It’s summer season and nothing’s occurring. Let’s make up one other pretend award.
We did this final summer season, once we launched the Sam Pollock Trophy for a season’s finest commerce. Previous to that, we’ve additionally performed the Jimmy Carson Trophy for finest sophomore season, in addition to the Ray Bourque Trophy for finest last season. None of those really exist, however they need to, and that’s sufficient for our functions.
For in the present day’s award, we’re going to create the Joe Thornton Award for one of the best debut with a brand new group.
A few fast guidelines: Rookie debuts have their very own award, so that they don’t depend — a participant has to have beforehand performed for one more NHL group earlier than becoming a member of a brand new one. Not like most awards, we’re taking the playoffs into consideration. And at last, a participant has to have performed a minimum of half the season along with his new group, as a result of I don’t really feel like determining learn how to charge deadline pickups. Apart from that, the sphere is open — we may be taking a look at trades, free-agent signings, waiver pickups or no matter else.
We’ll cowl the cap period, beginning with a 2006 recipient. It’s Sluggish Information Summer time, let’s argue about an award that doesn’t exist.
2006
The contenders: We’re beginning with what is perhaps the hardest name in the entire train, or a minimum of essentially the most crowded subject of contenders. The primary season after the lockout featured a ton of turnover across the league, as groups adjusted to the brand new wage cap after having been dormant since 2004.
You would possibly assume that Joe Thornton would win the Joe Thornton Award. But it surely’s no positive factor, as now we have to contemplate different Corridor of Famers, together with Atlanta’s Marian Hossa, Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer and Edmonton’s Chris Pronger, plus Teemu Selanne going again to the Geese.
However the winner is: Thornton. He’s the one participant to ever win a Hart Trophy and Artwork Ross throughout a season that noticed him change groups, which is form of arduous to miss. But it surely’s nearer than you’d have thought, and there are going to be future seasons the place we’ll want we had wherever close to this deep a subject.
2007
The contenders: It’s not as star-studded as final 12 months, however we do have some stable candidates. Alex Tanguay had a point-per-game debut with the Flames after coming over from Colorado, whereas Marc Savard dropped 96 factors in Boston after leaving Atlanta.
However the larger stars are on the again finish. You would possibly anticipate Zdeno Chara to be a straightforward choose right here after signing with the Bruins, however he really had a so-so debut in Boston, solely ending twentieth in Norris voting in 2007 earlier than being a finalist in 2008 and successful in 2009. So this one actually comes all the way down to Anaheim’s Chris Pronger, who was a Norris finalist, or Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo, who was the Vezina runner-up.
However the winner is: I’m tempted to go together with Pronger, since we mentioned the playoffs depend and he was dominant there as at all times whereas serving to the Geese win all of it. However Luongo completed second in Hart voting that 12 months, so I feel he in all probability must be the choose.
2008
The contenders: The sector thins out in 12 months 3 of the cap period, with no goalie candidates other than Florida’s Tomas Vokoun and a ahead crop that’s restricted to the massive UFA class of 2007 — Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and Scott Gomez — all of whom have been good however not nice.
However the winner is: I’m going to make use of this lackluster 12 months as an excuse to offer an award to a traditional Hall of Very Good guy in Brian Rafalski, who went from New Jersey to Detroit as a free agent after which completed ninth in Norris voting to go together with a Cup run.
Marian Hossa scored 40 objectives for the Crimson Wings through the 2008-09 season. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Photographs)
2009
The contenders: Oof. There aren’t many. In actual fact, when you have a look at the highest level scorers for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons mixed, not one identify within the high 35 performed for a number of groups. The goalies aren’t a lot assist, and one of the best blue-line possibility might be Brian Campbell, who signed in Chicago and had 52 factors in his debut.
However the winner is: Marian Hossa, whose one 12 months in Detroit noticed him rating 40 objectives through the season and 6 extra in a playoff run that famously ended simply in need of the Cup.
2010
The contenders: My first thought was that Hossa might win back-to-back, however his first season in Chicago noticed him restricted to 57 regular-season video games, and he by some means solely scored three objectives of their Cup run. That’s nonetheless sufficient to place him within the working in one other skinny 12 months — put it this manner, I spent approach an excessive amount of time attempting to speak myself into the Scott Gomez as a Canadien expertise.
However the winner is: Name it a homer choose if you’d like, however Phil Kessel had 30 objectives in his Leafs debut regardless of lacking the primary month because of what was principally the final damage of his profession. See, Leaf followers, the commerce labored out nice.
2011
The contenders: Antti Niemi was stable in his first 12 months in San Jose after successful a Cup for the Hawks. With primarily nothing to select from up entrance, his important competitors will come from the blue line.
However the winner is: It’s one other ex-Hawk, as Dustin Byfuglien scores 20 objectives for the Thrashers after being a cap casualty in Chicago.
2012
The contenders: My first thought was Brent Burns going from the Wild to the Sharks, however his debut season wasn’t nice. There’s a surprisingly stable case for Ilya Bryzgalov’s first 12 months in Philadelphia, and in idea, I shouldn’t be utilizing the good thing about hindsight right here, however I simply can’t do it.
However the winner is: Let’s go together with Brad Richards, whose first 12 months as a Ranger noticed him financial institution 66 factors. This one additionally ends badly, however not Bryzgalov-level bad.
2013
The contenders: The massive names listed here are the 2 Wild mega-contracts, Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Don’t sleep on PA Parenteau, who went practically a point-per-game after becoming a member of the Avalanche.
However the winner is: Suter. I’d forgotten that he completed because the Norris runner-up in his first 12 months in Minnesota, simply barely shedding out to P.Ok. Subban. That’s form of an interesting vote; I’m wondering how completely different Suter’s HHOF case would really feel if he had that Norris as an alternative of falling a couple of votes quick. For now, Corridor voters must accept factoring in his Thornton Award.
2014
The contenders: It is a powerful 12 months, with many of the greatest transactions coming across the deadline (together with Martin St. Louis, Ben Bishop and Roberto Luongo). Mark Streit is value a search for the Flyers right here, as is Cory Schneider in New Jersey.
However the winner is: Tyler Seguin, who had 84 factors and loads of Hart votes regardless of not being the sort of guy who pays the price. That’s the third ex-Bruins to win our award, by the way in which, a quantity no person else will surpass.
2015
The contenders: It’s one other weak subject, though Thomas Vanek was stable after becoming a member of the Wild and Paul Stastny was OK in St. Louis. However the focus finally ends up being on the goalies, the place now we have names akin to Jaroslav Halak with the Islanders and Ryan Miller in Vancouver.
However the winner is: Devan Dubnyk, who turns into our second winner from a midseason transfer. He went from journeyman to Vezina finalist in half a season in Minnesota, even ending fourth in MVP voting.
2016
The contenders: Ryan Johansen and Seth Jones simply get in underneath the wire of our half-season rule, however neither has sufficient time to essentially stake out a declare for the Thornton. Dougie Hamilton has a stable first 12 months in Calgary, and we get a few robust goaltending choices in Edmonton’s Cam Talbot and San Jose’s Martin Jones.
However the winner is: We mentioned we’re counting playoff efficiency, so I feel now we have to go together with the ahead who had 59 factors on his new group earlier than exploding within the postseason for what ought to have been a Conn Smythe efficiency. Sure, it’s our first two-time winner: Phil Kessel will get his second Thornton for his first 12 months in Pittsburgh.
2017
The contenders: First issues first — no, Taylor Corridor didn’t win the MVP in his first season in New Jersey. He was really simply OK in 12 months 1, with 53 factors earlier than banking 93 in 12 months 2. However whereas Corridor is out, we nonetheless have two extra contenders from that wild hour. The query is, who takes the Thornton: Shea Weber or P.Ok. Subban?
However the winner is: Subban, in a photograph end. Weber was really a bit higher through the common season and completed sixth in Norris voting. However Subban makes up that hole through the playoffs, main the Predators to the Stanley Cup Last.
2018
The contenders: Mike Smith is stable in Calgary, and Artemi Panarin is great in Columbus. However 2018 throws a wrench into our course of by introducing growth, which means we’ve received a complete roster in Vegas that’s “new” to a group. Ought to that depend? Most likely not, however anyone ought to have considered that earlier than we began this entire factor, and right here we’re.
However the winner is: Marc-Andre Fleury, who went .927 for a group all of us thought can be horrible. William Karlsson finishes an in depth second.
2019
The contenders: The most important identify to modify groups is Erik Karlsson, going from Ottawa to San Jose, however his manufacturing dipped and he missed practically 30 video games. There’s additionally John Tavares, who scored a career-best 47 objectives in his first 12 months in Toronto, and Robin Lehner having a profession 12 months in his one season with the Islanders.
However the winner is: The playoffs loom giant as soon as once more. Tavares is the clubhouse chief in April, however Ryan O’Reilly’s Conn Smythe playoff run in St. Louis permits him to make up the bottom and steal the Thornton.
2020
The contenders: It’s a crowded subject, with names akin to J.T. Miller, Jacob Trouba and Mike Smith all in play. Sadly, Phil Kessel doesn’t do fairly sufficient in Arizona to make a run at a three-peat. However actually, this 12 months’s award comes all the way down to the Blue Jackets. Or moderately, the ex-Blue Jackets, as Matt Duchene, Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin all depart in free company.
However the winner is: Panarin, and it’s not all that shut. He racks up 95 factors in a shortened season with the Rangers, ending as a Hart finalist and runaway Thornton winner.
2021
The contenders: Jacob Markstrom was OK in his first 12 months in Calgary, however his huge breakthrough got here in season two. Alex Pietrangelo missed a giant chunk of his first season in Vegas. And the ahead record is simply bleak — of the highest 60 factors leaders from 2019 to 2021, just one performed for a number of groups. And that was Mike Hoffman, enjoying for 2 groups you haven’t any recollection of him ever being on.
However the winner is: Let’s go together with Devon Toews, who matches in effectively sufficient in Colorado to earn some Norris votes after coming over from the Islanders.
2022
The contenders: It’s one other growth 12 months, which means each veteran from the Kraken is eligible. We’ve additionally received Seth Jones in Chicago and Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey, plus a sneaky-good comeback 12 months from Shayne Gostisbehere in Arizona. However this one actually comes all the way down to a few forwards.
However the winner is: In some years, Pavel Buchnevich’s 30-goal debut with the Blues would get it performed. However this 12 months, he’s narrowly overwhelmed out by Sam Reinhart, who goes from Buffalo to Florida and instantly explodes for a profession 12 months. Don’t fear, Sabres followers, he in all probability gained’t hold that up.
2023
The contenders: This was that bizarre 12 months the place half the league modified goalies, and the blue line has some fascinating names akin to Brent Burns and MacKenzie Weegar. However yeah, I’m guessing that final identify form of gave it away.
However the winner is: It’s going to be an ex-Flame, and since we’re factoring within the playoffs, which means a reasonably straightforward win for Matthew Tkachuk in Florida over Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus.
2024
The contenders: It’s one other weak subject, one that almost opens the door for Erik Karlsson’s disappointing debut in Pittsburgh to take house the trophy. As a substitute, my vote got here down to 2 forwards: Alex DeBrincat in Ottawa, or Matt Duchene in Dallas.
However the winner is: DeBrincat’s numbers have been a bit higher, however Duchene is a middle, and extra importantly, he’s moved round a lot in his profession that we must always in all probability give him a Thornton as a lifetime achievement award.
2025
The contenders: We finish with a powerful subject, though not essentially one constructed across the names we would have expected. As a substitute, this one largely comes all the way down to Jake Guentzel’s 41 objectives in Tampa towards a trio of goalies: Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark, Washington’s Logan Thompson and L.A.’s Darcy Kuemper.
However the winner is: Offense sells, however I feel now we have to go together with Kuemper right here, primarily based on his Vezina finalist season that form of got here out of nowhere.
2026
The contenders: There’s actually no solution to know, and it will be foolish to even choose somebody.
However the winner is: Simply kidding, we’ve already engraved Mitch Marner’s identify on the trophy.
(Prime photograph of Joe Thornton in 2006: Elsa / Getty Photographs)
