Lidstrom leads Wings for post-season Honors
Lidstrom was the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy
Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is widely expected to win his 5th Norris Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to be the best defensemen in the NHL. If he wins the award he will rank 3rd all time in a tie with Ray Bourque. Bobby Orr won the award 7 times and Doug Harvey has been selected for the trophy 7 times. Lidstrom has won the award 4 out of the last 5 times it has been awarded. Helene St. James from the Free Press has a good article on his career in Detroit.
1989-92: A new Wing
Lidstrom plays his first game Oct. 3, 1991, at Chicago. He produces his first points (two assists) Oct. 5 at Toronto, and goes on to finish with 49 assists in 80 games, setting a club record by a rookie defenseman; Lidstrom’s 60 points tie Reed Larson’s rookie defenseman point mark. Lidstrom’s plus-36 rating places him third overall in the NHL, first among rookies.1999-2001: Breakthrough
Lidstrom finishes as runner-up for the Norris Trophy three straight times, culminating in a 2000 loss to Chris Pronger. But in June 2001, after he reaches a then-career high in assists with 56, Lidstrom finally is recognized as the NHL’s top defenseman and is awarded the Norris Trophy, beating out runner-up Ray Bourque and third-place finisher Scott Stevens.
Pavel Datsyuk is also a contestant for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to have shown the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with peformance in play. The award is certainly not popular amongst a certain segment of the NHL fanbase as it isn’t given to players who fight, take penalties, or cheap shot opponents. Steve Yzerman addressed some of the criticism of the award in this column from Helene St. James.
Steve Yzerman [believes] Pavel Datsyuk epitomizes how a star forward should play: with dominance, dazzle and discipline.
…
“I think it’s an excellent award,” said Yzerman, a club vice president. “I think the meaning of the award … it’s not about having the fewest penalty minutes. Pavel and Joe Sakic are two great examples of guys who play really well at a high level but are very professional. They play hard. The Lady Byng is for excellence in sportsmanship, and sportsmanship is playing the game the right away. They’re good examples of that.”
Past winners include Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Stan Mikita, Red Kelly and Frank Boucher - who won the award so much he was actually given the original trophy and Lady Byng came up with another trophy that has been given out since. Those are a handful of pretty good players who won a Stanley Cup or two amongst the group.
Frank Boucher O.B. [original Byng]
Here are the contestants for the other awards and my choice to win the award.
Hart Trophy - Most Valuable Player
Contestants: Sid Crosby, Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur
Winner: Sid the kid. This is pretty much a slam dunk and the newly appointed team captain is deserving of the honor.
Vezina Trophy - Best Goaltender
Contestants: Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff
Winner: Roberto Luongo. He proved himself during the regular season but wrapped this award up in the playoffs.
Calder Trophy - Best Rookie
Contestants: Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Paul Stastny
Winner: Stastny is deserving and it wouldn’t surprise me if he won, but I think the Calder goes to Malkin. It’ll be one of the few things he’ll be able to lord over Crosby since AO claimed the Calder last season.
Selke Trophy - Best Defensive Forward
Contestants: Rod Brind’Amour, Samuel Pahlsson, Jay Pandolfo
Winner: Pahlsson wrapped this sucker up in the playoffs. Done deal.
Adams Trophy - Best Coach
Contestants: Lindy Ruff, Michel Therrien, Alain Vigneault
Winner: Ruff will likely win this award due to his team’s regular season record and the fact his team made it further than Vancouver or Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
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