BOT Votes The NHL Awards
By Mike Reed
Bad hockey-related jokes and an awkward presentation by Pierre McGuire? Is it TSN’s trade deadline coverage? No, it’s the annual NHL Awards show! Starting with the first Hart trophy in 1924, the NHL’s annual trophy presentations have become one of our game’s great traditions. This year, on June 20th, the league’s best will decend on Las Vegas to claim their hardware. In advance of the show, your Blades of Teal writers stuffed their own ballots in the box for the NHL Awards. A lot of great comments and even a few write-in votes, but here’s how our ballot looks for Wednesday’s awards show:
Hart Memorial Trophy – MVP
Finalists: Heinrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamoks
Vezna Trophy: Top goaltender
Finalists: Lundqvist, Pekka Rinne, Jonathan Quick
BOT Nominates: Quick. Even without his playoff run Quick was spectacular during the regular season and was the only reason the Kings stayed in it. Their D was actually better than I would have thought, they were 5th in Shots Against. Problem is that they were also 29th in Goals For, meaning Quick had to keep them in a lot of close games. An argument can be made here for Rinne as well, but Nashville was 8th in Goals For so he had mountains more offensive support.
James Norris Trophy: Best defenseman
Finalists: Zdeno Chara, Erik Karlsson, Shea Weber
BOT Votes: Karlsson. Bleedingteal points out that he “He plays in Ottawa and was T10 in points. Not for defencemen, overall.” Yeah, Ottawa’s got a crappy team. He gets the nod for sure.
Calder Memorial Trophy: Rookie of the year
Finalists: Adam Henrique, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent Hopkins
BOT Votes: Landeskog. I think if you include the playoffs, Henrique would get the nod here, and the Nuge would have DOMINATED if it weren’t for injuries. But for the regular season, you have to look to Landeskog as your guy.
Lady Bing Memorial Trophy: Player best exhibiting sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability
Finalists: Brian Campbell, Jordan Eberle, Matt Moulson
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Best defensive forward
Finalists: David Backes, Patrice Burgeron, Pavel Datsyuk
BOT Votes: Backes. Why? Of the three finalists he’s the one I can easily say he’d win in the streets and the alley. A terrifying, terrifying man in all three zones.
Jack Adams Award: Coach of the year
Finalists: Ken Hitchcock (STL), Paul Maclean (OTT), John Tortorella (NYR)
BOT Votes: Hitchcock. Bleedingteal again: “Without hesitation what Hitchcock did in St Louis this year was nothing short of staggering. He has been a great coach for a very long time, kudos to you this year Ken.”
Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy: Player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey
Finalists: Daniel Alfredsson, Joffrey Lupul, Max Pacioretty
BOT Votes: Lupul. From Amy: “Lupul, you conquered two surgeries and a blood infection, and have my vote!”
Ted Lindsay Award (formerly Lester B. Pearson Award): Player-voted for MVP
Finalists: Lundqvist, Malkin, Stamkos
BOT Votes: Malkin. Same reasons as we vote for him for the Hart trophy.
~BB
Best looking individual awards trophys (NHL)
1) Hart
2) Lindsay
3) Vezna
4) Selke
5) Norris
Want to debate a list? Tweet me @bluelineboomer
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