Copyright The Canadian Press

 

There was never any doubt. Alexander Ovechkin cleaned up at last night’s NHL Awards in Toronto sweeping both the Hart Trophy for league MVP and Lester B. Pearson for best player as voted by his peers.

The electrifying 22 year-old Russian who won the Rocket Richard with 65 goals and the Art Ross with 112 points as the leading point getter finally was presented with the hardware, rewarded for a brilliant season which saw him lead the Washington Capitals back from the worst record to Southeast Division winners with 94 points.

“I want to win everything,” the thrilled third-year superstar told the Canadian press. “So next year maybe the Stanley Cup.”

Ovechkin easily outdistanced countryman Evgeni Malkin for the Hart receiving 128 of 134 first place votes by the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association.

“Looking at Ovechkin, he’s had that kind of year,” Calgary star forward Jarome Iginla praised after finishing third.

“Sixty-five goals, leading scorer in the league, and their team made the playoffs. They turned it around pretty amazingly and everyone knows what a huge part of that he was. He’s very deserving. It was fun to watch him, too.”

Also taking home an award was Ovechkin’s coach Bruce Boudreau, who deservedly won the Jack Adams for coach of the year after taking over for Glen Hanlon and guiding the Caps to their first postseason appearance in five years.

Not surprisingly, Detroit captain Nick Lidstrom once again won the Norris Trophy for the NHL’s best defenseman. It marked the sixth time in the Swede’s brilliant Hall of Fame career that he’s received the Norris, trailing just Hall of Famer Doug Harvey (seven) and the legendary Bobby Orr (eight).

The 38 year-old paced all blueliners with 70 points (10-60-70 in 76 GP) and a plus-40 rating. All the more special, he also became the first ever European-born player to captain a team to the Stanley Cup, helping lead the Red Wings to a fourth championship in 11 years.

Lidstrom received 127 of 134 first place tallies easily beating out Zdeno Chara and Dion Phaneuf.

For American Patrick Kane, he took home the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie edging teammate Jonathan Toews and Caps’ pivot Nicklas Backstrom. He led all rookies with 72 points (21-51-72 in 82 GP).

The 19 year-old Buffalo native became the first Chicago Blackhawk to win the trophy since Ed Belfour in 1990-91. He’s also the first American to win it since Scott Gomez in 1999-00.

As reported last night, Martin Brodeur won his fourth Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. The 36 year-old career New Jersey Devil had another outstanding season getting into 77 games which tied San Jose runner-up Evgeni Nabokov for most in the league. He won 44 of his team’s 46 games posting a respectable 2.17 GAA which ranked fifth best along with a .920 save percentage (tied for sixth with four others) and four shutouts to get to 96 on the all-time career list, trailing just Terry Sawchuk’s record of 103 by seven.

The Montreal native got 113 votes which were just seven more than Nabokov who finished a close second while Ranger netminder Henrik Lundqvist was third with only 13 votes.

Taking home his first ever Selke Trophy for the league’s top defensive forward was Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk. The 29 year-old speedy Russian who also doubled as the Lady Byng Trophy winner for gentlemanly conduct for a third time established new career bests in goals (31), assists (66), points (97) and plus/minus with his plus-41 topping all players.

He tallied one shorthanded goal and was one of Detroit’s best penalty killers teaming with Henrik Zetterberg to form one of the most dangerous shorthanded duos in the game. He also led the NHL with 144 takeaways and ranked first on the Red Wings with 42 blocked shots. Datsyuk beat out Zetterberg and former winner Devil center John Madden, who was nominated for a fourth time after a career season in which he tallied 43 points (20-23-43) along with a club-leading three SHG.

Congrats to Toronto Maple Leaf forward Jason Blake on winning the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance after battling leukemia which was diagnosed before the season but didn’t stop the former Islander from playing every game with his new club.

“I’ve been so lucky in life to play in the NHL, have three beautiful kids and be married to a wonderful woman,” an emotional Blake pointed out.

“I get to play the game I love at the highest level and I get to continue doing it as long as some team wants me.”

Vincent Lecavalier also won the King Clancy Trophy for leadership exhibited on and off the ice. The Lightning star pivot donated a $3 million pledge to help build a pediatric cancer and blood disorders center at the All Children’s Hospital in St. Pete.

The Battle of New York congratulates all players for fantastic seasons!

On a much sadder note, we regret to inform that NBC news anchor Tim Russert passed away at the age of 58 due to a heart attack. A familiar face to those who followed MSNBC and NBC’s Meet The Press, the Buffalo native had a distinguished news career hosting Meet The Press since 1991 and dominating his industry like few others.

Russert was also a senior vice president and head of NBC’s overall Washington operations. He was extremely knowledgable and had a keen sense of humor as well as a passion for sports where he rooted on the Sabres and Bills as well as the Yankees.

He is survived by his wife Maureen Orth and their son who just graduated from Boston College Luke. Our condolences go out to the entire Russert family. Everyone should say a prayer for them.

R.I.P. Tim Russert (1950-2008)