Cale for Calder

He is only 25% of the way through his rookie season, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is a leading candidate to win Rookie of the Year. In 21 games, he has 23 points (5G, 18 A), putting him in second place on the team, only behind forward Nathan MacKinnon (13 G, 18 A). Twenty NHL writers voted for ROY at this point in the season and Makar won by a landslide. He received 100 points, 33% more than the next player Quinn Huges (66 pts).

Cale’s father Gary was interviewed when the Avs played the Calgary Flames on Tuesday and he shared some stories about how Cale spent his homecoming. The Makars had their family over for dinner on Monday night and Cale requested Mayonnaise Chicken with potatoes and carrots. If it’s what fuels his success, who are we to judge?

University of Denver Hockey Opens NCHC Play

The DU Pioneers only have three points in four conference games, but are 8-2-2 on the season thus far. They are lead by junior captain Ian Mitchell and senior captain Michael Davies this season. Scott has more here. They will host NCHC foe University of North Dakota tomorrow and Saturday night.

New Coach in Toronto

Yesterday afternoon, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they had fired head coach Mike Babcock after a 9-14 start and a 0-6 record in its last six games. Toronto is in 5th place in the Atlantic Division with 22 points. Sheldon Keefe, former head coach of the Toronto Marlies will replace Babcock. Keefe has achieved success with the Marlies over the past five years, leading them to a Calder Cup in 2018 and a 10-2-2-1 record this season.

Babcock was clearly at odds with the roster General Manager Kyle Dubas had built. His slow-paced, shut down style was counter to the high-flying mentality of the team’s most talented players. It would be like coach Bednar asking Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar to play like Anze Kopitar and Alec Martinez.

Keefe should being a shift in philosophy as he has been with Leafs GM for a long time as he coached for Dubas with the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds before they both jumped to the Marlies.

Maybe the new coach and playing style will help Tyson Barrie out of the funk he’s been in this season.

The Leafs are in the middle of a six game road trip, and will visit the Avalanche on Saturday.

Spitting isn’t Nice

Washington Capitals forward Garnett Hathaway was involved in a brawl in the second period of the Caps game versus the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. He was ejected from the game and given a match penalty for spitting towards Ducks defenseman Erik Gudbranson. Yesterday, he received a three game suspension without pay, meaning he loses $24,193.53. And just to make things more interesting, the Caps will visit the Ducks on Dec. 6, just five games after Hathaway is eligible to return from his suspension.