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Rookie Report: February Calder Poll
Written by: Stephen J. Holodinsky on 03/05/2004 
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Michael Ryder
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Ryder
continued his hot play in the new year by potting five goals, one a game
winner versus the Isles and assisting on seven others while going a
healthy +4 for the month. Now with Alexei Kovalev in Habsland, look for
Ryder to get even more opportunities to fill the net. |
| 2 |
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Andrew Raycroft
- Raycroft went 4-3-1 in the month of February and
saw his goals against rise to 1.97 while watching his save percentage drop
to .930. The last two numbers worsened only marginally, but together with
a win-loss record just over .500, it was enough to keep him out of top
spot.. |
| 3 |
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Trent Hunter - The Islanders rookie kept producing in February, to the tune of three goals and seven assists and was a +4, but it wasn't enough to get him past Raycroft for second place. Now, as the Isles battle it out for the last couple playoff spots, the team needs him to come through more than ever. |
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Joni Pitkanen - The Finnish blueliner keeps chipping in points, this month two goals and three assists, while taking on a heavier workload because of injuries on the blueline. A health scratch at the beginning of February, Pitkanen only managed a +3 this time out. Clearly he is starting to miss the experience he is used to having beside him on the blueline. |
| 5 |
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Patrice Bergeron - Sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder injury since the 26th of February, Bergeron contributed two goals and five assists to his cause in the last 30 days, while going +2. With Sergei Gonchar and Michael Nylander coming aboard, expect the youngster's point production to go up, providing he makes it back. |
| 6 | 8 | 
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Eric Staal - The biggest drop in this month's poll belongs to young Staal, who plays for the worst offensive team in the league right now. He managed to put up only an assist while playing -2 hockey on a side that is clearly threatening to rebuild. Another month like this and he could drop out of the poll altogether. |
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Ryan Malone - The left winger had another productive month in the goal-scoring department, managing to find the back of the net seven times, including a game winner against the Isles, as well as assisting on three others. He also finished at -3, quite an achievement considering how the rest of his teammates turned out. He's moved up for the second consecutive month. |
| 8 | 10 |
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Nikolai Zherdev - Zherdev, after a good month of January, followed it up by netting only a goal and two assists and playing -9 hockey for the Jackets in February. Clearly he needs to do more to hang on to his spot in the top ten, and perhaps he will now that Columbus has traded for fellow Russian Alexander Svitov. |
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Joffery Lupul - The Anaheim winger has started to come on since being sent down to Cincinnati for a few games in December. He was able to put five goals and three assists up in February while improving his defensive game. To that end he play even hockey for a team just trying to stay in the playoff race in the last 30 days. |
| 10 | 7 |
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Dan Hamhuis - This month's biggest gainer, Hamhuis continues to be played in most situations in Nashville, but the conservative scheme they play there has him starving for points. In February he was only able to get on the scoreboard twice, picking up one goal and one assist while going -4. Clearly he is learning as he goes. |
Others receiving votes (position in previous top ten in parenthesis): Tuomo Ruutu, Matt Lombardi (9), Matt Stajan, Antoine Vermette, Brett McLean, Jeff Taffe, Paul Martin, Jarret Stoll, Nathan Horton, Garnet Exelby, Mark Rycroft.
Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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