Celebrini Leading Tight Hobey Race
by Mike McMahon/Staff Writer (@MikeMcMahonCHN)
As it stands, this is a tough year to handicap the Hobey Baker Award.
Last season, it was cut and dry for me. It was Adam Fantilli vs. Logan Cooley. I went with Fantilli at the top of my ballot and firmly stand by that decision. Not to bring up old topics, but it was laughable some tried to discredit Fantilli’s season based on a game misconduct penalty.
None of us know these guys personally enough to judge their character. That’s the simple reality. If someone gets arrested, or runs into off-ice trouble, that’s one thing. But a game misconduct penalty? For real? C’mon. What are we talking about?
There shouldn’t be any of those issues this season. At least none that I can see.
At the same time, the number of players committee members could put in their top five is plentiful. The leading scorers in the nation differ from the players who lead the nation in points per game (due to injuries and some players missing for the World Juniors).
Some players with the most points have half the number of goals as the players are slightly below them. Before we get too into the weeds, I value goals more than assists. Moreover, I value goals per game played heavily. I apply different weights to those numbers. That hurts someone like Massimo Rizzo, who leads the nation with 44 points but only has 10 goals. Meanwhile, Cutter Gauthier has 21 goals, so he’ll be boosted.
It’s also important to note that the official vote usually doesn’t take place until after the regionals are completed. So there’s a long way to go.
So, who are the top candidates?
Macklin Celebrini, Boston University
Celebrini has come as advertised for BU this season. He’s averaging slightly fewer points per game than Adam Fantilli did last season as a freshman, but Celebrini is younger, and he’s not surrounded by as much firepower as Fantilli was at Michigan (not that BU isn’t loaded – they are).
Right now, I’d have Celebrini at the top of my ballot. He’s not overly reliant on assists (he leads the country in goals per game).
Other candidates, in no particular order …
Cutter Gauthier, Boston College: The margin is very thin this season. No one is running away with this award, which means someone else handicapping the race could have three,…
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