NHL Year End Awards
Posted 3:11 PM ET | Comments 0
The following is simply a list of my picks for the various NHL awards, not predictions.
Hart Memorial Trophy:
Alex Ovechkin - Sid the Kid was hands down the MVP for the first 3/4 of the season, but after his injury, it turned into the Ovi Show. If Crosby had remained healthy he would most likely be handed this award, or if Sergei Bobrovsky's Blue Jackets had made the playoffs (yes, I am one of those nay-sayers), but awards aren't decided on a "what if" basis. What Alex Ovechkin DID do, was dominate the last half of the season, and "dominate" might be an under statement.
At the mid point in the season, most people were writing off Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Then things changed. Ovechkin got a new spark, whether it be finally settling into Adam Oates' system or Milbury's comments (I do not actually believe that Mike Milbury has anything to do with Ovi's success, or anyone's success for that matter. Well maybe the Ottawa Senator's success from 2002-2006. The only thing he deserves credit for is destroying the Islanders.... and beating a man with a shoe.), whatever happened to Alex Ovechkin, it has rejuvenated him and the Capitals are winning.
For myself, scoring at about a goal per game pace, which subsequently carried his time out of the basement to a division title in merely 20-odd games certainly proves worthy of Most Valuable Player honors.
Runner-ups - Sidney Crosby, Sergei Bobrovsky
Calder Memorial Trophy
Jonas Brodin - Relatively unknown to the average hockey fan entering this season, and sadly, still relatively unknown, Jonas Brodin has been nothing but solid for a thin Minnesota Wild defense corps. Brodin was asked to take on a big role and thrived. Putting up a modest, but respectable 11 points in 45 games, Brodin impressed by logging more than 23 minutes a game on the top D pair with Ryan Suter. Typically, this award goes to more flashy, offensive guys (which there were a number of this year), however, Brodin is earning some props for the d-men (Barret Jackman-esque).
Runner-ups - Brendan Gallagher, Nail Yakupov
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Ryan Suter - The Minnesota Wild are swimming in the hardware this year! Well, this is actually as much as I have them winning. Ryan Suter has been rock solid from start to finish, throwing up 32 points while playing a career best 27-plus minutes a night. He is off to a good start in justifying his big contract, proving this year that he belongs in the group of elite two-way defensemen. He is very capable of taking care of his own end (ignore the Dan Boyle undressing) and he moves the puck extremely well. All season he has been consistent and has been the best defenseman this season.
Runner-ups - PK Subban, Francois Beauchemin
Frank J Selke Memorial Trophy
Jonathan Toews - This may be the year that Toews has finally solidified himself as the best two-way player in the world, though it is still a debate (in case you don't know, Pavel Datsyuk has been the best two-way player for a few years now). Toews has continued to grow both offensively and defensively, and this year he showed his defensive awareness all over the ice, in bother ends, with or without the puck. Some people look at the stats and don't understand how he is in the conversation as best player in the world, like Datsyuk, he is just a player you have to watch.
Runner-ups - Pavel Datsyuk, Anze Kopitar
Vezina Memorial Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky - It just can't be anyone else, he has simply been the best and most valuable goalie this year. Had the Blue Jackets sneaked into the playoffs, he likely would be hoisting some Hartware (see what I did there) this year, as well. He was a wall in Columbus this season and kept them in games and the playoff race. I believed Philadelphia gave up on him to early last offseason, but I would never have predicted his dominance this season.
Runner-ups - Henrik Lundqvist, Antti Niemi
Hart Memorial Trophy:
Alex Ovechkin - Sid the Kid was hands down the MVP for the first 3/4 of the season, but after his injury, it turned into the Ovi Show. If Crosby had remained healthy he would most likely be handed this award, or if Sergei Bobrovsky's Blue Jackets had made the playoffs (yes, I am one of those nay-sayers), but awards aren't decided on a "what if" basis. What Alex Ovechkin DID do, was dominate the last half of the season, and "dominate" might be an under statement.
At the mid point in the season, most people were writing off Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Then things changed. Ovechkin got a new spark, whether it be finally settling into Adam Oates' system or Milbury's comments (I do not actually believe that Mike Milbury has anything to do with Ovi's success, or anyone's success for that matter. Well maybe the Ottawa Senator's success from 2002-2006. The only thing he deserves credit for is destroying the Islanders.... and beating a man with a shoe.), whatever happened to Alex Ovechkin, it has rejuvenated him and the Capitals are winning.
For myself, scoring at about a goal per game pace, which subsequently carried his time out of the basement to a division title in merely 20-odd games certainly proves worthy of Most Valuable Player honors.
Runner-ups - Sidney Crosby, Sergei Bobrovsky
Calder Memorial Trophy
Jonas Brodin - Relatively unknown to the average hockey fan entering this season, and sadly, still relatively unknown, Jonas Brodin has been nothing but solid for a thin Minnesota Wild defense corps. Brodin was asked to take on a big role and thrived. Putting up a modest, but respectable 11 points in 45 games, Brodin impressed by logging more than 23 minutes a game on the top D pair with Ryan Suter. Typically, this award goes to more flashy, offensive guys (which there were a number of this year), however, Brodin is earning some props for the d-men (Barret Jackman-esque).
Runner-ups - Brendan Gallagher, Nail Yakupov
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Ryan Suter - The Minnesota Wild are swimming in the hardware this year! Well, this is actually as much as I have them winning. Ryan Suter has been rock solid from start to finish, throwing up 32 points while playing a career best 27-plus minutes a night. He is off to a good start in justifying his big contract, proving this year that he belongs in the group of elite two-way defensemen. He is very capable of taking care of his own end (ignore the Dan Boyle undressing) and he moves the puck extremely well. All season he has been consistent and has been the best defenseman this season.
Runner-ups - PK Subban, Francois Beauchemin
Frank J Selke Memorial Trophy
Jonathan Toews - This may be the year that Toews has finally solidified himself as the best two-way player in the world, though it is still a debate (in case you don't know, Pavel Datsyuk has been the best two-way player for a few years now). Toews has continued to grow both offensively and defensively, and this year he showed his defensive awareness all over the ice, in bother ends, with or without the puck. Some people look at the stats and don't understand how he is in the conversation as best player in the world, like Datsyuk, he is just a player you have to watch.
Runner-ups - Pavel Datsyuk, Anze Kopitar
Vezina Memorial Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky - It just can't be anyone else, he has simply been the best and most valuable goalie this year. Had the Blue Jackets sneaked into the playoffs, he likely would be hoisting some Hartware (see what I did there) this year, as well. He was a wall in Columbus this season and kept them in games and the playoff race. I believed Philadelphia gave up on him to early last offseason, but I would never have predicted his dominance this season.
Runner-ups - Henrik Lundqvist, Antti Niemi