Handicapping the NHL awards
The NHL announced the finalists for their annual awards today. Some usual suspects, some new faces, and a first-ever tie in the nomination voting.
First, for the statistical awards:
Art Ross (total points): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (120 points)
"Rocket" Richard (goals): Vincent LeCavalier, Tampa (52 goals)
William Jennings (team goals against): Nicklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild (183 GA)
President's Trophy (best regular season record): Buffalo Sabres (53-22-7, 113 points)
Now, for the voted awards:
Calder (Rookie of the year)
- Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
- Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh
- Paul Stastny, Colorado
Snubbed: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles. A combination of injuries and Stastny's streak bumped the young Slovenian from the finalists.
Frank J. Selke (Best defensive forward)
- Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina
- Sami Pahlsson, Anaheim
- Jay Pandolfo, New Jersey
Snubbed: Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh. This is one of the toughest awards for a rookie to get nominated for, so it's no surprise that Staal missed the cut.
Hart (MVP)
- Martin Brodeur, New Jersey
- Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver
Snubbed: Vincent LeCavalier, Tampa. Once, everybody laughed when a Lightning exec called Vinny "the Michael Jordan of hockey." Maybe it's still hyperbole, but LeCavalier, with sidekick Martin St. Louis, carried the Lightning this year.
Jack Adams (Coach of the year)
- Lindy Ruff, Buffalo
- Michel Therrien, Pittsburgh
- Alain Vigneault, Vancouver
Snubbed: Claude Julien, New Jersey. That's right, a coach that got fired 5 days before the end of the regular season. That firing had nothing to do with Julien's performance, and everything to do with Lou Lamoriello's ever-expanding delusions of grandeur.
James Norris (Best defenseman)
- Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit
- Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim
- Chris Pronger, Anaheim
Snubbed: Marek Malik, NY Rangers. +32? On that defense?
Lady Byng (Sportsmanship)
- Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
- Joe Sakic, Colorado
- Martin St. Louis, Tampa
Not Snubbed: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh. If he didn't have such overwhelming talent, he'd be a sober Theo Fleury.
Lester B. Pearson (Players' Association MVP)
- Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
- Vincent LeCavalier, Tampa
- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver
Snubbed: Chris Drury, Buffalo. Hard to believe that Lindy Ruff is the only man on the Sabres' payroll to be nominated for anything, given their tremendous performance this season. Drury consistently performs at a high level, and is well-respected around the league. What's a Little League World Series champion gotta do to get some respect around here?
Georges Vezina (Best goaltender)
- Martin Brodeur, New Jersey
- Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary
- Henrik Lundqvist, NY Rangers
- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver
Snubbed: Ryan Miller, Buffalo; Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim. Gee, you'd think goaltending would have something to do with finishing the regular season with 110+ points.