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Fischler has been writing about hockey for decades and he’s no stranger to controversy. This remark certainly upset many Oilers fans.

But no need for anyone to lose their cool over Fischler’s assessment as I strongly suspect he’s got it wrong. Indeed, it’s going to become increasingly clear in coming weeks that McDavid is the clear choice to win this award.

Two things work against Panarin. First, he’s 24 and he’s played six seasons in Russia’s KHL, so he’s not a raw rookie, he’s a seasoned pro.

Second, Panarin has also had the luxury of playing 761 of his 881 5-on-5 minutes this year with Kane, with 31 of Panarin’s 32 even strength points coming with Kane on the ice.

All this helps put McDavid in the running for the Calder Memorial, as was witnessed by the discussion on Hockey Night in Canada between panelists Nick Kypreos, Elliotte Friedman and Kelly Hrudey:

Said Kypreos of McDavid: “If he’s in the ballpark of 55-60 points, and let’s say Panarin ends up at a point a game which puts him at 80, you almost have to give it to McDavid.”

Friedman: “I think his point total has to start with a six. If he gets to 60 points.”

Added Hrudey: “Who cares? He’s going to be the best player in the game for the next 15 years anyways whether he wins this award or not.”

Have to say that Hrudey nailed it there in terms of the big picture. As for the precise point total it will take for McDavid to win it, I suspect Kyrpeos is correct, that 55 to 60 points is going to do it, though if McDavid does put up 33 points in his last 22 games and reaches 60 points, the vote will be a slam dunk, or it should be.