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This kid is going to end up being the steal of the Draft. 9 games in and has 3 Goals and 4-5 assists. And only 18 years old. Canes have a good one.

Hey, I'm not saying the kid is going to be the best player from this Draft in 5 years. But 12 games in, Taylor and Tyler each have 5 pts, while Skinner has 10. More Goals, more Assists. And they are all only 18 years old. One advantage he has over Taylor and Tyler - he is a better skater. Moves on the ice so smooth it surprises you he is only 18. I just hope he builds himself up a little to take hard hits because you know that teams will target him a bit for some hard checks as he is not physically a big guy at all. He has to be tough.

OK. 14 games in and we are 7-7. Skinner has 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 pts, leading all Rookies. Keep it up kid! You are a blast to watch play!

Oh yeah! Taking on the Oilers and the #1 pick of the draft. And Skinner gets 1 Goal and 2 assists. Now he has 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 pts. This after only 15 games, and the Canes are 8-7. Is this kid going to run away with ROY? Tyler with 5 pts, Taylor with 6 pts and Jeff with 15 pts. Let the rout go on!

ugggh! 4 straight games where my boy is held pointless. Gotta get by this hurdle mentally. Once he scores again, all will be right with the kid.

OK, got an assist tonight. Scored in a SO (no points), but we lost. Still, getting to break the ice from his 4 game skid will help.

Another Assist tonight vs Washinigton, but a tough 3-2 loss.

Back on track. 1 goal and 1 assist in the win today over Boston. Now has 7 goals and 12 assists. Keep it going kid!

Got to get it in gea, Jeff. Taylor had 2 Goals last night, so that makes 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 pts. Still have a comfortable lead, but you need to pick it up even more. Be aggressive!

There you go kid! Huge Goal in a 2-1 win over Col.

Skinner is a lot of fun to watch. I've been to 3 Canes games this season and he's done something memorable in each. Definite steal.

Hey WAlt! Cool! Not talking with myself anymore!

Taylor making a hard push. Goal 10 tonight gives him 16 pts to Skinner's 20. Young man better show his stuff and put up some points to keep his lead. I have faith in him.

Taylor? I don't know who that is. I'm only starting to know who the Canes players are

Great rally tonight! Scored 3 in the 3rd to beat FLA. Skinner had 2 assists. That gives him 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 pts. Taylor still at 10 goals and 6 assists for 16 pts.

Taylor Hall was the #1 pick of the draft for Edmonton. The big drama was would they take Taylor or another 18 yr old stud named Tyler. Edmonton took Taylor and Boston got Tyler. It was a play off of the Twilight movies about whether you were for Edward or Jacob. Although Taylor was pretty much considered the one to go with, and Edmonton did. I rember there was a lot of talk about Carolina needing Defense and when Cam Fowler was available people were sure we would take him at #7. But Carolina took Skinner. Scored like crazy at the lower level and Carolina doesn't like drafting for Defense. They draft offense and trade for Defense or sign FA defensmen. The knock on Skinner was his smallish size, and he was a ice figure skater in his youth. They questioned his toughness. He may be small, but the kid is tough. And his skating background makes him a better hockey player. But what people failed to recognize was his hands. He controls the stick beautifully for an 18 yr old. And his instincts are great. He is far more talented than people thought, and they did not expect him to be such an assist guy. But the team leaders know they have a player and they let him do his stuff. Just a great thing to watch.

Carolina rallied for a big win in a SO, but nothing for Jeff. But Taylor had a big night with 3 assists, bring him to 19 points. Getting too close for comfort. Time to get scoring Mr. Skinner.

Another big win tonight makes 4 in a row. And Jeff gets an Assist, so 23 points now. Better keep the ball rolling if you want to be in the talk for top Rookie.

A blowout loss tonight, but another Assist for the kid. 24 pts.

An assist last night for Taylor, brings him to 20 pts. Great battle shaping up here.

A goal for Taylor last night, but Jeff gets shut out. So Taylor has 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 pts while Jeff has 24 pts.

Jeff gets point #25 with another Assist

All right man. Goal #9 and point #26. Keep it going kid!

Taylor has goal #12 and point #22. Game is still going, will update tomorrow. Nothing more.

2 Goals for Skinner tonight. That makes 11 Goals and 17 assists for 28 pts.

When reading about the hot Rookies, you have to be very impressed the Logan Couture. He was selected #9 by the Sharks. He is 21 yrs old, so more experience than Skinner. But he has 18 Goals and 9 assists for 27 pts. The guys on ESPN tend to think he is the leader for ROY status.

The battle for the Calder Trophy:

2 goals and 1 assist for the kid last night! 13 goals 18 assists for 31 points
1 assist for Hall has him at 12 goals 10 assists for 22 point
Couture did not play. Still at 18 goals 9 assists for 27 points

Couture gets goal #19 tonight, so 28 pts. 3 pts behind Skinner.

Skinner gets Goal #14 today, so now 32 points, 4 ahead of Couture and 10 ahead of Hall

Skinner gets assist #19 for point #33. Scored the only Goal in the SO to win the game for Carolina, but doesn't count in official Goals scored. Will update if Couture or Hall do anything. If they dont, he will be 5 pts up on Couture and 11 on Hall.
**No scoring by Hall or Couture, but Couture suffered a knee-on-knee hit and was hurt. Cannot find any updates to see how bad, but hopefully the kid is OK and wont miss more than a game or so. He is a great talent and is right there at the top in the Calder Trophy race.

Goal #15 tonight, so with 19 assists he has 34 pts. But we lost 3-2 tonight. Edmonton plays San Jose so we see if Hall or Couture score. Will update if anyone scores. Taylor had 2 Goals and 1 assist. Gives him 14 Goals and 12 Assists for 26 pts.

Goal and an assist tonight for Jeff. #16 goal and #20 assist for 36 pts.
Assist for Couture gives him 19 goals and 10 assists for 29 pts
Assist for Hall gives him 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 pts

Skinner and Canes shut out by Boston.
Couture gets Goal #20 and Assist #11 for 31 pts.

Assist #21 and pt #37 for Jeff, but we lost again.

Goal #17 and Assist #22 for 39 points for Jeff. Good win tonight.

Couture with Goal #22 to go with his 10 assists to give 32 pts.

Hall with Goal #15 so now 28 pts

Goal #18 for point #40 for Jeff, good win.

Hall with Goal #16 and Assist #14 for total of 30 pts - - kid is coming on strong right now.

Skinner is an All Star his Rookie year! Injury replacement, and being the youngest player in the NHL and leading in points and assists (2nd in Goals), it is a great honor for him! Congratulations Jeff!


Hall with assist #15 for point #31

Scoring for the top Rookies concluded:

Skinner: 31 goals 32 assists 63 points
Couture: 32 goals 24 assists 56 points
Hall: 22 goals 20 assists 42 points
Grabner: 34 goals 18 assists 52 pts

**Hall injured his ankle on 3/3/11 after having a G and A. He missed the rest of the season. Sad. He was really coming on strong.

My guess is that in the final 2 weeks, Skinner did enough to capture the Calder Trophy, but it will be a close vote. He comes in 3rd in Goals by 3, but wins Assists by 8 and Total Points by 4. Grabner wins the Goal scoring title, but did not do much in the way of Assists. However, Couture was a better defensive presence than Skinner, and that will carry some votes for him. Either of these young men are worthy and it would not be fair to say either was undeserving.