NHL Awards-The Results

Last night was the NHL Awards and I'm going to put my comments into two separate entries. First up are the awards and how my picks went:

Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender)
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils-My Pick
Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

When I made this pick, I was going on loyalty. Marty is my goalie and the only Devil nominated for anything tonight. Ryan Miller deserved this award for his work in Buffalo and Team USA (even though that doesn't count).


Frank J. Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Forward)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings-My Pick
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins

This was a slam-dunk pick. No one is better than Datsyuk right now in his position. (1-1)

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Skill/Sportsmanship)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Brad Richards, Dallas Stars
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning-My Pick

I'm shocked I got this one right. LOL. I didn't know who to pick here because it's a weird award to win. 


Calder Memorial Trophy (Top Rookie)
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings-My Pick
Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres

This was a really tough call. If they could have more than one winner, then all three could have won. There was no loser in this category, except well me for picking the wrong player.


James Norris Memorial Trophy (Top Defenseman)
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Mike Green, Washington Capitals-My Pick
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

You know with all the hype behind Mike Green, I'm shocked he didn't win. Keith definitely deserves it though. Very cool. 


Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance & Dedication to Hockey)
Kurtis Foster, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jed Ortmeyer, San Jose Sharks-My Pick
Jose Theodore, Washington Capitals

Until last night I didn't even know why these three were nominated, but after watching the video clips, Jose Theodore deserves it big time for all the charity work after losing his son. 


NHL Foundation Player Award (Contributions to Charitable Causes)
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres-My Pick

Wow two awards for Ryan Miller and a $25,000 check for charity. That's a hell of a night. 


Jack Adams Award (Top Head Coach)
Joe Sacco, Colorado Avalanche
Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes-My Pick
Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators

Take a team who most people didn't even know were going to be in Phoenix when the season, mold them into a winning team, almost win the division, make the playoffs and then almost beat the Red Wings. That's impressive. No one else ever comes close to deserving to win this award more than Tippett.

Ted Lindsay Award (MVP Voted by the NHLPA)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins-My Pick
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

This could have gone either way. I figured Crosby was going to win something, but the NHLPA likes Ovi more right now. I knew I should have went with my instincts.

Mark Messier Leadership Award (Top Leader in Hockey)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres-My Pick

Well, I picked Miller to win two awards, just the wrong two. I guess Crosby wasn't going to be shutout. And he can say he's the first official winner of this award.

Hart Memorial Trophy (League MVP)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals-My Pick
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Until yesterday morning's NHL Live, I wouldn't have even thought that Sedin had a chance, but they made me believers. So when he won, Sid and Ovi looked surprised. Let me say though, if you told me back when the Sedin twins got drafted back-to-back by the Canucks years ago that one of them was going to turn out to be league MVP, I would have said you were crazy.