2009 NHL Awards
Pearl Concert Theater, Palms Resort & Casino
Las Vegas
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Broadcast Live on VERSUS in U.S., CBC in Canada
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. ET The 2009 NHL Awards will feature announcement of the League's top regular-season performers in a host of categories including most valuable player (Hart Trophy), outstanding goaltender (Vezina Trophy), outstanding defenseman (Norris Trophy) and outstanding rookie (Calder Trophy).
Two winners already decided:
Alex Ovechkin: Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy - Highest regular season goals
Evgeni Malkin: Art Ross Trophy - Highest regular season scoring points.
PensBurgh's Awards Picks:
Hart Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, Goalie, Boston Bruins
Norris Trophy: Mike Green, Defenseman, Washington Capitals
Calder Trophy: Steve Mason, Goalie, Columbus Blue Jackets
Lady Byng Trophy: Zach Parise, Left Wing, New Jersey Devils
Selke Trophy: Mike Richards, Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Masterton Trophy: Richard Zednik, Left Wing, Florida Panthers
Jack Adams Award: Andy Murray, Head Coach, St. Louis Blues
FlA's Pick: Best Steal of the Season: Evgeni "The Tongue" Malkin for stealing Alyonka Larionov from Alex Ovechkin.
TAB
Here are my choices -
The Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy goes to Ovechkin (automatically). He is a natural born scoring machine. If he learns to be patient, and wait for the rest of his line to catch up when he enters the ‘O’-zone, then he has a very good chance of wining the big prize (Stanley Cup).
The Art Ross Trophy goes to Malkin (automatically). And he earned it! He's worked hard on all aspects of his game, and his English! This year he showed that while Sid is the “Face of the NHL”, Geno is the engine that drives the Penguins.
Calder Trophy - Awarded to "the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League" - Just my opinion, but Steve Masonshould win this! He is a hell of a goalie, and will be a "franchise goalie" ($$$)! Columbus made the playoffs in very large part because of Mason! It's too bad he ended up facing Detroit in the first round. He will only get better in the years to come.
Norris Trophy - Awarded "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position" - Green or Lidstrom? Lidstrom or Green? Either one would be a good pick. But I'm going to go with the one I met personally. The one who was an offensive defenseman in the Ray Bourque mold, and one of my Hershey Bears favorite - Mike Green!
The Lady Bing Trophy - This is awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”. If I was to consider the playoffs, my pick might be different, but these are regular season awards. Zach Parise has earned the award for his consistently high quality play.
The Vezina Trophy - Awarded to "the goaltender adjudged to be the best at this position". - Of all of the awards, this one should be the closest. Steve Mason was the reason Columbus made the playoffs.Nicklas Backstrom was, as always, the model of consistency. But Tim Thomas was incredible in net all year, and it was unfortunate that his teammates let him down offensively in the post season. He will be a force to reckon with next year!
Selke Trophy - Awarded to the forward who "demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game". - My pick is Pavel Datsyuk. The fact that this Red Wing was injured was a big help to the Penguins in winning the Stanley Cup. This guy is a lesson to all defensemen on how to play the position!
The Masterson Trophy - Awarded to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey" - This is a tough one. Any of the 3 candidates would be a good selection. I'd have no problem giving it to all three of them. While my heart goes to the 47 year old Chelios, my head says that Richard Zednik will win.
The Jack Adams Award - Best coach - This is one I don't know a lot about any of the candidates. The award is supposed to go to the coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success”. Being a Penguins fan, I would pick Dan Bylsma, but hindsight is not permitted, and these are regular season awards, so pick your own among the following - Claude Julien (Boston), Andy Murray (St. Louis), Todd McLellan (San Jose). I'm guessing Boston's Claude Julien.
And finally, - the Hart Trophy - awarded to the “player adjudged most valuable to his team”Finalists: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh), Alex Ovechkin (Washington)
I think the winner will be the media darling Alexander Ovachkin. And he certainly is a good choice. A natural goal scorer, the Washington Capitals would not be the team they were without Ovechkin (and coach Boudreau) to lead them,
But the same could be said for Evgeni Malkin, who developed into the superstar he is today. While Crosby seems to be the media darling and Gary Bettman’s designated “face of the NHL”, Geno quietly went about scoring and assisting his way to the top of the stat sheet, leading the NHL with 116 points. With all of the injuries and losing streaks the Pens suffered through, Malkin stood out as the consistent leader, on the ice and in the locker room,day after day.
It's pretty much a given the Alex Ovechkin will win the MVP (Hart Trophy) for the regular season, but Malkin and Paval Datsyuk were both MVP’s as well.
All in all, it was a very good regular season. And there can be no doubt about it - The NHL Playoffs were exceptional!!
Game 7 was an instant classic! And the TV ratings proved it!
Good luck to all the nominees and congratulations to the NHL for providing a stellar season that is sure to be talked about for years to come!
NHL Awards Winners June 18, 2009
Winners of the 2008-2009 NHL awards, presented Thursday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Voting is by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, except the Vezina which is awarded by NHL general managers, and the Adams which is determined by a poll of NHL Broadcasters' Association members.
Hart Memorial Trophy, Most Valuable Player: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Vezina Trophy, Goaltender: Tim Thomas, Boston
William M. Jennings Trophy, Fewest Goals Allowed: Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, Boston
James Norris Memorial Trophy, Defenseman: Zdeno Chara, Boston
Jack Adams Award, Coach: Claude Julien, Boston
Calder Memorial Trophy, Rookie: Steve Mason, Columbus
Maurice Richard Trophy, Goal-Scoring Leader: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Art Ross Trophy, Points Scoring Leader: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
Frank J. Selke Trophy, Defensive Forward: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Most Gentlemanly: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
King Clancy Trophy, Hockey Humanitarian Contribution: Ethan Moreau, Edmonton
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Sportsmanship, Dedication: Steve Sullivan, Nashville
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Beliveau
Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award: Jarome Iginla, Calgary
Lester B. Pearson Award, Outstanding Player: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
TAB
