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NHL Awards Preview thumbnail

NHL Awards Preview

June 18, 2009   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

On the ice the close of the 2008-09 NHL season took place last Friday with the Penguins’ upset win in Game 7 at Detroit, giving them their third Stanley Cup (and first since 1992).  Off the ice, the NHL Awards later tonight – 7:30 PM on VERSUS and 8:30 PM on CBC – mark the official wrapup to 2008-09 and not a moment too soon since the 2009 NHL Draft is next Friday and UFA begins in earnest days after that on July 1.  This year marks a first in the awards ceremonies, for they’ll be held in Las Vegas.  Hopefully everyone there has fun and doesn’t lose their shirt at the card tables.

Only one local – the Devils’ Zach Parise – is up for any award at all but I’m sure Derek’ll be around later for a wrapup or maybe his own preview before then.  I’ll just make my predictions below as to who wins what (winner in bold):

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (for perserverance, sportsmanship and dedication):

  1. Richard Zednik, Fla
  2. Steve Sullivan, Nsh
  3. Chris Chelios, Det

Even though Chelios is older than Moses and Sullivan came back from two years of serious back injuries, Zednik will probably win this award for his comeback from a life-threatening injury last season after being cut by a skate blade.

Jack Adams Award (best coach):

  1. Claude Julien, Bos (53-19-10) – The Bruins were top seed in the East a year after being the eighth seed.
  2. Todd McLellan, SJ (53-18-11) – President’s Trophy winner in his first season as coach.
  3. Andy Murray, St.L (41-31-10) – Young Blues team came out of nowhere to make the playoffs.

I don’t really understand why McLellan made it over say, Ken Hitchcock or Joel Quenneville.  San Jose’s always been a fine regular season team so their first overall finish wasn’t a huge surprise.  It’ll probably come down to Julien or Murray.  Is the fact that Pat Burns is the award’s presenter a good sign for fellow French-Canadien Julien?  Well, both have coached the Habs, Bruins and Devils…

Lester B. Pearson Award (players’ MVP vote): 

  1. Evgeni Malkin, Pit - 35 G, 78 A, 113 Pts, +17
  2. Alexander Ovechkin, Was - 56 G, 53 A, 109 Pts, +8
  3. Pavel Datsyuk, Det – 32 G, 65 A, 97 Pts, +34

Hard to call this one…Malkin has the most points, Ovechkin (above) the most goals and Datsyuk the best plus-minus.  In the end, I think I’ll say Ovechkin by a nose over his countryman, if only because Malkin’s partially seen as half of a dynamic duo.  Plus the Caps were more consistent this year than the Pens, who came on late.

Frank J. Selke Trophy (best defensive forward):

  1. Pavel Datsyuk, Det
  2. Ryan Kesler, Van
  3. Mike Richards, Phi

Another tough one to call, especially since I don’t see much of Kesler – who may be the best pure defensive center, but Datsyuk’s plus-minus might be too much to ignore.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (sportsmanship with high playing ability):

  1. Pavel Datsyuk, Det
  2. Martin St. Louis, TB
  3. Zach Parise, NJ

Unlike some, I do think there is a bit of prestige to this award.  After all you’re talking about players who are among the best in the league and don’t play dirty or hurt their team by taking stupid penalties.  Parise’s a worthy first-time finalist but St. Louis’s past history as a winner (and fewest PIM’s among the finalists) probably get him another one of these.

Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year):

  1. Steve Mason, CBJ – 33 W, 2.39 GAA, .916 Sv.Pct, 10 SHO
  2. Bobby Ryan, Ana – 31 G, 26 A, 57 Pts, +13
  3. Kris Versteeg, Chi – 22 G, 31 A, 53 Pts, +15

Ryan and Versteeg both had fine seasons, and Ryan’s numbers would have been even better if he’d started the season with the big club (you can thank Brian Burke’s cap mismanagement for that) but this is the easiest award to call.  You can’t overlook Mason’s ten shutouts, his Vezina nomination or the fact that he carried the Blue Jackets to their first-ever playoff berth.

James Norris Memorial Trophy (best defenseman):

  1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Det – 16 G, 43 A, 59 Pts, +31
  2. Zdeno Chara, Bos – 19 G, 31 A, 50 Pts, +23
  3. Mike Green, Was – 31 G, 42 A, 73 Pts, +24

I’ve literally lost track of how many times Lidstrom’s won this award.  And you could certainly give it to him once again this year or pretty much any year until he retires without qualms.  Green’s stats are extraordinary but I’m biased, I’d have a big problem with him winning after witnessing just how bad defensively he was during the playoffs.  Of course it wouldn’t be the first time that a sieve won the award because of offensive numbers.  But I’ll go off the board and predict his 30+ goals (and respectable +23) are enough to give him an upset especially in an award that’s always been known to value offense too much.

Vezina Trophy (best goaltender):

  1. Nicklas Backstrom, Min - 37 W, 2.33 GAA, .923 Sv.Pct, 8 SHO
  2. Steve Mason, CBJ - 33 W, 2.39 GAA .916 Sv.Pct, 10 SHO
  3. Tim Thomas, Bos - 36 W, 2.10 GAA, .933 Sv.Pct, 5 SHO

Usually owned by Martin Brodeur the last few seasons, his injury opened the road for a host of other candidates this year.  As good a season as Thomas had, I don’t put as much weight on his stats as others will given the success of his backup Manny Fernandez in the same system.  Backstrom’s been on the cusp of being considered an elite goalie for a few years, maybe it’s time for him to win this award.  And Mason might have been the most valuable of the three goalies…but again as is the case with the awards, I’ll say stats trump all and Thomas wins the Vezina.

Hart Memorial Trophy (writers’ MVP choice)

  1. Pavel Datsyuk, Det
  2. Alexander Ovechkin, Was
  3. Evgeni Malkin, Pit

Same three finalists for the Hart as for the Pearson.  Might as well predict the same result (though I don’t think it always works out that way).

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readers comments
  1. Derek Felix on June 18th, 2009 7:10 pm

    Ah. You did one too. Cool! It’s kinda good that we both wound up writing ones cause it gives two different perspectives. And what better way to bring in the Awards than from a Devil and Ranger fan. ;-)

    I put it up on Facebook and am tweeting it now.

    Reply – Quote
  2. Derek Felix on June 18th, 2009 7:15 pm

    Good picks. Especially your Masterton. Zednik is a tremendous story. Miracle.

    I want Chara to win Norris. But Green averaged a pt per game and will probably trump. They need to have a Stevens.

    Reply – Quote
  3. NHL Awards Preview on June 18th, 2009 7:42 pm

    [...] that on July 1.  This year marks a first in the awards ceremonies, for they’ll be held in Las Ve click for more var gaJsHost = ((“https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : [...]

    Reply – Quote

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