NHL Awards Preview

Caught up in the excitement of the Expansion Draft, it’s easy to forget that there is also an awards show tonight. Yes, the best trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup, has already been presented to the Pittsburgh Penguins, as has the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP to their captain, Sidney Crosby. Crosby also already locked up the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for the most regular season goals. Edmonton Oilers wunderkind Connor McDavid captured the Art Ross Trophy for the most regular season points as well. Braden Holtby locked up the William M. Jennings Trophy already too, as the Washington Capitals allowed the least amount of goals against in the regular season. Yet, all three of these players and many more still have a lot on the line tonight. Here are the nominees for tonight’s NHL Awards:

Hart Trophy – Most Valuable Player

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

• Star goalie helped to lead the Blue Jackets to their best record in franchise history, all while topping the league in save percentage (.931) and goals against average (2.06)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

• The NHL’s leading goal-scorer and back-to-back winner of the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

• 20-year-old phenom led the league in points and assists and took his team from the draft lottery to the second round of the playoffs

Norris Trophy – Best Defenseman

Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

• Not only led all defenseman in scoring with 76 points, but finished ninth overall among some of the league’s most dynamic forwards. Can check with the best of them as well.

Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

• A down year for the Bolts was a career year for Hedman, who finished just four points behind Burns with 72, and led all blue liners with 56 assists

Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

• If this award had been voted on after the playoffs, it might have been a different result. The NHL’s best puck-mover may still pull it off behind a 71-point campaign and an improved defensive game

Vezina Trophy – Best Goaltender

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

• The Jennings winner also finished one goal against away from the league lead in goals against average – his GAA was 2.07 to Bobrovsky’s  2.06 – and was top five in save percentage (.925) and tied for first in wins (42)

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

• It’s a two-horse race for the Vezina this year, as all-world Price was top ten in wins, save percentage, and goals against average, but can’t touch Bobrovsky or Holtby

Selke Trophy – Best Defensive Forward

Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

• Bergeron has won three of the past four Selke’s and hasn’t finished outside the top five in voting since 2008. He also led the league in face-off wins, winning over 60% at the dot, and trailed only McDavid in Expected +/-. Care to bet against him?

Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks

• Kesler finished third in face-off wins and played an important two-way role in the Duck’s playoff run

Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild

• The Wild captain was top ten in +/- and fifth in face-offs, leading a strong two-way forward corps in Minnesota

Calder Trophy – Best Rookie

Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets

• Finished just behind Matthews in goals (36) and assists (28), but had slightly better per-game production

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

• Finished just ahead of Laine in goals (40) and assists (29), but had slightly worse per-game production

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

• Led all rookie defensemen in scoring by a wide margin and drastically changed the Columbus power play

Lady Byng Trophy – Most Gentlemanly Player

Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

Mikael Granlund, Minnesota Wild

Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

Masterson Trophy – Dedication to Hockey

Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Andrew Cogliano, Anaheim Ducks

Derek Ryan, Carolina Hurricanes

Jack Adams Award – Coach of the Year

Mike Babcock, Toronto Maple Leafs

Todd McLellan, Edmonton Oilers

John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets

General Manager of the Year

Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton Oilers

Pierre Dorion, Ottawa Senators

David Poile, Nashville Predators