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My Predictions for the NHL Award Winners + Seven: Magic Number for Bruins |
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With the 2008-2009 regular season all but in the books, I've decided to go out on a limb and predict who will be taking home some coveted hardware for their personal achievements. So, who do you think deserves some recognition on June 18th in Vegas?
Here's what I'm thinking....
HART TROPHY (MVP)
1. Alexander Ovechkin (53-47-100, +11, 10 GWG)
2. Evgeni Malkin (33-74-107, +20, 4 GWG)
3. Zach Parise (42-47-89, +30, 7 GWG)
Analysis: Ever so slight edge to Ovechkin, and not just because he's the "sexier" pick. It came down to this for me: 10 game winning goals for Ovie vs. 4 for Geno. And Parise should be right there in the conversation too. Where on earth would the Devils be without this kid?
Runners-Up: Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk
VEZINA TROPHY (BEST GOALTENDER)
1. Tim Thomas (32-11-7, 2.13, .931, 4 SO)
2. Steve Mason (31-18-5, 2.24, .918, 10 SO)
3. Niklas Backstrom (34-23-7, 2.36, .922, 7 SO)
Analysis: Thomas has been atop the leaderboard for GAA and Sv % since practically day one. While Mason may have an edge with shutouts, and a big one at that, the fact remains that Thomas' numbers are still superior to the rookie when all of their performances this season are accounted for.
Runners-Up: Evgeni Nabokov, Pekka Rinne
CALDER TROPHY (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR)
1. Steve Mason (31-18-5, 2.24, .918, 10 SO)
2. Pekka Rinne (27-11-4, 2.26, .921, 7 SO)
3. Bobby Ryan (26-24-50, +14, 3 GWG)
Analysis: Mason has this one under lock and key, no doubt about it, but Rinne is right there with him in every category. I'd like voters to go against conventional wisdom and see two netminders in the discussion here, rather than the easy selection of the top few scorers among rookie skaters. Ryan has been phenomenal for the Ducks with 26 goals in his first campaign and will very likely end up being one of the three nominees.
Runners-Up: Patrik Berglund, Kris Versteeg, Blake Wheeler
NORRIS TROPHY (BEST DEFENSEMAN)
1. Zdeno Chara (16-29-45, +23, 160 hits)
2. Mike Green (28-39-67, +24, 80 hits)
3. Shea Weber (21-29-50, +8, 179 hits)
Analysis: Green's offensive numbers are astounding, but it's time for Big Z to get some recognition for being the shutdown dominant defender he is. Without Chara, the unquestioned leader and captain of the Bruins, the B's would be in a world of hurt. Ditto for Weber (who likely will get bumped from this list in favor of perennial winner Lidstrom), one of the leaders in points and hits across the league among defensemen.
Runners-Up: Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski
JACK ADAMS AWARD (BEST COACH)
1. Claude Julien ( 48-17-10, 106pts)
2. Ken Hitchcock (39-29-8, 86pts)
3. Peter DeBoer (37-28-11, 85pts)
Analysis: This undoubtedly is Julien's award to lose. He has guided the Bruins from cellar dwellers to cup contenders in two seasons. After squeaking into the playoffs last season, the Bruins were expected to be a bubble team yet again. They now have an 8 point lead over NJ/WSH for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Outside of Julien it's anyone's guess. Hitchcock has the Jackets in the playoffs for the first time ever, DeBoer is mirroring Julien's efforts last season with the Panthers fighting for a spot, McLellan has SJ atop the West, and then there's also Joel Quenneville and his 4th seeded Blackhawks.
Runners-Up: Joel Quenneville, Todd McLellan
Other Winners....
LADY BYNG AWARD: Martin St. Louis (77 points, 12 PIM)
Analysis: Datsyuk (91 points, 20 PIM) will probably win this award for the 29th time in a row, but it'd be nice to see St. Louis get a little pick me up after never giving up at any point during this miserable season for the Lightning. The guy deserves something for giving his all throughout the year.
SELKE TROPHY: Pavel Datsyuk (91 points, 20 PIM, +34)
Analysis: Datsyuk still remains one of the most underappreciated players in the league. He and Zetterberg will be perennial nominees for the Selke. Flyers' captain Mike Richards will likely be in the conversation for this award as well.
LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD: Alexander Ovechkin
The nominees for the Pearson award quite often mirror those for the Hart Trophy. Ovechkin undoubtedly will be voted the winner by his peers throughout the league.
MASTERTON TROPHY (PERSEVERANCE) *: Steve Sullivan (35gp, 10-16-26)
After missing all of the 2007-2008 season, beloved winger Steve Sullivan is up to his old tricks in Nashville. Hampered by back problems, Sullivan is finally healthy and tearing it up once again for the Predators as they fight for a playoff spot out west. The winger has 6 points in the last 3 games.
* Totally skimmed over Sully's feel-good comeback at first and initially had Martin Havlat in this spot (68 points and finally healthy this year after missing 42 games last year and many more in previous seasons). Thanks to Preds' fan Bdudney for pointing it out to me.
Tip of the hat also goes out to former Boston College netminder Scott Clemmensen, who was pivotal in keeping the Devils afloat with Martin Brodeur out of the lineup. Clemmensen went 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA in Brodeur's absence after spending most of last season and the beginning of 08-09 in the AHL.
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After yesterday's thrilling 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, a game that proved to be arguably one of the most entertaining of the 08-09 season for the Bruins, the B's now find themselves just seven points shy of locking up the top spot in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining on the schedule.
The Washington Capitals are currently in the #2 slot with 99 points and six games remaining, meaning they can max out at 111. The Devils, currently the #3 seed, are still stuck on 98 points after dropping four in a row. With their seven remaining games, the Devils can at best climb to 112.
So even if both opponents run the table, the Bruins can essentially play .500 hockey (3-3-1) and secure the #1 spot for the first time since the 2001-2002 season (43-24-6, 101pts that year).
How great was yesterday's game? Just an amazing treat to watch Tim Thomas single-handedly win it for the B's during the second period, while standing on his head and stopping all but one of the Flyers' 16 shots. To survive 1:50 of a 5-on-3 disadvantage was truly the difference maker for Boston last night. Thomas finished with 45 saves, including a jaw dropping denial of Scott Hartnell in which TT launched himself across the crease to get a piece of a puck destined for the back of a wide open net. Unreal.
It looks like David Krejci is finding his groove again. His contributions to the score sheet were finished after the first period, during which he contributed three assists, but he was a scoring threat all night long. Watching Krejci, Ryder and Lucic last night was very reminiscent of what the center was able to do with Ryder and Wheeler during the B's dominant run in the first half of the year. Here's to hoping it continues down the stretch and in the postseason.
And finally Mark Recchi...what a ridiculously successful move that has proven to be so far! Seven goals in just 11 games (keep that rate up over a full season and you'd be a 52 goal scorer), and all of them coming from within about six feet of the opposing netminder. He is the tip master down there.
For you scoreboard watchers:
The Devils will be at MSG tonight to take on the Rangers. NY won the first two games of the season series but the Devils have taken the last three meetings. The Rangers, currently the 7th seed, are just two points up on the 9th seeded Panthers.
Meanwhile the Sharks (3 points up on Boston in the race for the President's Trophy), will be in Calgary tonight to take on the slumping Flames. Calgary had dropped 7 out of 10 before beating the Wild 3-2 on Saturday.
The Bruins will be back in action tomorrow night to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The two teams of course made a swap on deadline day and here's how its worked out so far.....
Mark Recchi (BOS): 11gp, 7-2-9 (even)
Martins Karsums (TB): 12gp, 0-2-2 (-1)
Matt Lashoff (TB): 7gp, 0-5-5 (-3)
The Tale of the Tape will be back tomorrow morning to preview the B's - Bolts matchup. In the meantime, what do you make of my nominees and winners for this year's awards? Who would be your choices? As always, your opinions are welcomed and appreciated.
JC
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