Predicting the NHL Awards

With the NHL’s regular season officially wrapped up, playoff positions set, and point totals finalized, it’s time to acknowledge the outstanding performances of the 2008/09 season.  Evgeni Malkin wrapped up the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading point-getter, while Alexander Ovechkin took home the Maurice Richard Trophy for the most goals scored.  Which one of these guys wins the league’s Most Valuable Player award?  Neither, if you ask me.  I’ll reveal my pick, and my breakdown of some of the other significant awards following the jump.

 

Hart Trophy: awarded to the player judged most valuable to his team

My nominees:  Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Steve Mason (CBJ), Evgeni Malkin (PIT), Alexander Ovechkin (WAS), Zach Parise (NJ)

Winner: Steve Mason Runner Up: Alexander Ovechkin

 

 

While Alexander the Great will probably take home this year’s Hart as a result of his prodigious goal total, at least he had teammates (read: linemates Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom) to give him a hand.  The amazing rookie Mason (who shares initials with The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels) single-handedly made the Blue Jackets a force to deal with each night.  The team has never had an above-.500 record, nor have they previously qualified for the playoffs.  With the Mason between the pipes, the Jackets have qualified as the 7th seed in the Western Conference and finished 10 games over .500.  The team in front of Mason is simply not that talented, forcing Mason to be outstanding.  He has: his league-leading 10 shutouts combined with a goals against average of 2.29 are the only things that have kept Columbus relevant.  The Hart goes to the player judged most valuable to his team – take Mason away from Columbus, and you have a team that no longer finishes ahead of the likes of Anaheim, Minnesota, Edmonton…  I know my pick is unlikely, but the other candidates – Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovie, and Parise – all play for talented teams expected not just to make the playoffs, but to make a deep run. *Since I’ve picked Mason to win the Hart, I will not list him as a winner for the Vezina or Calder Trophies.

Vezina Trophy: awarded to the league’s top goaltender

My nominees:  Miikka Kiprusoff (CAL), Steve Mason (CBJ), Evgeni Nabokov (SJ), Tim Thomas (BOS), Cam Ward (CAR)

Winner: Tim Thomas Runner Up: Evgeni Nabokov

 

 

While my argument under the Hart Trophy section justifies Mason winning here, it’s nice to cover other guys.  Tim Thomas began the season in a timeshare role with Manny Fernandez, but Thomas’ stellar play has simply been too good to ignore.  Forcing the Bruins to play him, Thomas appeared in 54 games, putting up sparkling numbers in terms of goals against average (2.10) and save percentage (.933).  Both of these numbers rank higher than Mason’s, although Thomas does have a vastly more talented team in front of him.  As for Nabokov, he only went 41-12-8 for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Sharks.  Cam Ward makes this short list due to his play in the season’s closing months, going 13-2-2 since March and single-handedly elevating the Canes into the playoff picture.  Kiprusoff makes the list for performing like a thoroughbred under Mike Keenan.  Henrik Lundqvist probably deserves a nod here, but Stan Fischler has a man-crush on him, eliminating Lundqvist from this discussion.

Norris Trophy: awarded to the league’s top defenceman

My nominees:  Dan Boyle (SJ), Zdeno Chara (BOS), Mike Green (WAS), Nicklas Lidstrom (DET), Shea Weber (NAS)

Winner: Mike Green Runner Up: Zdeno Chara

 

 

Realistically, the Norris could go to any one of these guys, and it will be well-justified.  Weber’s 53 points and powerplay skill has given the Predators some bite, and I think he’ll be a candidate for this award many times during his career.  Boyle scored 32 of his 57 points on the powerplay, leading San Jose’s charge from the back-end on their way to the Presidents’ Trophy.  Lidstrom, aka Captain Consistency, put up the quietest, most unspectacular 59 points (33 on the PP), and finished at +31, showing his prowess in both the offensive and defensive zone.  No Norris debate in the past 10 years has been complete without Lidstrom.  Boston’s big man Chara put up solid numbers a shade south of the other candidates, but his physical dominance over opponents for 25-30 minutes each night distinguishes him from the others.  However, the man who distinguished himself from the group the most was Capitals’ defenceman Mike Green, whose 31 goals and 73 points were better than most of the league’s FORWARDS.  Oh yeah, he only played in 68 games.  Imagine what the full 82 could have brought.

Calder Trophy: awarded to the league’s top rookie

My nominees:  Drew Doughty (LA), Steve Mason (CBJ), Pekka Rinne (NAS), Bobby Ryan (ANA), Kris Versteeg (CHI)

Winner: Pekka Rinne Runner Up: Bobby Ryan

 

 

While the obvious pick here, in reality, is Mason, these other rookies deserve recognition.  Versteeg led rookies in scoring until Ryan recently surpassed him.  Doughty appeared in 81 games for the hapless Kings, constantly matching up with and holding his own against the league’s superstars.  Yes, Toronto’s Luke Schenn had a similar situation, but showed his inexperience during several lapses throughout the year, while Doughty has been a pillar on the L.A. blueline.  Bobby Ryan appeared in only 64 games, but after Teemu Selanne’s injury, Ryan ensured that he would be calling Anaheim his permanent home.  Taking the rookie scoring title from Versteeg, despite playing in 13 fewer games, should not go overlooked.  Finally, there’s Rinne, who snagged Nashville’s starting job from the supposed pre-season incumbent Dan Ellis.  Rinne’s goals against average (2.38), save percentage (.917), and shutout total (7) are not too far from Mason’s numbers in Columbus, while playing behind a poor team in Nashville.

Since the remaining awards get less of the glitz and glamour, I’ll list off some quick-hitters with no outward explanation of reasoning.

Jack Adams Award: awarded to the best coach

Winner: Andy Murray (STL) Runners Up: Claude Julien (BOS) and Brent Sutter (NJ)

Frank Selke Award: awarded to the top defensive forward

Winner: Pavel Datsyuk (DET) Runner Up: Mike Richards (PHI)

 

 

Lady Byng Trophy: award to the league’s most gentlemanly player

Winner: Kyle Wellwood (VAN) – While Wellwood appeared in 74 games, this award will probably go to someone who played more significant minutes per game.

Comments?  Arguments?  People I’ve left out?  It’s yours in the comments.