The Athletic Hockey Show – Calder Trophy Preview: Is Demidov or Buium the Favorite?
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Max Bultman
Guests: Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman
Episode Overview
This episode of The Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series takes a deep dive into the 2025 Calder Trophy race, focusing primarily on the much-anticipated battle between Ivan Demidov and Zeev Buium. Hosts Max Bultman, Scott Wheeler, and Corey Pronman break down the top candidates, explore dark horses, and discuss the unique scenarios facing rookies this NHL season. The conversation is highly analytical, offering insider observations from preseason viewings, and includes nuanced takes on opportunity, roster situations, and the evolving standards for rookie success.
Main Theme: Calder Trophy Front-Runners
Ivan Demidov – The Clear Favorite?
- Health and Opportunity:
- Demidov suffered a preseason wrist injury, but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
- His likely deployment on Montreal’s top power play is a critical factor in his Calder candidacy.
- Montreal’s Power Play Dynamics:
- Key supporting players: Lane Hutson, Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Patrick Laine.
- The discussion centers on whether Demidov or Laine fills the fifth spot on PP1.
- Montreal may rotate the unit depending on health and chemistry (03:06 Scott Wheeler).
- Expectations and Pressure:
- Players coming in as clear favorites rarely meet the inflated expectations.
- "It’s really hard to be that player that everyone expects you to be." (04:54 Max Bultman)
- Statistical Benchmark:
- 60 points is seen as the bar for a forward to win the Calder (05:16 Corey Pronman).
- Demidov compared to previous elite rookies: "I think he’s a cut above this class in terms of skill level... a truly premium, upper-echelon talent." (05:16 Corey Pronman)
Zeev Buium (Z. Boyum) – The Dynamic Defenseman
- Minnesota’s Roster Situation:
- Will almost certainly run PP1 to start the season.
- Some preseason ups and downs, but high-end hockey sense and offensive skills are emphasized (07:17 Scott Wheeler).
- Key Questions:
- Can he handle 5-on-5 play and top-pairing minutes?
- "Can he be counted upon for 82 games at the NHL level right away to play big minutes?" (08:28 Corey Pronman)
- Immediate Opportunity:
- Minnesota’s current depth means he’ll play a lot regardless of readiness, at least until injured veterans return (09:29 Scott Wheeler).
- Contextual Pressure:
- Minnesota’s playoff aspirations (10:00 Max Bultman) influence how aggressively Buium is used compared to developing teams like Montreal.
Other Notable Calder Contenders
Chicago’s Defensive Duo: Sam Rinzel & Artem Levshunov
- Top Power Play Opportunities:
- Chicago plans to start Rinzel on PP1, but Levshunov could get opportunities (13:55 Scott Wheeler).
- Potential Impact:
- "If [Rinzel is] playing 24, 25 minutes a night... there’s no reason he can’t be in the conversation here and have the kind of season that Moritz Seider had..." (15:53 Corey Pronman)
- Reality Check:
- Both will have defensive struggles given Chicago’s rebuilding roster: "The minuses are going to pile up... that team is going to be bad again this year and that will impact voting." (17:19 Corey Pronman)
Jimmy Snuggerud – St. Louis Blues
- Immediate NHL Readiness:
- Strong preseason has him entrenched in the top-six, likely on Thomas’ line and PP1 (17:33 Scott Wheeler).
- "It would not surprise me if he is absolutely in the race from beginning to end to win the Calder Trophy." (18:22 Corey Pronman)
- Competing Forwards:
- Compared to Washington’s Ryan Leonard, Snuggerud’s opportunity for points is higher due to immediate top-line and power play deployment (20:24 Scott Wheeler).
Ryan Leonard – Washington Capitals
- Noted for Elite Skating and Upside:
- "Leonard’s a better player than Snuggerud is. He’s definitely a better skater... but in terms of this season, projecting point totals, I think Snuggerud is going to be in just better situations to score." (20:24 Scott Wheeler)
- Rising Up the Lineup:
- Leonard’s strong camp earned him a second-line spot (21:05 Corey Pronman).
Team Development Environments
- Washington Capitals:
- Praised for maximizing output from young players and creating favorable development situations (22:57 Max Bultman, 23:09 Scott Wheeler).
- Chicago Blackhawks:
- Exciting future blue line if development continues: "Rinzel, Korchinski, and Levshunov as your top 4D... that’s a contending caliber top four." (19:03 Scott Wheeler)
Long Shots and Dark Horses
Notable Goalie Candidates
- Yaroslav Askarov (San Jose Sharks):
- "He’s going to have success. He has the potential to steal games even at the NHL level... but it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a year that gets him top three, top five votes." (25:37 Scott Wheeler)
- Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild):
- Rebounding from a tough year, expected to get NHL games and could have impact (32:50 Scott Wheeler).
Defensemen With Uncertain Roles
- Zayne Parekh (Calgary Flames):
- Potential for big offence if he sticks in the NHL all year, but may return to junior after WJC (26:38 Corey Pronman, 28:26 Scott Wheeler).
- Alexander Nikishin (Carolina Hurricanes):
- Projected strong underlying numbers but may be limited by PP opportunity: "If he is a really impactful two-way force... he may not have kind of the power play one and all that stuff... the points will be his biggest limiting factor." (28:45 Max Bultman)
- Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders):
- 18-year-old defenseman praised for talent, questioned if he can reach enough points for real Calder candidacy as a rookie (31:34 Scott Wheeler, 31:40 Corey Pronman).
Extremely Deep Cuts
- Zhakar Bardikov (Colorado Avalanche):
- Earned a bottom-six center role with Colorado. "Not going to generate significant offense, but he’s slated for a very important role for them as a rookie." (30:57 Scott Wheeler)
- Villi Koivonen (Pittsburgh Penguins):
- Playing second-line minutes with Evgeni Malkin; Penguins are high on his upside (32:32 Corey Pronman).
Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Calder Standards:
- "The barometer for forward seems to have been set at that sort of 60 point plateau. 50, 55 doesn’t typically get it done… You have to be a go-to guy." (05:16 Corey Pronman)
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On Team Context:
- "There is these expectations, there’s real stakes for Minnesota to make the playoffs this year. Whereas I think Montreal last year could just say, hey, let’s see what happens." (09:44 Max Bultman)
- "If you’re making 10-foot passes to Bedard all season, you’re going to get your points." (13:55 Scott Wheeler, re: Chicago rookies)
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On Rising Prospects:
- "Leonard seems to be trending in the right direction with the Capitals and if he can stick on that second line, that’s huge." (21:05 Corey Pronman)
- "I had one head scout tell me he thought Ryan Leonard deserved to be in that same tier... There are corners of the league who think this guy is just gonna tear up the NHL." (21:48 Scott Wheeler)
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On Voters and Offense:
- "If you don’t have the offense, they’re not going to give you the votes." (30:18 Scott Wheeler, referencing Nikishin and offense as a key to Calder consideration)
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On Young Defensemen:
- "It’s just going to be a really tough bar for an 18-year-old defenseman to step into the league and put up the 50-60 points he’s going to need to do to be in this conversation legitimately." (31:40 Scott Wheeler)
Key Timestamps for Segments
- Top Contenders: Demidov & Buium – 02:34–10:20
- Chicago’s Young Defensemen & PP Role Debate – 13:35–17:29
- Best Rookie Forwards (Snuggerud & Leonard) – 17:33–21:48
- Development Environments (Washington, Chicago) – 22:57–23:29
- Dark Horse/Long Shot Candidates – 25:31–32:50
- Lightning Round: Even Deeper Sleepers & Noteworthy Mentions – 32:17–33:29
Final Thoughts
The hosts balanced analytical breakdowns with practical considerations like team needs, injury, and opportunity, providing listeners with a ranked field of favorites, legitimate challengers, and intriguing dark horses for the 2025 Calder Trophy. Demidov and Buium headline the race, but cue-ins on players like Sam Rinzel, Jimmy Snuggerud, Ryan Leonard, and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov keep the conversation wide open. Team environments, role security, and point production remain at the core of rookie success as interpreted by the panel.