As advertised is a term thrown around often, and it’s a good way to describe Matvei Michkov, who should be a front-runner for the coveted Calder Trophy. Though he’s only been in the league for five games, they’ve been five productive contests, as Michkov currently boasts four points and two goals as of Tuesday afternoon, and you can count on him adding to that total.
Although Michkov should be well within the thick of winning the Calder at season’s end, he’s by no means the only rookie making his presence felt. Below, I’ve listed three players who have more than made their respective cases to remain in stride with or even supersede Michkov at some point this season.
1 - Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames
Dustin Wolf may only have two starts heading into Tuesday, but he’s been an integral part of what has been a thriving Calgary Flames team. A surprising one, at that. Anyway, Wolf should become Michkov’s biggest threat to snag the Calder should he stay healthy and continue playing the same role he has already been for Calgary.
Heading into Tuesday night, Wolf has two starts, a 0.944 save percentage and a 2.02 save percentage, and both of his starts have been quality starts. It may be farfetched, but Wolf could find himself putting up Vezina statistics should his number of starts increase and his strong run continue.
2 - Logan Stankoven, Dallas Stars
We should have seen this one coming, as Logan Stankoven looked good during his 24-game regular season stint last year when he scored six goals and put up 14 points. As of Tuesday, Stankoven has no goals to show on the year in his first six games, but don’t let that fool you, as he’s been quite the playmaker.
Overall, Stankoven has seven assists, putting him on pace to reach Connor McDavid numbers in the category. Will it hold? No, the Sabres have a better chance of ending their playoff drought. But the point is this: Stankoven has become a trusted playmaker in Dallas, and expect that trend to continue all season.
3 - Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
Yes, I did my homework, and yes, I know Macklin Celebrini is missing time with an injury. But if you remember correctly, Connor Bedard missed significant time last season, and he walked away with the Calder. That said, in just one game, Celebrini showed how much of a game-changer he could be, and he should pick right back up from where he left off once he’s cleared to play again.
If he snags at least 60 points as Bedard did last season, it would be a tough act for Matvei Michkov to keep up with. I’m not saying he won’t, as he’s already shown his value. But we also need to remember that several Flyers players were inconsistent last season following bouts of productivity, and it’s something Michkov can’t afford once Celebrini is back.