Thursday, June 10, 2010

NHL Award Predictions

On Wednesday June 23rd in Las Vegas, the NHL Awards will happen. So I figured today would be a fitting day to make my picks for the awards.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you NHL, it's been a wild year

All good things must come to end, no matter how abrupt and bizarre is may seem.

Last night, on one of the strangest overtime goals I've ever seen, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961. A feat so stunning, that till last year even die hard Chicago fans were giving up hope that their Cup drought would ever end. Now after a thrilling playoffs, it finally is.

But much like other years, the playoffs were just the tip of the iceberg for how much insane this year has been. A year that started in Europe, took practically a month off for an amazing Olympics, and concluded with an edge-of-your seat last day in New York, it was fun to follow along for the ride. There were so many interesting and intriguing stories this year to say the least.

There was the bankrupt, now NHL-owned, Phoenix Coyotes, that surprised that hockey world. They almost stole the Pacific division title from San Jose, cliched home ice as a four seed, and then they took the mighty Red Wings to the limit in a stunning fashion in the first round.

The other huge surprise out West was the emergence of a young feisty Colorado Avalanche team. This team was not even supposed to be on the the radar screen this year, started a trend that would continue for the rest of the season. They came out of nowhere, started red hot, shocked every analysis and fan and then clinched the 8th seed. While they did eventually lose to San Jose, I see a majorly bright future ahead for this club, as long as they keep their wits about them.

Also, speaking of the Sharks, they finally advanced past the second round! Yay! It was seen as a MAJOR stepping stone because they just couldn't get that far in years' past. But they ended up getting swept by the eventual Cup Champs in the Conference Finals. They are a very good team, but I think unfortunately this might have been their last chance to succeed and I won't be surprised if this team is broken up a bit before next year. I hope not because I just think they could be one character player away from winning the Cup, it seemed to work for the Hawks.

While there were other surprises like the L.A. Kings finally coming back to the fore-front and the Vancouver Canucks surprising everyone by winning the Northwest division, and the Nashville Predators finally showed how good they truly are, the other big story out of the west, besides the Champs, was the fall of the Detroit Red Wings. In my opinion, I think we have seen the end of the era of the Red Wings. They just didn't look like the confident well-meshed team they have looked like in the past, and while they have a very young goalie in Jimmy Howard, I think their run of dominance has come to an end for at least a little while.

Over in the East, the word parody was given a whole new definition. If you had told me that the Washington Capitals, who clinched the President's Trophy back in March before most teams were even sure if they were going to make the playoffs at all, were going to be upset by the Montreal Canadiens, I would have bet alot of money against it. Especially if you told me that those same Canadiens were going to upset the defending Champs to get to the Conference Finals. Then you have the Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers, who stunned New Jersey and then pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in the history of sports coming  back from 0-3 down to beat the Bruins. These two teams would meet in the Conference Finals, as a total shocker to everyone who made early predictions.

While parody was strong, it just doesn't look good for the division winners. Washington was exposed for having no defense, New Jersey and Pittsburgh both don't have the grit to make an impact right now and Buffalo found out they can't always rely on USA hockey hero Ryan Miller. Those four teams have a lot they have to prove next year.

Overall, it has been  a great unpredictable season and I'm ready for the summer to start up.

CMT Awards:"I Wanna Be A Cowboy"

The CMT Awards were last night, so I will go through my picks and see how I did this year.

Breakthrough Video of the Year

  1. Easton Corbin-A Little More Country Than That
  2. Laura Bell Bundy-Giddy On Up
  3. Luke Bryan-Do I?-My Pick
  4. Steel Magnolia-Keep On Lovin' You
Winner:Luke Bryan-Do I (1-0)
This was a major duh of a win here. No surprise at all.

 Performance of the Year

  1. Reba McEntire-Consider Me Gone-My Pick
  2. Tim McGraw-Southern Voice
  3. Brad Paisley-Then
  4. Lady Antebellum-Lookin' for a Good Time
  5. Carrie Underwood-Temporary Home 
Winner:Carrie Underwood-Temporary Home (1-1)
This was a tough category because it wasn't based on videos, it was based on a live performance.I guess it's okay that she won in that case. 
 
Collaborative Video of the Year

  1. Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift-Best Days of Your Life
  2. Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins-Hillbilly Bone-My Pick
  3. Jason Aldean and Bryan Adam-Heaven
  4. Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews-I'm Alive 
Winner:Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins-Hillbilly Bone (2-1)


I'm sorry but this year, no other song had a fighting chance against theHillibilly Bone, B-Bone, B-Bone, Bone.

Duo Video of the Year

  1. Brooks & Dunn-Indian Summer-My Pick
  2. Steel Magnolia-Keep On Lovin' You
  3. Sugarland-Keep You
  4. Sugarland-Nightswimming/Joey
Winner:Brooks & Dunn-Indian Summer (3-1)
This was very obvious, even though Sugarland had two songs in here. It was Brooks & Dunn's last CMT award so you knew they were going to win. But someone should have told Ronnie Dunn that so he wasn't in the bathroom when they won. Gotta love live TV.

Group Video of the Year

  1. Rascal Flatts-Here Comes Goodbye
  2. Gloriana-How Far Do You Wanna Go?
  3. Lady Antebellum-Need You Now
  4. Zac Brown Band-Toes-My Pick
 Winner:Lady Antebellum-Need You Now (3-2)
I have no idea what I was thinking picking against Lady A this year. They are red hot and mega-popular right now.

Female Video of the Year

  1. Reba McEntire-Consider Me Gone
  2. Miranda Lambert-White Liar
  3. Carrie Underwood-Cowboy Casanova
  4. Taylor Swift-You Belong With Me-My Pick  
Winner:Miranda Lambert-White Liar (3-3)
This was the one genuine surprise of the night. The soon-to-be Mrs. Blake Shelton beat out MAJOR competition to win this one. I'm very happy for her, just surprised that Miss Swift got completely shutout again.

Male Video of the Year

  1. Toby Keith-American Ride
  2. Billy Currington-People Are Crazy-My Pick
  3. Tim McGraw-Southern Voice
  4. Keith Urban-Til Summer Comes Around
  5. Jason Aldean-The Truth 
Winner:Keith Urban-Til Summer Comes Around (3-4)
How did Brad Paisley not even get nominated for either Welcome to the Future or American Saturday Night? Both videos were better than any other video on here, except Toby's. But alas I went with my favorite song on the list, Keith Urban won it, not much a shocker.

Video of the Year

  1. Toby Keith-American Ride
  2. Carrie Underwood-Cowboy Casanova
  3. Lady Antebellum-Need You Now
  4. Kenny Chesney-Out Last Night
  5. Keith Urban-Til Summer Comes Around
  6. Zac Brown Band-Toes
  7. Jason Aldean-The Truth
  8. Brad Paisley-Welcome to the Future-My Pick
  9. Miranda Lambert-White Liar
  10. Taylor Swift-You Belong With Me 
Narrowed down to five on the air
  1. Toby Keith-American Ride-Re-pick
  2. Carrie Underwood-Cowboy Casanova
  3. Lady Antebellum-Need You Now
  4. Miranda Lambert-White Liar
  5. Taylor Swift-You Belong With Me
 Winner:Carrie Underwood-Cowboy Casanova (3-5)
My pick didn't even make it into the running on the live broadcast, So if we throw that out and I re-pick, I would have still been wrong because I would have picked, and I voted for, Toby. The major issue I have with Carrie winning was that this wasn't even HER best video of the year. If she won for Temporary Home, then I would have understood. But alas, the soon to be Mrs. Fisher did indeed win.

A weird award show to say the least, and I did terrible with my picks. Maybe next time.