The 2015–2016 NHL regular season is over, and postseason is in full swing. In fewer than two months, the full season will be over, and the Stanley Cup will hopefully stay in Chicago another year. Shortly after the Finals, the NHL Awards will occur, where the league's best players will be recognized.
The Chicago Blackhawks have high chances of taking home some of the most coveted awards this year. Patrick Kane has already become the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy and is a top candidate for the Hart Trophy, and rookie Artemi Panarin
is a top contender for the Calder Trophy. The last time a Blackhawk took home the Calder Trophy was Patrick Kane in 2008, and the last time a Blackhawk was a high contender was Brandon Saad in 2013.Statistics can speak for themselves as to why Panarin deserves to win the Calder Trophy, for he is top in rookies in goals (six ahead of Buffalo's Jack Eichel), assists (13 ahead of Arizona's Max Domi) and overall points (21 ahead of Buffalo's Jack Eichel) from the regular season. Statistics are on Panarin's side, and the trophy should be a no-brainer, yet there are arguments as to why Panarin should not win, such as his previous KHL career and how he supposedly got lucky with his chemistry with Patrick Kane.
Before Panarin signed with Chicago, he was a KHL star back home in Russia, even winning the Gagarin Cup (KHL's version of the Stanley Cup) last year with SKA Saint Petersburg. Most rookies come from junior leagues, minor leagues, college and sometimes straight out of high school. Panarin came straight from a professional team in another league, which can be seen as an unfair advantage, though the NHL is known to be much more difficult to play in than the KHL. Panarin himself expressed this belief while discussing his grandfather's beliefs of how dangerous the NHL was
. Translated from Russian: “He remembered NHL where there were hefty guys who killed players at the boards, and he thinks I’ll be broken by them here. He was afraid and said, 'Better stay here in Russia,' but it is an opportunity for me. I can’t explain to him. I want to progress, to achieve something big in this life. It’s not a job; if it was a job, I’d stay in Russia and earn some money.”The two leagues are at similar levels, but the competition between the two is different, just like how it is different in other European leagues. After all, every hockey player's dream, even ones originating from Europe, is to play in the NHL.
Another argument being used against Panarin is that he got lucky with being on the same line as Patrick Kane. This argument is unfair in many ways. First of all, I am sure every single NHL rookie would give an arm and a leg to play in the same line as Patrick Kane. It is also no secret that because of both Panarin's and Kane's success the season can be attributed to them, for they both helped each other with goals throughout the season, making them the top duo in the NHL. Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville even goes as far as comparing the pair's chemistry to that of the Sedin twins of Vancouver
, as if Kane and Panarin are like brothers.Another thing notable about the duo is they do not speak the same language, yet find ways to communicate verbally and non-verbally on and off the ice. The closeness of their friendship can be seen on the ice as they defend each other, as Panarin took a penalty for starting a fight with Minnesota's Matt Dumba
after a rough hit on Kane back in March. Panarin happily took the penalty, and all Chicago fans were happy that Panarin stood up for his teammate.Panarin led all NHL rookies in goals, assists and overall points during the regular season by far. The arguments against him winning the Calder Trophy can be easily refuted, making him the best choice for the trophy by miles.
