Handing out the NHL Hardware
With the Stanley Cup handed out and the pecking order of the division taken care of, it’s now time to hand out the end of season awards.
President’s Trophy: I suggested the Sharks could win the President’s Trophy when I guessed which teams would win each division race. But the Western Conference in general and the Pacific Division in particular are going to be pretty tough, so I’ll pick Ottawa to finish with the best record in the league.
Art Ross Trophy: It’s Sid’s world, everyone else is competing for second place. Actually Joe Thornton probably has second locked down. Right now Henrik Zetterberg is in first place and he could stay near the top if the ZDH line is kept intact.
Masterton Trophy: I’ve got to go with the Staal brothers after their bachelor party fiasco this summer.
I know what the Staal’s did last summer
Calder Trophy: the Central has at least two great candidates in Erik Johnson [on pace at this admittedly early stage of the season for 79 points] and Jonathan Toews. I’m going to pick Toews based on how clutch he was in the World Junior Championships last winter. Oh, and because he plays forward.
Conn Smythe Trophy: If Ottawa is going to win the Cup, which was my guess, then Dany Heatley is likely to be the guy who wins this award for playoff MVP.
Frank J. Selke: The Selke is a bit of an awards show award like the Oscars or the Grammys and is based more on built-up rep than anything else. Sammy Pahlsson has gotten the rep of being one of the best shut-down forwards in the NHL so I think he claims the hardware following this season.
Hart Trophy: The conventional wisdom is that the NHL can rename this award the Crosby award. But I’m going with a darkhorse candidate and say that Olaf Kolzig wins this award, especially if he can lead the Caps to the playoffs.
Jack Adams Trophy: I took notice of the turnaround job Andy Murray was doing in St. Louis back in late January last season, and if they make the playoffs - which I think will happen if they finish second in the division - Murray is going to get some serious consideration for this award. I’m not sure what L.A. was thinking when they got rid of him and then eventually hired Marc Crawford.
Norris Trophy: With Brian Rafalski by his side I have to think Nick Lidstrom’s candidacy isn’t going to suffer any dropoff. If Lidstrom wins the award he’s going to be considered by many to be the second-best defenseman, right behind Bobby Orr.
Lady Byng: Pavel Datsyuk’s got this bitch on lock-down.
Lester B. Pearson: Since Gordie Howe is Mr. Hockey then Sidney Crosby is Mr. NHL.
Maurice Richard: Dany Heatley. If Ottawa does as well as I think they will Heatley is going to be a force.
Vezina Trophy: Olaf Kolzig. Hey, I have him winning the Hart. If he’s going to win the Hart he’s pretty much going to have to win the Vezina.
William W. Jennings Trophy: Just write Minnesota Wild’s Goaltender on the trophy and you’re good. Who is it this year? Ah yes, Niklas Backstrom.
Alright, we can take a look at these when they are officially handed out and see how many I got completely wrong. Wings blogger extraordinaire Matt Saler has his gameday post up for the game against San Jose tonight. Christy over at Behind the Jersey has all the details on how you can get Dallas Drake and Brian Rafalski’s autograph.
Gameday Thread
Red Wings Central has their thread up and running. Nothing from Hockey’s Future just yet.
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[…] I took a stab at guessing the end-of-year awards winners at the beginning of the year [some were just a bit off] but truth be told I don’t get into the ceremony of actually handing out the awards. I am pretty sure I have never watched the awards show. I’m not much of an Academy Awards, Grammys, or any of the MTV award shows person either. […]