on December 31st, 2008. Hopefully, I'll be more diligent and do this on a monthly basis.

CY YOUNG AWARD: Biggest Difference Between Goals and Assists: Things seem to be settling down with the Cy Young Race, but there's still plenty of guys out there who could be contending for it with Thomas Vanek still in the lead.

1. Thomas Vanek (25g, 7a)
2. Jeff Carter (27g, 16a)
3. Loui Eriksson (20g, 8a)
4. David Booth (15g, 5a)
5. Johan Franzen (17g, 9a)

GREEN JACKET AWARD: Worst Plus/Minus Ranking: Rod Brind'Amour still leads this race to craptasticness, while three defensemen are in the Top (or Bottom) Five in this category.

1. Rod Brind'Amour, -26
2. Brad Boyes, -20
3. Chris Phillips, -19
T-4. James Sheppard, -16
T-4. Ron Hainsey, -16
T-4. Chris Campoli, -16

Tracking the Cy Young and Green Jacket

You're thinking to yourself, "Hey stupid, those are two different sports. What kind of idiot are you??" You'd be correct in asking that, but it's something that many don't understand is out there and probably have prop bets on in one way or another.

Basically, the Cy Young Award is one that goes out to a player who has way more goals than he does assists, much like a Cy Young pitcher should have way more wins than losses. The Green Jacket goes to the player who has the league's worst plus/minus ranking, much like a golfer at the Masters would have the lowest score to win....you guessed it-- the Green Jacket.

CY YOUNG

Right now, Thomas Vanek is in the league with 13 more goals than assists (18g, 5a), while Jeff Carter is +11 in goals (18g, 7a) and David Booth is +10 in goals (12g, 2a), all heading into Thursday's games.

1. Thomas Vanek (18g, 5a)
2. Jeff Carter (18g, 7a)
3. David Booth (12g, 2a)
4. Kyle Wellwood (10g, 3a)
T-5. Jason Arnott (13g, 7a)
T-5. Phil Kessel (13g, 7a)
T-5. Keith Tkachuk (11g, 5a)
T-5. Johan Franzen (11g, 5a)

GREEN JACKET

Sadly, one of the best face-off men in the history of the NHL is in the low spot with Rod Brind'Amour racking up a -18 going into Thursday night's games. Three Blues are in the top-5, though on, Andy McDonald, it out with an injury.

1. Rod Brind'Amour, -18
2. Brad Boyes, -15
3. Eric Brewer, -14
T-4. Ed Jovanovski, -12
T-4. Andy McDonald, -12