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grok · 01-25-2021, 02:50 PM

The Watchlist: Top Contenders for the S57 Anton Razov Trophy

The Challenge Cup Finals are fast approaching, and with them one of the Simulation Hockey League’s most prestigious awards. The Anton Razov Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s playoff MVP, has historically been a capstone on many of the league’s most honored hall of famers. John McBride, Vidrik Onoprienko, Griffin Simons, Beaujeaux Biscuit...Looking down the list of Razov winners is an honest who’s-who of league greats. As the S57 finals are upon us, we take a look at the league’s top contenders for this oft-desired title.

The Likelies

Michael Scarn Steelhawks

The league’s regular season scoring leader is looking to repeat in the playoffs. One goal behind team leader Clapper, Michael Scarn is putting up a dominant playoff performance in the 9 games they’ve played. Leading the team in shots on goal and hits, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 total points, and doing it all with a slightly below average PDO means he has the tools to bounce even higher in the finals. For Scarn to take the title, he would benefit most from some additional goal scoring in key places, especially on the power play. If Scarn is good for 3 or more power play goals in the finals and Hamilton takes the cup, it will be hard for any other player to match the bar he set.

Daniel Smeb syndicate

It’s hard to argue with 19 points. It’s harder to argue with 19 points when you’re leading your team by 5. It’s harder still to argue with 19 points when that number leads the entire league in playoff scoring. While he is still a touch behind on points per game, and Chicago’s special teams scoring has been, to put it kindly, atrocious, Daniel Smeb is undoubtedly the most prolific even strength playoffs scorer in this finals matchup. He isn’t the go-to guy for goals, but his 12 assists lead the team’s way and his 9.72% shooting is more likely to bounce up than down. His possession numbers are a hold-back compared to the defensive juggernaut that is Chicago’s third line, but awards voters tend to pay a bit more attention to big numbers in the P column and D. Smeb is likely to put those up. For D. Smeb to take the Razov, he will need to continue extending his point lead over the rest of the team. If a forward in a harder position (like Westbroek) or a forward with a significantly higher goal tally (Soderberg) catches up on points, Daniel Smeb might wind up splitting the vote.

Dick Clapper Steelhawks

Clapper and Scarn look incredibly similar on paper. Only one goal separates the two, their power play points are similar, their defensive and possession stats are almost the same. The only real, tangible difference between Clapper and Scarn other than that one goal is Scarn playing the more defensively challenging center position. If Scarn and Clapper wind up with basically the same stat line, Scarn will likely get the nod. For Clapper, this means some distance is in order. He will need to put himself far above in some caption, and goals seem like his best bet. If Clapper can put 2 or 3 more goals between himself and Scarn, he will have a better mandate than Scarn when the voters pens hit paper.

The Outside Shots

Gunnar Soderberg syndicate

Speaking of a forward with a significantly higher goal tally, shooting 17% will certainly get you noticed. Gunnar Soderberg has been putting in an aggressive performance on offense, leading Chicago with 9 goals and keeping a respectable 14 points. His defensive play thus far has...left something to be desired...but if you have one trick up your sleeve, scoring a whole boatload of goals is a pretty freaking good one. If Soderberg continues his near 0.5 goals-per-game pace through a 7 game series and ends with 13 or 14 goals in a Chicago cup win, it might not matter how many points Daniel Smeb leads by. The real challenge for Soderberg will be maintaining the second highest shooting percentage among all skaters in the finals, only two tenths of a percent behind Hamilton’s Dick Clapper. If he can keep the faith, he might take the trophy too.

Samuel Michaud Steelhawks

The first defenseman on our list, Samuel Michaud has been positively electric in the playoffs. With 5 goals in 9 games, Michaud has the most goals of any defenseman in the finals and is tied only with Atlanta’s Guy Zheng for most goals of any defenseman in the entire playoffs. His dynamite offensive performance, including two power play goals, is supported by a rock solid defensive game. +/- isn’t necessarily the best indicator of team success, but a +7 in 9 games is definitely worth talking about. Add on a team leading 19 hits, a staggering +2.6 net goals for per 60, and the highest CF% on the team, and you get the picture of a skater who drives play at every single opportunity on the ice. To break through the high value forwards, however, Michaud will absolutely have to continue scoring goals at his blistering pace and end the playoffs in his team’s top 3 scorers just for a nod. Michaud might have it in him for a breakout performance in the finals though, which is what he needs for the S57 Razov.

The Nomination Hopefuls

Guy O’Shea

Chicago isn’t exactly a team known for their strict defensive play, but believe me when I say Hamilton is carving that name for themselves on the bones of their opponents. Guy O’Shea has been an absolute wrecking ball of a performer in the nine games they’ve played, putting up a team leading +9, 14 shot blocks, 8 hits, and a frankly unfathomable +3.1 net goals for per 60. While his point totals don’t show him as his unit’s closer, by the advanced stats and defensive numbers there is no player on the Steelhawks more dominant or more valuable on the ice than O’Shea. Everything this Guy touches seems to turn to gold, and no player on his team has been scored on less often than O’Shea. Defensive and supportive performances like these don’t usually get as much praise as they deserve, and even if the CHI-HAM series is a wave of 1-0 shutouts I would expect Michaud to get more votes than O’Shea. But if Michaud takes a step back or O’Shea manages to put his offense in gear, it’s very possible he could wind up on some ballots come voting season.

Strom Chamberlain Jets

Ok, hear me out. Yes, the Jets lost in the semifinals. Yes, the series wasn’t all that close, Hamilton winning in 5 games. But if you want to talk about players who provided the most proportional value to their team, Strom Chamberlain deserves a moment in the limelight. A league-leading 0.938 playoff save percentage among starters. Facing the most shots of any player in the entire playoffs, with a blistering 37.6 shots against per game. Stealing game after game against the Edmonton Blizzard. Taking the renowned offense in Hamilton to a 1-1 overtime game. Facing an average of 40 shots a night against Hamilton and still recording a superhuman 0.946 SV% on the series. Look, I understand if you think a player who didn’t even make finals shouldn’t win the Razov. I don’t even necessarily disagree. But pound for pound, Chamberlain had a larger effect on his team’s success than any other player in the S57 playoffs, and I doubt that changes after finals. There's a very real argument that Winnipeg doesn't even make it out of play-ins without Chamberlain. That might lead to a nomination, although it will be hard for him to get any more than that. There are no more chapters left to write on his narrative, so his now-static story has to compete with the evolving tales told above. The awards committee will have to think long and hard about the value equation when they get to voting--if you added a ton of value to your team, but your team's finish had less value than the finalists, how does that weigh in? We will have to wait until the end of the season to find out.

Quote:1300 words

***notorioustig*** · 01-25-2021, 03:04 PM

01-25-2021, 02:50 PMgrok Wrote: Tig Murphy

Perhaps one of the greatest players to lace them up, Murphy is proving why he should be considered a Hall of Fame lock. With an outrageous 1 goal and 2 assists so far, he's showing the offensive prowess that defined the peak of his career even on his way out. With 9 hits in just 9 games, look out - there's a one in fifteen chance you're going to be the player he smokes in a given game. Don't let that -1 rating fool you, this is a recent defensive defenseman of the year with nothing to lose. I know who I'd vote for!

Aww thanks for the kind words!

Chevy · 01-25-2021, 03:15 PM

Super happy to maybe be in contention. If I even get a nomination, it'll be the 2nd time in my professional career that I have done so without making it to the finals/winning a championship. My 2nd one came in my final season in the J with Anaheim for the J's version of this trophy.

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