HELL yeah! (https://x.com/i/status/2014079584619077819)
Ryan Walsh and Jonathan Castagna have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award!
Text 844-623-9688 to vote:
26089 for Walsh
26090 for Castagna
Caton Ryan snubbed? ;)
Nice, although:
QuoteA total of 87 NCAA men's hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.
Quote from: Trotsky on January 21, 2026, 05:18:27 PMNice, although:
QuoteA total of 87 NCAA men's hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.
It's still an achievement. And nice to see them get the recognition.
Quote from: stereax on January 21, 2026, 05:26:39 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 21, 2026, 05:18:27 PMNice, although:
QuoteA total of 87 NCAA men's hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.
It's still an achievement. And nice to see them get the recognition.
Just my sole opinion
Castagna is more of a standout so far this year
Quote from: stereax on January 21, 2026, 05:26:39 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 21, 2026, 05:18:27 PMNice, although:
QuoteA total of 87 NCAA men's hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.
It's still an achievement. And nice to see them get the recognition.
Certainly.
Quote from: fastforward on January 21, 2026, 06:02:41 PMQuote from: stereax on January 21, 2026, 05:26:39 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 21, 2026, 05:18:27 PMNice, although:
QuoteA total of 87 NCAA men's hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.
It's still an achievement. And nice to see them get the recognition.
Just my sole opinion
Castagna is more of a standout so far this year
Walsh does a lot of quiet stuff effectively. I think he may still be under the radar as to true value. When I isolate on him on shifts I am impressed by him (and by Ryan for that matter).
I think the difference is Castagna tends to be involved in the game-winning plays. Like that late goal against whatsitsface out of the penalty box. Things that you don't forget easily. Walsh is a little quieter when it comes to the "clutch moments", plus some of his best games were earlier in the year. (Didn't he have like 5 assists in the RPI game?)
Ultimately though, I doubt either would be as effective without the other.
Quote from: Trotsky on January 21, 2026, 06:48:52 PMWalsh does a lot of quiet stuff effectively. I think he may still be under the radar as to true value. When I isolate on him on shifts I am impressed by him (and by Ryan for that matter).
(https://i.ibb.co/nMx7Xgkj/ai0anf.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PGqc2mCg)
I'm
going to make this a thing, mark my words.
Great to see both of them nominated—well deserved.
Many people may not realize that Ryan Walsh is a Type 1 diabetic, which makes his ability to manage his diet and compete at such a high level even more impressive. This isn't confidential information—he shared it publicly last year when he, Hank Kemp, and Jack O'Brien fundraised for Big Red Blocks for Healing, with Ryan specifically supporting Kids With Courage, a charity that supports children with Type 1 diabetes.
Which finally solves the great "why is Walsh eating a banana on the bench in the first period?" mystery from last season. 🍌
(https://i.ibb.co/nMx7Xgkj/ai0anf.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PGqc2mCg)
I'm going to make this a thing, mark my words.
Nice work.
He damn well is!!!
Quote from: Snowball on January 21, 2026, 07:12:08 PMWhich finally solves the great "why is Walsh eating a banana on the bench in the first period?" mystery from last season. 🍌
HOLY CRAP I LITERALLY PULLED UP MY PHOTOS OF THAT THE OTHER DAY AND WONDERED TO MYSELF AGAIN.
That explains it! Did not know that. Hella impressive - joins a group of hockey players like Kaapo Kakko, Riley Tufte, and Max Domi who are also T1D.
For the curious - here it is in Ryan Walsh's own words. (https://bigredblocksforhealing.weebly.com/about.html)
Quote from: stereax on January 21, 2026, 07:48:01 PMQuote from: Snowball on January 21, 2026, 07:12:08 PMWhich finally solves the great "why is Walsh eating a banana on the bench in the first period?" mystery from last season. 🍌
HOLY CRAP I LITERALLY PULLED UP MY PHOTOS OF THAT THE OTHER DAY AND WONDERED TO MYSELF AGAIN.
That explains it! Did not know that. Hella impressive - joins a group of hockey players like Kaapo Kakko, Riley Tufte, and Max Domi who are also T1D.
For the curious - here it is in Ryan Walsh's own words. (https://bigredblocksforhealing.weebly.com/about.html)
Speaking of, if you sit behind the bench, there's a water bottle with tape going around the top half that has 14 14 14 on it. I'm gonna hazard a guess that it might have sugar in it.
Currently both our boys (https://x.com/i/status/2022330706228125763) are in the top 15. Casty 15, Walshy 9. Top 10 are finalists. VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Hobey voting updates from the Cornell instagram: Casty takes a hop over Walsh, so he's now in 9th. Walsh is still in 10th. Keep voting!
Does the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
Quote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
I don't have the patience to look up this year's exact rules, but in the past it's been something like, "Each of the 63 head coaches get a vote and the aggregate of the fan vote counts as the 64th vote," which means this kind of upvoting is an awful lot of effort for not a lot of payoff. The main payoff is for the NCAA and college hockey in general, which gets more buzz, clicks, and eyeballs.
Quote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
It counts for a tiny amount of data mining for the NC$$
Quote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
IIRC the collective fan vote counts for one vote or something like that?
Quote from: RichH on February 26, 2026, 10:18:50 AMQuote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
It counts for a tiny amount of data mining for the NC$$
pedantic correction - data mining for the Hobey Committee, which has no connection with the NCAA on this.
And as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
So basically - nope. You are all just dupes for click farming.
Quote from: adamw on February 27, 2026, 11:47:36 PMQuote from: RichH on February 26, 2026, 10:18:50 AMQuote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
It counts for a tiny amount of data mining for the NC$$
pedantic correction - data mining for the Hobey Committee, which has no connection with the NCAA on this.
And as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
So basically - nope. You are all just dupes for click farming.
So, not even worth doing the text vote? There are other criteria being used to determine the top 10 besides the fan vote?
The only winning move is not to play.
Quote from: Chris H82 on February 28, 2026, 12:06:55 AMQuote from: adamw on February 27, 2026, 11:47:36 PMQuote from: RichH on February 26, 2026, 10:18:50 AMQuote from: Trotsky on February 26, 2026, 02:38:51 AMDoes the fan vote count for anything?
(It shouldn't.)
It counts for a tiny amount of data mining for the NC$$
pedantic correction - data mining for the Hobey Committee, which has no connection with the NCAA on this.
And as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
So basically - nope. You are all just dupes for click farming.
So, not even worth doing the text vote? There are other criteria being used to determine the top 10 besides the fan vote?
The Top 10 is basically entirely determined by a vote of all head coaches.
Quote from: adamw on February 27, 2026, 11:47:36 PMAnd as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
The fourth E is silent.
Quote from: Beeeej on March 01, 2026, 08:52:44 AMQuote from: adamw on February 27, 2026, 11:47:36 PMAnd as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
The fourth E is silent.
It may look like "Luxury Yacht" but it's pronounced "throat warbler mangrove".
Quote from: Jeff Hopkins '82 on March 01, 2026, 02:30:48 PMQuote from: Beeeej on March 01, 2026, 08:52:44 AMQuote from: adamw on February 27, 2026, 11:47:36 PMAnd as BeeeEj said, it counts very little - and that's only towards determining the final 10. Among the final 10, it has no bearing.
The fourth E is silent.
It may look like "Luxury Yacht" but it's pronounced "throat warbler mangrove".
You're a very silly man, and I'm not going to interview you any more.
No idea where to put this, but sounds like Casty might be going to Calgary in the Weegar trade. (https://x.com/i/status/2029364665868767615)
Quote from: stereax on March 04, 2026, 08:17:27 PMNo idea where to put this, but sounds like Casty might be going to Calgary in the Weegar trade. (https://x.com/i/status/2029364665868767615)
Sounds like Maatta, Castagna, and 3 (3!) 2026 2nds.
Also, if this is how any of the Castagnas find out about this, I am so truly deeply sorry.
Presumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
Quote from: chimpfood on March 04, 2026, 08:31:22 PMPresumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
Or he can play his senior season and become a free agent (unless the rules changed in the new cba)
Quote from: chimpfood on March 04, 2026, 08:31:22 PMPresumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
I mean, it depends. Calgary's in a DEEP rebuild. I can see it going one of two ways:
1) Calgary tells him "if you sign after the Cornell season is over, we'll give you a few NHL games this year and give you a good chance of making it out of camp next year" - increases likelihood he signs, by a lot.
2) Calgary is more ambivalent and/or tells him straight up that he'll probably spend next year in the A - decreases likelihood. (I suspect he'd rather be the big fish in a college sea, especially in a development year. I'm not too sure what he'd get out of the A. That being said, Castagna is still pretty young. Could easily do next year here, the year after in the A, and then after that hopefully graduate to the NHL, still while he's 23-24ish.)
We'll have to see. I'm pretty sure this throws a big wrench in the plans anyway - I suspect Casty's plans revolved strongly around Utah and his communications with them, and now getting flipped to another team can put all that stuff on its head.
Quote from: VIEWfromK on March 04, 2026, 08:40:33 PMQuote from: chimpfood on March 04, 2026, 08:31:22 PMPresumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
Or he can play his senior season and become a free agent (unless the rules changed in the new cba)
Or play his senior season and sign to Calgary anyway. Depends what they want to do with him and what he thinks of it.
Quote from: stereax on March 04, 2026, 08:43:18 PMQuote from: VIEWfromK on March 04, 2026, 08:40:33 PMQuote from: chimpfood on March 04, 2026, 08:31:22 PMPresumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
Or he can play his senior season and become a free agent (unless the rules changed in the new cba)
Or play his senior season and sign to Calgary anyway. Depends what they want to do with him and what he thinks of it.
Calgary got Coronato to leave Harvard after only two years but he was a 13th overall pick so not an equal comparison. They weren't in a rebuild then so that could change how they conduct business with their prospects present day
Quote from: VIEWfromK on March 04, 2026, 09:26:21 PMQuote from: stereax on March 04, 2026, 08:43:18 PMQuote from: VIEWfromK on March 04, 2026, 08:40:33 PMQuote from: chimpfood on March 04, 2026, 08:31:22 PMPresumably increases the likelihood of him leaving after this season?
Or he can play his senior season and become a free agent (unless the rules changed in the new cba)
Or play his senior season and sign to Calgary anyway. Depends what they want to do with him and what he thinks of it.
Calgary got Coronato to leave Harvard after only two years but he was a 13th overall pick so not an equal comparison. They weren't in a rebuild then so that could change how they conduct business with their prospects present day
Yeah. It all depends. (Also, pretty sure it was Treliving's FO, not Conroy's, that got Coronato to sign. Plus, Coronato only spent half a year in the A.) We'll have to see how things go, really.
Scouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
Quote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
And that doesn't even mention his preternatural faceoff numbers.
Quote from: Beeeej on March 05, 2026, 11:05:14 AMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
And that doesn't even mention his preternatural faceoff numbers.
And probably doesn't realize injury was a factor last year.
Quote from: marty on March 05, 2026, 11:07:28 AMQuote from: Beeeej on March 05, 2026, 11:05:14 AMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
And that doesn't even mention his preternatural faceoff numbers.
And probably doesn't realize injury was a factor last year.
Yeah, it definitely doesn't take things like injuries into account - mostly just points, as it's an NHLe-based thing.
If he can have even a 60% FO% in the NHL, he'll be employed for a pretty long time, I bet, not even talking about other skills and intangibles.
Quote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 11:16:06 AMQuote from: marty on March 05, 2026, 11:07:28 AMQuote from: Beeeej on March 05, 2026, 11:05:14 AMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
And that doesn't even mention his preternatural faceoff numbers.
And probably doesn't realize injury was a factor last year.
Yeah, it definitely doesn't take things like injuries into account - mostly just points, as it's an NHLe-based thing.
If he can have even a 60% FO% in the NHL, he'll be employed for a pretty long time, I bet, not even talking about other skills and intangibles.
There are only seven centers in the NHL this season at 60% or above:
https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask?q=nhl+face+off+win+percentage+leaders+2025-2026
Quote from: BearLover on March 05, 2026, 11:28:06 AMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 11:16:06 AMQuote from: marty on March 05, 2026, 11:07:28 AMQuote from: Beeeej on March 05, 2026, 11:05:14 AMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
And that doesn't even mention his preternatural faceoff numbers.
And probably doesn't realize injury was a factor last year.
Yeah, it definitely doesn't take things like injuries into account - mostly just points, as it's an NHLe-based thing.
If he can have even a 60% FO% in the NHL, he'll be employed for a pretty long time, I bet, not even talking about other skills and intangibles.
There are only seven centers in the NHL this season at 60% or above:
https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask?q=nhl+face+off+win+percentage+leaders+2025-2026
Precisely my point. If he can develop into a faceoff specialist, high-motor bottom six C, teams will
always need someone like that. (Case in point, the Devils groups I'm in still bemoan "losing" Michael McLeod - one of the defendants in the 2018 WJC case - because he was THAT good in the dot 😭)
Hate the idea of Walsh and Castagna leaving after this year.
Doesn't work out for most guys - even Malinski finished his senior year here. Dalton Bancroft probably would have been better off staying another year.But Castagna is pretty dominant at this level at this point. Wish he could have been traded to the Rangers.
Quote from: Pghas on March 05, 2026, 11:49:33 AMHate the idea of Walsh and Castagna leaving after this year.
Doesn't work out for most guys - even Malinski finished his senior year here. Dalton Bancroft probably would have been better off staying another year.But Castagna is pretty dominant at this level at this point. Wish he could have been traded to the Rangers.
Almost everyone in recent history who has left Cornell before their senior year had basically zero NHL career. Barron's hand was forced by COVID so not counting him.
Quote from: Pghas on March 05, 2026, 11:49:33 AMHate the idea of Walsh and Castagna leaving after this year.
Doesn't work out for most guys - even Malinski finished his senior year here. Dalton Bancroft probably would have been better off staying another year.But Castagna is pretty dominant at this level at this point. Wish he could have been traded to the Rangers.
Malinski and Bancroft are different, as neither was drafted. When you're drafted, your NHL club takes an active role in your development and all that - like, there was a Walshy article by McNally early this year where he references being in active contact with Bruins scouts who tell him what to focus on and stuff like that. So if the NHL club wants Casty or Walshy after this season - while they do have the power to not sign - it's difficult to assert that, especially when the clubs are actively working with the prospects. Bancroft didn't have that type of thing going on - he kinda just had to play his minds out to get scout attention and get the AHL/NHL deal. And you can run the calculus on signing early vs staying another year at college (risk of career-altering injuries, breaking out in senior year, monetary things) and it's really not as clear as it seems to a fan.
Quote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 12:43:09 PMQuote from: Pghas on March 05, 2026, 11:49:33 AMHate the idea of Walsh and Castagna leaving after this year.
Doesn't work out for most guys - even Malinski finished his senior year here. Dalton Bancroft probably would have been better off staying another year.But Castagna is pretty dominant at this level at this point. Wish he could have been traded to the Rangers.
Malinski and Bancroft are different, as neither was drafted. When you're drafted, your NHL club takes an active role in your development and all that - like, there was a Walshy article by McNally early this year where he references being in active contact with Bruins scouts who tell him what to focus on and stuff like that. So if the NHL club wants Casty or Walshy after this season - while they do have the power to not sign - it's difficult to assert that, especially when the clubs are actively working with the prospects. Bancroft didn't have that type of thing going on - he kinda just had to play his minds out to get scout attention and get the AHL/NHL deal. And you can run the calculus on signing early vs staying another year at college (risk of career-altering injuries, breaking out in senior year, monetary things) and it's really not as clear as it seems to a fan.
The flip side is that when you're a FA you have multiple teams bidding for you, as Bancroft did.
Biggest difference between Bancroft and Castagna though is that Bancroft was 24 when he signed; Castagna is only 20.
Quote from: BearLover on March 05, 2026, 01:04:36 PMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 12:43:09 PMQuote from: Pghas on March 05, 2026, 11:49:33 AMHate the idea of Walsh and Castagna leaving after this year.
Doesn't work out for most guys - even Malinski finished his senior year here. Dalton Bancroft probably would have been better off staying another year.But Castagna is pretty dominant at this level at this point. Wish he could have been traded to the Rangers.
Malinski and Bancroft are different, as neither was drafted. When you're drafted, your NHL club takes an active role in your development and all that - like, there was a Walshy article by McNally early this year where he references being in active contact with Bruins scouts who tell him what to focus on and stuff like that. So if the NHL club wants Casty or Walshy after this season - while they do have the power to not sign - it's difficult to assert that, especially when the clubs are actively working with the prospects. Bancroft didn't have that type of thing going on - he kinda just had to play his mind out to get scout attention and get the AHL/NHL deal. And you can run the calculus on signing early vs staying another year at college (risk of career-altering injuries, breaking out in senior year, monetary things) and it's really not as clear as it seems to a fan.
The flip side is that when you're a FA you have multiple teams bidding for you, as Bancroft did.
Biggest difference between Bancroft and Castagna though is that Bancroft was 24 when he signed; Castagna is only 20.
Depends on your talent level, too, though. If Castagna was a FA, he'd definitely be part of a bidding war. (Perhaps it's a good thing he isn't.)
That's what I always come back to tbh - Castagna is still pretty damn young. Making the hop out of NCAA at 20/21 is usually seen among your more blue-chip prospects (think your Leonards, your Hutsons, that kind of player). I can't think of a guy, off the top of my head, who signed to the NHL at late 20/early 21 and
wasn't that kind of blue chip guy. Closest I can get is Shane LaChance (who did sign with the Devils after his second year at BU), but he basically started at BU when he was Castagna's age now.
The other thing I'm checking - the Calgary Wranglers (the Flames' AHL affiliate, where they'd presumably put Casty fresh off signing) are abysmal right now and probably won't qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. Something to keep in mind there.
Also will note that a center depth of Kadri-Backlund-Frost-Pospisil isn't the
worst in the league and I wouldn't say Castagna would realistically be a better option than any of them (assuming they develop him into a C, which I think only makes sense given his toolset). Of course, Kadri is in trade rumors and Frost I've heard as well, so we'll see how that shakes out by Friday.
Flames article on Casty after the trade! (https://x.com/i/status/2029664561532653858)
Quote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 04:42:15 PMFlames article on Casty after the trade! (https://x.com/i/status/2029664561532653858)
Here's a link (https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/castagna-excited-to-join-flames-organization) that takes you directly to story if you want to avoid going through Elon Musk's shitshow.
Adam, I liked your write up on the Hobey challengers, but surprised you dismissed differences in games played. Personally, I always insist on x/GP when comparing accumulation stats. You can likewise normalize CHIP since it is easy, and obviously in need of it.
But bottom line is I enjoyed the review. I'm not always critical. Really.
Quote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
You do?
Quote from: Trotsky on March 09, 2026, 02:07:23 PMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
You do?
Snowbird. LOL.
The Yotes had objectively great branding and jerseys. Plus they were likeable in a way the Mammoth aren't.
Quote from: stereax on March 09, 2026, 02:09:38 PMQuote from: Trotsky on March 09, 2026, 02:07:23 PMQuote from: stereax on March 05, 2026, 10:50:16 AMScouting projection for Castagna. (https://x.com/i/status/2029582998690316365)
I miss the Coyotes.
You do?
Snowbird. LOL.
The Yotes had objectively great branding and jerseys. Plus they were likeable in a way the Mammoth aren't.
The one and only time I went to an NHL preseason game was when Gretzky was caching the Yotes and the played the Sharks in Portland
Quote from: Trotsky on March 09, 2026, 02:05:56 PMAdam, I liked your write up on the Hobey challengers, but surprised you dismissed differences in games played. Personally, I always insist on x/GP when comparing accumulation stats. You can likewise normalize CHIP since it is easy, and obviously in need of it.
But bottom line is I enjoyed the review. I'm not always critical. Really.
We do normalize for games played ... and we ding players for missing games in proportion to the amount of games their team played.