HART MEMORIAL TROPHY - Most Valuable Player to his team
Nominees: Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks)
Winner: Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)
You might be asking why I picked him over the others, simply because in the simplest of terms, he is the Tampa Bay Lightning. The same argument could be made for Crosby, but as goes Stamkos, so go the the Lightning. He is on pace for 117 points, which shatters his career high from last season. Now it is a bit ambitious to think he will keep this pace of 82 games, but it's not hard to like the kid, providing he isn't sticking it to your favorite team. He's young, he's dominant, and he's only going to get better. While I don't think anyone will approach a Crosby type level of hype, Stamkos probably is the next best thing.
runner up would be Carey Price, as he is simply carrying this team on his back. Finally living up to expectations, he's keeping the Habs, not only in the running, but at the top of their division. If he should get injured or just fall into a slump, this team will be in big trouble.
VEZINA - Best goaltender
Nominees: Jonathan Quick (LA Kings), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins), Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens), Ondrej Pavelec (Atlanta Thrashers)
Winner - Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
This is probably the easiest one to pick. Vezina winner in 08-09 seemingly couldn't catch a cold in the 09-10 season. He lost his job to the impressive Tuukka Rask, and looked like he would be put on the first flight out of Boston as soon as someone agreed to take on his contract. After an offseason surgery on his hip, he has seemingly returned to his former Vezina winning form. Goals-against average of 1.65 and a Save percentage of .951 and 5 shutouts. He is on pace for 13 shutouts and 39 wins, both of which would be NHL career bests (he had 15 shutouts in Finland).
Once again, I would give runner up to Carey Price. He is on pace for 45 wins, so he could conceivably win it in real life if he pulls that off, but Thomas has put up more impressive performances in my opinion, and that's why I give it to him. So no Hab fans, I have no aversion to your players.
NORRIS - Best Defenseman
Nominees: Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta Thrashers), John-Michael Liles (Colorado Avalanche), Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins), Andrej Mezaros (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner - John-Michael Liles
This was an interesting one to pick, because how does one judge the best defenseman? Andrej Mezaros is leading the lead in plus-minus, indicating he is preventing a lot of goals-against. Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Letang are 1st and 3rd in total points for defensemen respectively (note: Liles is 2nd). Liles also sits in 6th for plus-minus while Letang is 2nd and Byfuglien is 16th. Sitting in the Western Conference Liles is flying under the radar of most hockey fans. If a D-man is not Lidstrom or Keith, most people don't know who they are. So let's give Liles the credit he deserves for having one of the best seasons so far.
CALDER - Rookie of the year
Nominees: Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers), Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes), Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks), Sergei Bobrovsky (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner - Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes)
This is the toughest one for me to pick, just because all of these players have had excellent runs up to this point, but I think at this point the front runners are Cam Fowler or Jeff Skinner. Full marks to Hall for really starting to come out and getting acclimated to the NHL game, but Jeff Skinner and Fowler have both been consistently good since game one. It's hard to compare since they're playing different positions, but since I have to give to one player, I'd go with Jeff Skinner. He's 2nd on his team in scoring, while Fowler is 7th. Taylor Hall is currently 5th on his team in scoring. In reality any one of these three can win the trophy come the off season.
Sergei definitely deserves a nomination but his play of late has been suspect, giving up some weak goals in his last start against Montreal, and being chased early after giving up four goals tonight against the Panthers. While certainly having one of the best early season goaltending performances (he is still top 15 in wins, goals-against average and save percentage), his recent questionable play pushed him out of contention.
Nominees: Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta Thrashers), John-Michael Liles (Colorado Avalanche), Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins), Andrej Mezaros (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner - John-Michael Liles
This was an interesting one to pick, because how does one judge the best defenseman? Andrej Mezaros is leading the lead in plus-minus, indicating he is preventing a lot of goals-against. Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Letang are 1st and 3rd in total points for defensemen respectively (note: Liles is 2nd). Liles also sits in 6th for plus-minus while Letang is 2nd and Byfuglien is 16th. Sitting in the Western Conference Liles is flying under the radar of most hockey fans. If a D-man is not Lidstrom or Keith, most people don't know who they are. So let's give Liles the credit he deserves for having one of the best seasons so far.
CALDER - Rookie of the year
Nominees: Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers), Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes), Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks), Sergei Bobrovsky (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner - Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes)
This is the toughest one for me to pick, just because all of these players have had excellent runs up to this point, but I think at this point the front runners are Cam Fowler or Jeff Skinner. Full marks to Hall for really starting to come out and getting acclimated to the NHL game, but Jeff Skinner and Fowler have both been consistently good since game one. It's hard to compare since they're playing different positions, but since I have to give to one player, I'd go with Jeff Skinner. He's 2nd on his team in scoring, while Fowler is 7th. Taylor Hall is currently 5th on his team in scoring. In reality any one of these three can win the trophy come the off season.
Sergei definitely deserves a nomination but his play of late has been suspect, giving up some weak goals in his last start against Montreal, and being chased early after giving up four goals tonight against the Panthers. While certainly having one of the best early season goaltending performances (he is still top 15 in wins, goals-against average and save percentage), his recent questionable play pushed him out of contention.
LADY BYNG: "Gentlemanly player"
This trophy is stupid. I will not hand it out. But expect St. Louis or Datsyuk to win it. again.
This trophy is stupid. I will not hand it out. But expect St. Louis or Datsyuk to win it. again.
SELKE - Best Defensive Foward
Honestly this one is too hard to give out. Do you judge a player by his ability to back check and play a solid two-way game, or do you give it to a guy who turns defense into offense ala short handed goals? So really I'm not going to touch this one. Odds are Datsyuk will win this one again too.
Honestly this one is too hard to give out. Do you judge a player by his ability to back check and play a solid two-way game, or do you give it to a guy who turns defense into offense ala short handed goals? So really I'm not going to touch this one. Odds are Datsyuk will win this one again too.
JACK ADAMS AWARD: Best Coach
Nominees: Craig Ramsey (Atlanta Thrashers), Guy Boucher (Tampa Bay Lightning), Barry Trotz (Nashville Predators), Peter Laviolette (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner - Craig Ramsey (Atlanta Thrashers)
Personally I would love to see Laviolette win this, but I would also like to see Barry Trotz finally get his due for routinely getting the best of out the Nashville Predators, but the bottom line is Craig Ramsey deserves it at this point. When he was named head coach, a lot of people questioned the move. He has a career losing record as a head coach in his brief stints as the man in charge, but has consistently been an excellent and well regarded assistant coach. He is turning around an Atlanta team that has seemingly lived at the bottom of the Eastern Conference since its entrance in the league. A team that lost their biggest star last season in a deadline deal, and a team that seemed to be destined for another lottery pick. Credit to the GM for stealing top talent from Chicago in the offseason as they had a fire sale to clear cap space, but Ramsey is the one in charge of making them work. So far he's done it.
MASTERSON - Perseverance Award
No idea who would win this shit, so i can't award it. Although there's that guy on the Wild who missed almost two full seasons with a concussion who is now playing again so maybe him. Or Savard will be nominated.
TED LINDSAY - MVP as voted by the players
I am not a player, but I would expect the usual suspects to get nominated. Stamkos or Crosby probably.
MESSIER - Leadership
this is the league jacking off crosby probably.
NHL FOUNDATION AWARD
No pucking idea.
So there it is. Ending on a roll with a bunch of snarky comments. Whatever. Feel free to comment on either Facebook or Twitter.
I am not a player, but I would expect the usual suspects to get nominated. Stamkos or Crosby probably.
MESSIER - Leadership
this is the league jacking off crosby probably.
NHL FOUNDATION AWARD
No pucking idea.
So there it is. Ending on a roll with a bunch of snarky comments. Whatever. Feel free to comment on either Facebook or Twitter.
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