Awards Predictions

With the playoffs 8 days away, today seems like a good time to look ahead at the NHL Awards.

Hart Trophy-MVP

Likely Finalists

Pit-Evgeni Malkin
Wsh-Alex Ovechkin
Bos-Tim Thomas

All three players have great cases that their teams would not be in the positions they are without them. The goal production the Bruins are enjoying overshadows the brilliance of Tim Thomas this season. Malkin playing on the same team as Sidney Crosby will cause some writer’s to dismiss his value to his team. Alex Ovechkin has closed the gap on the points race, and is the consensus choice.

Projected Winner: Alex Ovechkin
His P/G ratio is just slightly higher than Malkin. Geno may win the Art Ross and lead the league in takeaways, but AO will run away with the Richard Trophy; bottom line most hockey writers won’t reward Geno’s defensive prowess, but will drool all over AO’s goal totals while ignoring his less than impressive shooting percentage.

Norris Trophy-Best Defensemen

Likely Finalists

Wsh-Mike Green
Det- Nik Lidstrom
Bos-Zdeno Chara

While this award is intended for the best defensemen, it has recently gone to the best offensive defensemen. There has been no better Offensive D-man than Mike Green. 30G 70P + 24. Nobody matches those numbers. Both Lidstrom and Chara are deserving, but unlikely to win.

Projected Winner: Mike Green.

Lady Byng- Sportsmanship

Likely Finalists
Det-Pavel Datsyuk
NJ-Zack Parise
TB-Marty St. Louis

The award is intended to award the league’s most gentlemanly player. Datsyuk is the defending champ he is 4th in scoring with only 20 PIM’s. Parise is 5th in scoring and has only 24PIMs. St. Louis has 78 points, 29 goals, and only 12 PIMs. IN my book St. Louis has a very impressive case, but is not likely to win.

Projected Winner: Zack Parise

Calder Memorial-Outstanding Rookie

Projected Finalists

Ana-Bobby Ryan
Nsh-Pekka Rinne
CBJ-Steve Mason

This race will come down to the goalies, Rinne and Mason, but it’s a one man race.

Projected Winner: Steve Mason

Vezina Trophy-Best Goaltender

Projected Finalists

Bos-Tim Thomas
SJ-Evgeni Nabokov
CBJ-Steve Mason

Thomas has mind-numbing numbers, Nabokov has been automatic, and Mason is a freak of nature. With Marty Brodeur missing most of the year, somebody else gets a chance to win this award.

Projected Winner: Tim Thomas

Masterton-Dedication to the Game

Projected Finalists

Fla-Richard Zednik
SJ-Claude Lemieux
Det-Chris Chelios

Zednik had the freak-life threatening injury last season, and Chris Chelios is about 112 and still going strong. Their stories are great but Claude Lemiuex’s is unbelievable. At an age when most former hockey players are travelling for leisure, Lemieux went to China to prove he could still play pro hockey. He worked his way from China, to Worcester, and finally back the NHL in San Jose.

Projected Winner: Claude Lemieux

Jack Adams-Best Coach

Bos-Claude Julien
CBJ-Ken Hithcock
CHI-Joel Quenneville

Projected Winner: Claude Julien

Selke- Defensive Forward

Projected Finalists

Det-Pavel Datsyuk
NJ-Zach Parise
Phi-Mike Richards

Datsyuk-97 +38, those are great stats. He leads the league in the ever dubious +/- category, but he does kill penalties and plays in important defensive situations as do the other two. Parise is a +29 with 93 points, and Richards is +24 with 78 points and 8 shorthanded goals. I would like to see the league’s leader in takeaways and points Evgeni Malkin on the list, but I think the fact that he’s not a normal penalty killer may hurt his chances. Dark Horses: Pit-Jordan Staal/Car Eric Staal maybe Det Marian Hossa.

Projected Winner: Mike Richards