Hart Trophy – MVP 

Nominees: Sidney Crosby (PIT), Jamie Benn (DAL), Patrick Kane (CHI)

The nominees for the Hart trophy this season is basically a statement – “the winner of this award is Patrick Kane”. Not to say that Jamie Benn or Sidney Crosby don’t deserve a nomination – Crosby had an 85 point season and Jamie Benn was closest behind Kane – but neither truly rival the season Patrick Kane had.

Winner: Patrick Kane (CHI)

Snubbed: Braden Holtby (WSH), Erik Karlsson (OTT)

Braden Holtby is the reason the Capitals did as well as they did this season. As the true Vezina contender, Holtby was rock solid all season, while the Capitals other name brand players – Alex Ovechkin, Niklas Backstrom – had some rough spots this season.

Erik Karlsson is the one player for the Senators who makes playing in the league look easy. As the likely Norris winner, Karlsson lifted the Senators to a place where they could even somewhat contend. Without Karlsson on their team, the Senators would be a surefire top three pick, instead of somewhere in the teens. That is what makes a most valuable player.

Ted Lindsay Award – Most Valuable (Players Vote)

Nominees: Jamie Benn (DAL), Braden Holtby (WSH), Patrick Kane (CHI)

Again, this list is a group of players making the statement that Patrick Kane will be a big winner at this year’s NHL Party in Las Vegas.

Winner: Patrick Kane (CHI)

Patrick Kane led the league in scoring. Without him, the Blackhawks would be lost this season. It showed in the playoffs, where he (and Jonathon Toews) failed to show themselves, one goal between themselves. Without Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin is not a Calder finalist and presumptive winner. Without Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks fail to make the playoffs. A 26 scoring streak to start the season grew a lot of fans in Chicago, especially after the rough offseason Kane had. Kane’s fuck you campaign against the entire NHL was successful, and he will have the hardware to show for it.

Jamie Benn’s hopes of being a winner for the Most Valuable player will always be crossed out by his center, best friend, and bromantic partner Tyler Seguin. The two combined for a ton of points, with Benn being the second person in points behind Patrick Kane, and Seguin, due to injuries, coming in the top 15.

Braden Holtby deserved a chance at the Hart trophy. He gets a chance at the players’ vote, and he deserves it. Holtby was a force, a brick wall in net. He led the Capitals in a season where Backstrom was misplaced – playing on two lines and injured – and Ovechkin was proven to be the best goal scorer but not a play maker.

Snubbed: Erik Karlsson (OTT), Sidney Crosby (PIT)

Sidney Crosby had a very un-Crosby like season with just 85 points, making him the third most in points this year. If that’s not a sign that the NHL needs more offense I don’t know what is. Crosby may return to form as a Hart nominee, but with Kane reaching his peak and other young players (Seguin, Benn, Stamkos) looking to prove themselves in terms of hardware, I wouldn’t be surprised if Crosby remains a nominee but nothing more.

For Erik Karlsson see Hart snubbed.

Jack Adams Award – Coaching

Nominees: Gerard Gallant (FLA), Lindy Ruff (DAL), Barry Trotz (WSH)

The nominees for this award were purely based on results – Gallant led the Panthers to their first division title in a very long time, Lindy Ruff led the Stars to the best record in the West, and Barry Trotz had his team win the President’s Cup. A good race, but one that ignores the achievements of more unexpected teams (and therefore coaches).

Winner: Barry Trotz (WSH)

It’s hard to argue with a team that won the President’s Cup. Under Trotz and his coaching staff, Holtby has improved. Young arms are helping the Capitals on offense as well as on defense. Prospects are becoming good-great pros. Trotz has a core of players that remains one of the best, and his coaching has improved it. And, again, you can’t really argue against a team that won the President’s Cup (unless you’re Chicago and it’s 2012-2013. Quinneville has never won a Jack Adams for the Blackhawks roster he assembled, which is amazingly horrible [No award has been given to Stan Bowman or Dale Tallon]).

Gerard Gallant has helped an extremely young Florida Panthers – with tutelage of Jaromir Jagr and Willie Mitchell – to a first place finish in the Atlantic and playoff qualification. Though the Panthers lost in the first round, the players will mature and with Gallant’s help they should return stronger than before.

Lindy Ruff led an offensively dominant Stars to a first seed in the Western Conference and through the best division in hockey and perhaps all of sports. Ruff’s team had the downfall at defense and goaltending, where neither of the coach’s choices in Lehtonen or Niemi were particularly successful. Without the offense, the team would be contending only with the Jets. While he has the blame for the defense, Lindy Ruff deserves the credit for the best offense in hockey.

Snubbed: Peter DeBoer (SJS), Ken Hitchcock (STL)

DeBoer led the Sharks to a third seed in the Pacific. While that’s not particularly impressive, the other achievements of the coach and the team this season is. When DeBoer arrived, he had a captain controversy, he had a team that failed to make the playoffs in the worst division in hockey. He had an aging core and new additions that were very unproven, especially out West. Then DeBoer came in. He fixed the captaincy problem – Joe Thornton remained a vocal leader, and the C was given to the younger Joe – Pavelski. Martin Jones became a successful netminder. DeBoer should have been nominated over a defensively incapable Lindy Ruff.

Ken Hitchcock is the lesser of the snubs, but he led a very different style Blues team to second in the West, second in the Central. Hitchcock was able to beat up a Blackhawks team that was superior, and had a very capable defense and offense. Both of the goaltenders stepped up for Hitchcock this season. And while he very much deserves the hot seat in the playoffs – choking away a 3-1 lead, and letting it get to game 7. Ken Hitchcock deserves mention in this race at the same rate he deserves mention on the hot seat. Hitchcock is the display that there is a difference between regular season hockey and playoff hockey, but under him the Blues have been successful at the first.

NHL Foundation Award – Charity and Giving Back

Nominees: Mark Giordano (CGY), Matt Martin (NYI), and PK Subban (MTL).

Each of these men are great because they care about where they play and enrich the community around them. Two are vocal leaders of their clubhouse, and all give money and time to great causes. Each of them deserve a good round of congratulations and thanks simultaneously.

Winner: PK Subban (MTL)

Snubbed: Jonathon Toews (CHI)

Honestly, I don’t know enough about this award. I doubt anyone but voters know enough about this award. I just know that Toews gives a ton of money to a charity in Chicago, and also donates a ton of his time there.

Mark Messier Award – Captains

Honestly, I know that’s not exactly what the award is for, but it’s what the award is for. I also know that Jonathon Toews is the best captain in the league, but he won last year (Messier knows what’s good) and it’s time to go with some other players. I like this group the best, there’s no real snubs, so good job Messier. You show them that one person who is well informed can be just as good at voting as a whole group.

Nominees: Alexander Ovechkin (WSH), Johnathon Tavares (NYI), Shea Weber (NSH)

These are three great captains. Tavares continues to be the model Islander, being a top 20 scorer consistently and leading the clubhouse.

Alexander Ovechkin is the great 8, the best goal scorer in the league, and is a leader in the clubhouse.

Shea Weber is a great defenseman and a leader in the clubhouse.

(Again, I can’t really talk about this award, and it’s predicated on what one person thinks. I’m not that person)

Winner: Alexander Ovechkin (WSH). Cause it’s Ovechkin.

Snub: Joe Pavelski

I think Pavelski will be a nominee next year, because when the Sharks figured out their captain problems they realized the guy who was stepping up in the locker room was Pavs. Pavelski has helped the team reach the second round in the playoffs, and has the confidence of a club including two ex-captains and a caveman (Brett Burns).

Calder Memorial Trophy – Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI), Connor McDavid (EDM), Artemi Panarin (CHI)

This award is Artemi Panarin’s. Both McDavid and Gostisbehere didn’t play a full season. Panarin played his first season of 80+ games, and yes, while he’s older (yet Gostisbehere is the same age), he had to adjust to a different league. The NHL is as different from the KHL as the CHL or the OJHL or whatever McDavid was in.

Winner: Artemi Panarin (CHI)

Artemi Panarin helped Kane to this Hart, Lindsay, and Art Ross season. We’ve seen Kane without an adequate wing on the other side. He’s still great, but he’s not able to assist people as much. He’s not able to be left alone or in one-on-one where he thrives. He is surrounded at all times when the other guy is not perceived as a threat. Which is why Artemi Panarin is the ROTY. He’s the threat on the other side. You surround Kane, you have to deal with the Russians. Panarin is the Russian Kane. Panarin understands how to score, he gets it. He replaced the hole left from Sharp, and replaced it very well. He scored 30 goals and 47 assists.

Shayne Gostisbehere may end up being the best defenseman of his generation (under 23). He plays great offensively as well as defensively, and it’s why he’s the first one up of the Flyers’ pride of defensive prospects. Gostisbehere can play with Giroux and Voracek and Simmonds and helps out the two great goaltenders of the Flyers. Gostisbehere led rookie defensemen with 17 goals and 29 assists and I think he could be a contender for the Norris in his first full season.

Connor McDavid scored 16 assists and 32 assists in an injury shortened season, but that’s what it is. It’s an injury shortened season. Panarin was healthy the whole time, and sure McDavid had a great PPG but could he maintain it over the marathon that is the NHL season? He has yet to prove it. In a few years, it might be worth re-visiting, but this award is named this year, for this season, and Panarin, because he was healthy the whole time and performed the whole time, was a better player.

Snubbed: Jack Eichel

Meh. Second overall pick without a ton of pressure who performed admirably on a still bad team.

Lady Byng Award – Sportsmanship

Nominees: Aleksander Barkov (FLA), Loui Eriksson (BOS), Anze Kopitar (LAK)

These three are three very different players, and yet they are brought together by one similar trait – they all try to avoid the penalty box and play a great clean game. They are great players and they mind their manners, and deserve the paychecks they will be signing (or have signed) soon.

Winner: Aleksander Barkov (FLA).

Barkov is the first line center for the Panthers. He plays with Jaromir Jagr and Jonathon Huberdeau and he makes both of them – natural talents – better. Barkov is one of the reasons Jagr wants to stay in Florida. Jagr has said that playing with his two linemates makes him feel young again. That’s a great thing – Jaromir Jagr is a future Hall of Famer and while not in his prime, he’s still playing, training, practicing and trying to be the best self he can be on the ice. Barkov deserves the award for making Jagr continue playing, but he also deserves it because he had only eight penalty minutes (four penalties) – two less penalties than his closest competitor in Loui Eriksson. He played a ton of games, and to have a penalty one every twenty games is huge.

Loui Eriksson plays in penalty rich, hard hitting Boston, and yet that isn’t his style. Like Barkov, Eriksson is a first liner. He scored thirty goals while taking six minor penalties. He’s a great player who plays a clean game, but he’s not keeping a hall of famer around to help lead the team.

Anze Kopitar is a Selke-nominated, great captain and clean player. He took eight penalties this season, sitting in the box for 16 minutes, and recently signed a big contract. He’s better defensively than he is offensively, but he’s still a great player.

Norris Trophy – Offensive Defenseman

Nominees: Brett Burns (SJS), Drew Doughty (LAK), Erik Karlsson (OTT)

There really does need to be a defensive defenseman award because I wanna see Hjalmarsson or Kris Russell win some much deserved hardware.

Winner: Erik Karlsson (although it should be Brett Burns)

Karlsson scored an NHL high 66 assists and had an NHL high for a defenseman at 82 points. Karlsson won last year, and has several of the Norris trophies, but he’s done enough to earn the trophy again and should be up on the stage again. I fought pretty hard for him to be in the MVP race earlier so I should stick by my guns…

But I can’t. I’ve been on the side that Brett Burns should have been nominated for this award a long time ago. He’s Chewbakka, he’s a grizzly bear, he’s a caveman, and he’s a great defenseman both offensively and defensively. He scored 75 points and has been dominant for the Sharks in the playoffs. He was an NHL All-Star Game player this year. He is a type of defenseman that should be up for this kind of award – the Brett Burns, the Dustin Byfugliens, that type of defenseman – who can play both defense and offense and could play on the wing but prefers the point. He’s a terrific player and he should have won this award a long time ago and while Karlsson should be the favorite again this year, if the league truly desires parity it should be Brett this year.

Drew Doughty is the odd man out of this club for me. He’s the representative of the Shea Weber, the Duncan Keith, the Roman Josi. The guys who are great defensemen, some of the best in the league, but couldn’t score as much as these other guys. Doughty is a contender because he scored 50+ points but that’s about it.

Snubbed: There’s not really a ton of snubs in this category because if you score a ton of points you will be nominated. That said, maybe John Klingberg (DAL) deserves to be in that category because he started out really well and may be here in the future.

Selke Trophy – Best Defensive Center [Forward/Not Really/When was the last time a wing was nominated]

Nominees: Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Ryan Kesler (ANA), Anze Kopitar (LAK)

This competition really comes down to who wins faceoffs – last year, Jonathon Toews beat Patrice Bergeron in literally every single category besides faceoffs and faceoff win percentage, and Bergeron won the Selke. So going into this, that’s the expectation – who’s the best at faceoffs.

Winner: Patrice Bergeron (BOS).

Patrice Bergeron won the most faceoffs and took the most and got the best percentage won. So good for him he wins the award with the most specific qualifications and I’m tired and this isn’t an important category for the reason I mentioned.

Kopitar was better defensively but won less faceoffs.

Kesler won the second most faceoffs. Not as much as Bergeron.

Wow, I’m tired but also angry at this stupid award because it really isn’t what it says it is about.

Snubbed: Marian Hossa (CHI), all of the two-way forwards who play defense but don’t take faceoffs.

Marian Hossa is a legend. He is still one of the best two-way forwards in the league. He plays terrific defense STILL at the age of what is he now, 38? He needs a Selke award and the Selke award needs a new image, because who cares about faceoffs? Hossa can snipe a goal still, and like I said he continues to play well defensively, playing his best game in his own ice and the neutral zone and continues to be able to cover the puck and succeeds in not allowing goals. He is a defenseman in the body of a great forward, who continues to play. Plus, giving the award to a wing would show that the NHL cares about the two-way player who makes plays on both ends of the ice, if you’re not going to give us a defensive defenseman award at least give us that.

Vezina Trophy – Goaltender

Nominees: Ben Bishop (TBL), Braden Holtby (WSH), Jonathon Quick (LAK)

Much like the earlier awards (Hart, Ted Lindsay) this is a group of goaltenders with one definitive statement: Braden Holtby will win the Vezina trophy. Neither Ben Bishop nor Jonathon Quick really stands a chance against Holtby this year. Bishop’s GAA may have been the best in the league but Holtby won more games, he suffered more abuse. Holtby was in Holt-beast mode this year, and it’s gonna show itself in the form of at least a Vezina and Presidents Cup, and maybe (if the Capitals get their shit together) a Stanley Cup.

Winner: Braden Holtby (WSH)

See above.

Ben Bishop had the best GAA. The problem is not him in this race. He deserves to be here, especially after leading the Lightning into the Stanley Cup Finals last year. He’s proving to be dominant again in these playoffs, and he’s a terrific netminder on a terrific team with a terrific defense so cheers.

Jonathon Quick does not deserve this trophy. Not this year. Not since four years ago was Jonathon Quick an elite goal tender. Is he in the top half of the league? Yes, but if that were true 15 goaltenders would be nominated (Braden Holtby would still win). He won 40 games? So what! That’s not record setting, that’s fifth place in the West, behind some much better goaltenders.

Snubbed: (This will be a long list. Like I said, Quick is in the top half of the league, but I didn’t say where. So presented here will be all the better goaltenders who weren’t nominated)

Corey Crawford (CHI)

Cory Schneider (NJD)

(The two above were truly snubbed)

Jake Allen & Brian Elliot (STL)

Pekka Rinne (NSH)

Tuukka Rask (BOS)

Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)

Roberto Luongo (FLA)

Steve Mason & Michal Neuvirth (PHI)

Matt Murray & Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT)

Frederick Anderson & John Gibson (ANA)

There’s 14 guys better than Jonathon Quick who weren’t nominated (15 if you count the injured-all-season Carey Price (MTL)). Some of them are backups. Quick is no longer in his cup-winning from out of nowhere prime. I wouldn’t even let him on the USA goaltenders list anymore, that’s an honor that belongs to Ben Bishop, Cory Schneider, and John Gibson. Get off my list of nominees, Jonathon Quick.

Masterton Trophy:

Alright. I’m angry. This is not an optimistic piece. But I like being real, so here we go.

Nominees: Pascal Dupuis (PIT), Jaromir Jagr (FLA), Mats Zuccarello (NYR)

So this list is another statement list, because one of these is not an adversity, one of them is manageable, and the other is career-ending and yet the guy came back. This award belongs to

Winner: Mats Zuccarello (NYR)

Zuc took a shot to the head, resulting in a skull fracture, temporary paralysis, and the loss of the ability to speak while in the hospital. The guy had to re-learn how to speak, something everyone takes for granted. This was a career-ending injury. He shouldn’t have been able to come back from this. He lost walking as well, and his skull shattered. And he eventually got up, and started practicing again. And he came back. And he was a top 6 guy for the Rangers. He would be a top 6 guy for most teams. After this type of injury. Mats Zuccarello is made of steel. He is truly someone everyone should admire for this display of determination and being able to return from anything. Mats Zuccarello, great job.

None of these are bad guys. They all showed up despite nobody thinking they could. Pascal Dupuis was diagnosed with a blood clot that took him out of the game for a year. But blood clots are manageable. Look at Kimmo Timonen, a guy who had many clots, yet was able to be a member of a cup winning team the same year after missing a ton of games. Look at Steven Stamkos, who will return from blood clots and play in the playoffs the same year (if the Lightning don’t get what is very close to reverse swept). I understand Pascal’s clot was in a much harder area to overcome, but it is a manageable injury and there are guys who have shown that.

Jaromir Jagr is old and that’s about it. He played most of last season and was out not because of injury. And this is a guy who shows that age is just a number. He continues to work himself hard, to strive to be the best. That’s an awesome inspirational thing. It’s not adversity. It’s something he’s not even having a tough time with. Dude plays like a 26 year old. It’s what Tom Brady thinks he’ll be at that age. Jagr looks like a Hemsworth brother. Not even an uncle, a brother.

Award yet to be announced: Executive of the Year.

Predicted Nominees: (Three of) Stan Bowman, Doug Wilson, Jim Nill, Dale Tallon

Stan Bowman deserves some recognition. Even in this hard season, he was part of the team that drafted Patrick Kane. He found Artemi Panarin. He called up TVR and Erik Gustaffson. It’s not his fault the team was mismanaged in the playoffs.

Doug Wilson found the missing pieces to give the Sharks a good run in the playoffs (which will hopefully be continuing), including a goaltender nobody else had faith in.

Jim Nill built the best offense in the league, and has drafted some very good young defensemen and the Sharp/Johns trade was a one-sided work of art. If he’s not recognized it’s a shame.

Dale Tallon built a winner in Chicago (a winner Bowman has kept running), and a winner in Florida. It’s high time he’s recognized.