Thinking about a talented star like current Carolina right winger Jeff Skinner having his most decorated season, award-wise, coming as a rookie is hard to believe. He even set a career mark in goals, with 37, last season and did not get the honor.
However, it’s hard to top Skinner’s hardware from the 2010-11 campaign, including an All-Star appearance in his rookie year, Calder Memorial Trophy, and NHL All Rookie First-Team honors. Skinner was not able to take the momentum from his end to 2016-17 and hot start to 2017-18 through the middle of the season.
At 25-years-old, and given an improving team around him, Skinner has a number of chances to get to his second All-Star Game in the near future. He should be entering his prime production years within the next couple seasons.
Whether Skinner stays with the Canes or not does not take away from him getting to play in his home arena for an All-Star Game in his first NHL season. That’s a crazy experience for a player that had not got out of his teenage years yet.