So all the NHL awards have nominees and I’m going to tell you guys who I think should win. I just wanted to note one thing before I go on to those who watched or missed the Pens and Rangers game. Rangers didn’t find any weaknesses in Pittsburgh’s game nor did Pittsburgh have a bad game. What happened tonight was simply Rangers finding a way to limit the effect of the highly skilled Pens. Franzen beats Gordie Howe’s club record of 8 goals in a playoff series when he scored his 9th in 4 games. But Zetts stole the show!! Check it out!!
Here’s a review of what’s already been accounted for:
Presidents’ Trophy
To the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. Detroit Red Wings tied the Habs record from the 70’s of 8 straight seasons with 100+ points. This is their 6th Presidents’ Trophy in 14 years. They didn’t really surprise anyone doing so.
Art Ross
Goes to the scoring leader. Alexander Ovechkin took the NHL by storm this season. Ovie got 112 points and 65 goals. His 65 goals is a record for most goals scored by a left winger and a club record of most goals scored in a season. His successful regular season got him endorsements with Ferrari and Verizon. He’s also working on one with Coca-Cola.
Maurice Richard
Given to the player who scores the most goals in the season. Ovie got 65. He took this because all he knows how to do is score. If your a defender, he uses you as a screen and puts it between your legs, that’s what she said.
William Jennings
To the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Osgood and Hasek took this after allowing only 183 goals. It’s important to recognize that they have one of the best and underrated defenses in the league.
Jack Adams
To the best coach.
Nominees: Mike Babcock 54-21-7 (Detroit), Guy Carbonneau 47-25-10 (Montreal), Bruce Boudreau 37-17-7 (joined the Caps after 21 games) (Washington)
My pick:
You have to appreciate what Babcock and Carbonneau have done for their teams but I have two problems with giving them the trophy. Detroit is successful regardless of who’s behind the bench. Carbonneau did not recognize that the front office was right about Carey Price. He dominated the AHL and had nothing left to do there. He should have come in much earlier. He also hasn’t been able to get a consistent effort out of Kovalev. Boudreau inherited Washington with a 6-14-1 record and led them to a division title. He constantly challenges his players and this has gotten the best out of them.
Frank Selke Trophy
Top defensive forward
Nominees: Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit), John Madden (New Jersey Devils)
My Pick: John Madden is great. He compares very well defensively against Zetterberg and Datsyuk. He plays only one less shift than them a game, about 2 less minutes, and he has one percent less on the faceoff than the studs. BUT…the Wings superstars are playing every situation Babcock wants them to play in. Their team also isn’t a defense first team like NJ. I give this to Pavel Datsyuk though. He rarely turns the puck over in the defensive or neutral zone. He always makes the perfect plays. If there’s no way he can get the puck to a teammate who can carry it out, he will or he’ll chip it out. If he can find a teammate he’ll get it there. His positioning in the defensive end is amazing especially on the penalty kill.
Lady Byng
Leagues most gentlemanly player.
Nominees: Jason Pominville, Martin St. Louis, Pavel Datsyuk
My Pick: Even though I completely resent this trophy for giving a trophy to someone for being a pansy, a wiener must be chosen. After being run over by a much tougher Anaheim Ducks, Babcock wanted a tougher Red Wings team. Everyone has become much tougher than they were last season including Datsyuk, yet you don’t see his penalty minutes increase, nor do you see him act like a prick to opponents. He never lavishly celebrates a goal. Compared to Pominville and St. Louis, he plays on the penalty kill also, where he runs the risk of getting caught out of position easier and taking penalties to make up for it. I’m not a fan of multiple award winning players but when they deserve it, I don’t mind.
Calder
Top Rookie
Nominees: Jonathan Toews, Nikolas Backstrom, Patrick Kane
My Pick: Toews and Kane are responsible for reviving hockey in Chicago. But Backstrom took it one step further. He took Ovechkin over the edge. Before Backstrom came, Ovechkin scored some goals. Now that Backstrom is lined up with Ovechkin hes scoring 65 and believe me, that’s not his peak. Backstrom is someone who can pass the puck to Ovechkin in difficult situations. He can give him some room and play creatively. Semin doesn’t compliment Ovechkin because he wants to shoot too which is why Nylander is a good line-mate for him. Toews was injured for too long in the season or else he would have won. Kane did great but Backstrom was able to take Ovie over the edge and produce in the playoffs.
Norris
Top Defenseman
Nominees: Nick Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, D-D-Dion Phaneuf
My Picks: This really isn’t even a contest. Nick Lidstrom is still the best and most dominate defenseman. Chara and Phaneuf are smart players but rely on their size. Lidstrom uses his brain to outplay the best forwards in the league. His body and stick positioning is nothing shy of genius.
Vezina
To Goaltender
Nominees: Evgeni Nabokov, Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Brodeur
My Pick: Brodeur had a good season but you could tell he’s losing what he once had. Nabokov was amazing but he had good help from his D. Lundqvist beat out Brodeur in a series and he has a pretty young blue line. You have to respect what he’s done this season despite both having more wins and better goals against averages.
Hart Trophy
player best judged
Nominees: Alexander Ovechkin, Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin
My Pick: Jarome was amazing this season but his play doesn’t compare to either Malkin or Ovechkin. Malkin got 48 points while Crosby was out for 28 games this season leading them to the playoffs and a 2nd place position in the East. He has not let up in the playoffs either. Ovechkin took his team on his back, he is this team. He took a 14th place team to 3rd place with a division title. He scored 65 goals and got 47 assists. You can see in every single game, he is the heart and soul of the team and will get the C one day. This trophy is his in my opinion. Credit him for bringing sellouts in Washington. Hockey loved in America’s capital, but no where else in America.
Now here are two of my own awards:
Prime Ministers’ Trophy
Given to the worst team in the league with no direction
I promised myself I would look for another team but the Leafs to insult, but every other team at the bottom has a solid blue chip prospects that will lead them in one direction or another. Not the Leafs. We had solid goaltending from Vesa Toskala every single night. One of the highest paid blue lines while having only 3 teams let in more goals than us. We have a team of 3rd and 4th liners. We have an interim GM leading us to the draft and free agency.
Mats Sundin Trophy
Most valuable to his pathetic team.
This has been Sundin’s career story but he doesn’t win the award because there’s someone he does so much more on a horrible team. Vinny Lecavalier finished the season with 92 points and his team finished with 71 points to finish last in the league. Zetterberg and Spezza also had 92 points. Detroit finished 1st and Ottawa 13th.
Honourable mention to Ilya Kovalchuk, Vesa Toskala, and of course Mats Sundin.
Most Improved Player
Mike Richards became a complete player this season. He became a leader of the Flyers. He finishes all his checks. He’s so creative offensively (amazing back door passes). He’s reasonable defensively. He’s responsible for the resurgence of the Flyers. From 32 to 75 points, this guy is holding it down.
Surprise Story of the Season
Gaborik and Conklin share this one. Gaborik playing 77 games this season. Has this guy actually started conditioning???? Conklin coming in while Fleury is down and holding them in their surge to the top of the standings.
Least Surprising Story of the Season
Buffalo trades away Brian Campbell at the trade deadline after letting Chris Drury and Daniel Briere walk.
Most Overhyped Player at the Beginning of the Season
Kyle Wellwood was projected by everyone to get 70+ points, become Toronto’s 2nd line centre, and challenge for the Lady Byng. The only thing out of those he could have done was get the sissy award. I wish I had this blog at the beginning of the season so it could be in writing that I felt that Wellwood wouldn’t do any of this because of his sports hernia and lack of conditioning. Briere is about the same size as Wellwood but his effort to condition, play hard, and earn his spot in the line up is what separates the two. This will be the Kyle Wellwood Trophy.
Prediction of Draft Day Bust 2007
Lars Eller – You can’t rely on the Danes to play a style that works well in the NHL. Mikkel Boedker, who will be drafted this season will only do well because he played with the Kitchner Rangers this season and excelled. Picked 13th overall.
Prediction of Draft Day Steal 2007
Mikael Backlund – He was just phenomenal in the World Juniors tournament. He has size, grit, and raw talent. Selected 24th overall in the first round is a steal in my opinion of this guy.
