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The show is set to go live in under 30 minutes and it’s only appropriate to take a look at some of the most prolific categories and predict the winners among some very worthy finalists.
Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie)
Finalists:
Matt Duchene – Center, Colorado Avalanche
Jimmy Howard – Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings
Tyler Myers – Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres
Matt Duchene – Center, Colorado Avalanche: Drafted third overall by the Avs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 19-year old Duchene stepped right into the lineup for 81 games and led all rookies with 24 goals and 55 points, 21 of which were notched on the power play. With him on the roster, Colorado was able to go from third worst team in the NHL to a playoff contender as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Jimmy Howard – Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings: Detroit is notorious for utilizing older goaltender (Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood, Manny Legace, Dominik Hasek and Curtis Joseph, to name a few.) But they turned to a 26-year old who has been waiting in the wings for years and immediately realized they had No. 1 caliber netminder from somebody not nearing retirement. Howard came in to replace Osgood as the Red Wings’ starter and notched a record of 37-15-10 in 63 games played. He finished fifth in the league with a 2.26 goals against average and was fourth in save percentage with a .924 clip. He also posted three shutouts. Detroit didn’t have its best season in team history last year. But with Howard between the pipes, the club managed to climb the ladder in the Western Conference throughout the season and earn yet another playoff berth as the fifth seed.
Tyler Myers – Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres used to have a reputation for being small in stature. But they sure gained a lot of size in the form of 6’8”, 220-pound defenseman Tyler Myers. Playing in all 82 games and averaging 23:44 of ice time, Myers instantly became a top all-around threat and crucial asset for the organization. He led all rookie with 37 assists and ranked third behind just Duchene and John Tavares for the points lead with 48. He also ranked second among rookies with a plus-13 rating. Ryan Miller was the top reason the Sabres finished third in the Eastern Conference. But Myers probably falls right behind him.
Prediction – Jimmy Howard
Jack Adams Award (Top Coach)
Finalists:
Joe Sacco – Colorado Avalanche
Dave Tippett – Phoenix Coyotes
Barry Trotz – Nashville Predators
Joe Sacco – Colorado Avalanche: The Avs had a disastrous 2008-09 season as the third worst team in the NHL with just 69 points. Head coach Tony Granato was let go and Joe Sacco stepped up from the Lake Erie Monsters to replace him (after Patrick Roy declined the job, of course.) In his first season as an NHL coach, Sacco guided the Avalanche to a 26-point turnaround from the previous year and was able to lock up the eighth seed in the West with 95 points.
Dave Tippett – Phoenix Coyotes: Dave Tippett stepped into a horrendous situation and did the impossible. With rumors of relocation running rampant and Wayne Gretzky being taken out of the head coaching position, Tippett became the bench boss for the Phoenix Coyotes and turned the laughing stock of the NHL into a fourth seed in the Western Conference. With very few big name players, Tippett got his guys to forget the outside distractions and concentrate on playing 107-point hockey – 28 more points than the previous year. The Coyotes won 50 games for the first time in franchise history made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Barry Trotz – Nashville Predators: Barry Trotz has been head coach of the Predators since the team’s inception in 1998 and has gained a reputation as one of the league’s best coaches over the past 12 years. Trotz has always worked with a somewhat rotating door of players, but has been successful in developing plenty of young talent to always fill the void. Last year, he guided his club to a seventh seed in the Western Conference after winning 47 games during the regular season, the highest since 2006-07, and notching 100 points.
Prediction – Dave Tippett
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best All-Around Defenseman)
Finalists:
Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings
Mike Green – Washington Capitals
Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks
Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings: The Kings needed a leader on the blue line and got one when they drafted Drew Doughty second overall in 2008. He had a solid rookie year last season, but truly blossomed as an all-around threat for the Kings this past year. He finished third among defenseman with 59 points and tied for second in goals with 16. He was a force on the power play with nine goals and 31 points, while remaining defensively responsible as a strong shot blocker, solid penalty killing option and a plus-20 rating. The Kings finished 14th in the Western Conference last year. But with their 20-year old stud running the blue line, they catapulted to sixth seed off a 101-point season.
Mike Green – Washington Capitals: Mike Green is steadily becoming a perennial Norris contender courtesy of his strong offensive ability. This is his second straight nomination for the trophy, and once again comes as a result of leading the league in points among defenseman (76). His separate stats of 19 goals and 57 assists were also tops among defenseman. Green remained a key part of the Washington power play with 10 goals and 35 points, posted four game-winning goals and snagged a point in 56 consecutive games. Defensively, he ranked third in plus/minus behind teammates Jeff Schultz and Alexander Ovechkin with a plus-39 mark – the highest of his career, blocked 105 shots and offered his services to the penalty kill squad for an average of 2:09 per game. Many players contributed to the Capitals’ President’s Trophy season, but Green is certainly not the least of them.
Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks: There was a time when it seemed high-priced free agent Brian Campbell was going to be the face of the Chicago blue line for many years to come. But Duncan Keith has developed into the team’s top all-around option, capable of playing in all situation to put up points and shut down opposing players alongside Brent Seabrook. Keith ranked second among defenseman in points with 69 and recorded another top-ranked mark of five short-handed points. He averaged over 26 minutes of ice time, laid down to block 143 shots and generated a plus-21 rating. A true energy guy, the Blackhawks would have had a difficult time finishing second in the West and going on to win the Stanley Cup had it not been for Keith’s presence in the lineup.
Prediction – Duncan Keith
Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender)
Finalists:
Martin Brodeur – New Jersey Devils
Ilya Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres
Martin Brodeur – New Jersey Devils: Already a four-time winner of this award, Brodeur once again goes up for nomination thanks to a ninth season of over 40 wins and the Devils’ placing second in the Eastern Conference. Always the workhorse, Brodeur suited up for 77 games and led the league with 45 wins. He also led the league in shutouts with nine and ranked third in goals against average (2.24).
Ilya Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes: Ilya Bryzgalov is proving the Coyotes’ waiver claim of him in 2008 to be the steal of the century. He served as the most integral part of Phoenix’ tremendous turnaround last season with his incredible play between the pipes. In 69 games, he posted a third-ranking 42 wins and was second behind Brodeur with eight shutouts. He was sixth in goals against average (2.29) and tied for eighth with Miikka Kiprusoff in save percentage at a .920 clip. Bryzgalov’s play was critical to Phoenix making the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller received a ton of praise for his play at the Winter Olympics, but he also provided solid performances for his NHL club in Buffalo. In 69 games, Miller posted 41 wins (a career-high) to just 18 regulation losses. He was second in goals against average (2.22) and save percentage (.929) while posting five shutouts. Without a doubt, it was Miller’s play between the pipes that snagged the Sabres the third seed in East.
Prediction – Ilya Bryzgalov
Hart Memorial Trophy (Player Most Valuable To His Team)
Finalists:
Sidney Crosby – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alexander Ovechkin – Left Wing, Washington Capitals
Henrik Sedin – Center, Vancouver Canucks
Sidney Crosby – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins: Already a winner of this award during after his sophomore season in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby is the undoubted leader of the Penguins and will continue to be up for the Hart Trophy so long as his team makes the playoffs and he piles on the points. Crosby once again ranked among the best in the NHL with 109 points, tied for second with fellow-Hart nominee Alexander Ovechkin. He ranked ahead of Ovechkin and tied with Steven Stamkos for the lead in goals at 51 and tied for eighth place in the league in assists (58). Crosby was able to suit up for 81 games of the season and made his mark in all situations, netting 34 power play points and three shorthanded ones. His offensive prowess, improved defense and overall leadership put the Penguins in the playoffs as the fourth seed.
Alexander Ovechkin – Left Wing, Washington Capitals: Looking for the hat trick as the winner of the Hart Trophy for the last two seasons, Alexander Ovechkin comes into this race as the man most responsible for delivering the Capitals a President’s Trophy this season. He missed some games between injury and suspension, but he was still able to tie Crosby in points (109) and generate his third-straight campaign with at least 50 goals in just 72 contests. He was big on the power play with 36 points and let his big body do the talking with crushing hits in defensive scenarios. He also ranked second in the league with a plus-45 rating.
Henrik Sedin – Center, Vancouver Canucks: If given the option of choosing who would be the first to put up 100 points – Henrik or Daniel Sedin, the majority would likely pick the latter. But Henrik picked up his play immensely for the Canucks this year in light of his brother’s injury and finished the season with the league-lead in points (110) and assists (83). He was a playmaking machine, to say the least, and also put up a career-high 29 goals. Twenty-seven of his points came on the power play, while five goals counted as game-winner. He flexed his defensive skill, as well, and posted a top ten plus/minus mark of plus-35 while contributing two shorthanded goals. A 49-win season and top bidding in the Northwest Division for the third spot in the Western Conference would not have been possible without the breakout play of Henrik.
Prediction – Henrik Sedin
Other Awards (winner in italics):
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Best Sportsmanship)
Pavel Datsyuk – Center, Detroit Red Wings
Brad Richards – Center, Dallas Stars
Martin St. Louis – Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning
Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
Pavel Datsyuk – Center, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Kesler – Center, Vancouver Canucks
Jordan Staal – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Most Qualified Perseverance, Sportsmanship and Dedication to Hockey)
Kurtis Foster – Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jed Ortmeyer – Right Wing, San Jose Sharks
Jose Theodore – Goaltender, Washington Capitals
Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award (Greatest Leadership Qualities)
Sidney Crosby – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
Shane Doan – Right Wing, Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Miller – Goaltender, Buffalo Sabres
* Be sure to follow along right here at Get Out Of My Crease for the winners of these awards ...
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