NHL Awards Predictions
Once the Stanley Cup is awarded in the next couple of weeks, NHL attention will shift to the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 20th. Here is who I believe will take home each trophy:
NHL Foundation Award – Nominees: Mike Fisher, Matt Moulson, John-Michael Liles.
My winner: Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators. This is a can’t lose trophy as all 3 players have been tremendous in their respective communities, but I will go with Fisher.
Mark Messier Leadership Award- My Winner: Ryan Callahan, NYR. In his 1st season as Rangers Captain, Callahan led the club to 1st place in the Eastern Conference while putting up a career high 29 goals.
Ted Lindsay Award- Nominees: Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Lundqvist and Steven Stamkos
My winner: I would have picked Claude Giroux personally, but I will take Stamkos on this one. Its too hard to ignore the accomplishment of scoring 60 goals in today’s NHL.
Jack Adams Award- Nominees: Ken Hitchcock, John Tortorella and Paul MacLean
My winner: Ken Hitchcock. He turned the Blues around upon arrival and led them to 2nd place in the tough Western Conference, just shy of taking 1st place.
Frank J Selke Award- Nominees: David Backes, Pavel Datsyuk and Patrice Bergeron
My winner: Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins. He was a +36 and one of the best face off men in the league and also put up 64 points to boot.
Lady Byng Trophy– Nominees: Matt Moulson, Brian Campbell and Jordan Eberle
My winner: Hands down Jordan Eberle. 34 goals, 76 points and only 10 PIM. High skill, clean play. This will probably be his first of multiple Byng’s.
Calder Memorial Trophy- Nominees: Adam Henrique, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
My winner: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oiler’s rookie had 52 points in only 62 games. If not injured, he would have likely racked up 80+ poiints in his freshman year.
James Norris Trophy- Nominees: Shea Weber, Erik Karlsson, Zdeno Chara
My winner: There is no doubting Karlsson’s strong offense and Chara’s steady defense, but the most complete defenseman in the NHL and this year’s Norris winner will be Shea Weber.
Vezina Trophy- Nominees: Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne.
My winner: Jonathan Quick. Though Lundqvist had more wins, Quick had little goal support and had to win games knowing the Kings may not score more than twice in a game.
Hart Trophy- Nominees: Henrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos.
My winner: Evgeni Malkin. Without Sidney Crosby for most of the season, Malkin put the Pens on his back and carried them most of the year and did not let up upon Crosby’s return. He was, by definition of the award, the most valuable to his team this season.