NHL 2009-2010 Awards Recap

The NHL aired its annual award show and finally announced the results of this years hardware. Vegas put on a party for hockey for one night only and celebrated the continued success of the league post lockout and the plentiful amount of talent that skates for each team. The 2009-2010 was an historic year as it marked the end to one of the long title droughts in professional sports, the Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1961. Congrats to them as well as the Philadelphia Flyers who will raise a 6th Eastern Conference banner since their last championship parade, 1975. Despite the finals lose the Flyers were apart of why this season was historic, they became only the 4th pro team and 3rd hockey club to rally back from a 0-3 deficit in a playoff series to advance by turning around the luck in the East Finals and beating Boston. On top of that we saw yet another 100+ point year from Ovechkin, Vancouver reclaim coverage due to Henrik Sedin, and the Detroit RedWings over come numerous injuries to claim their 10th consecutive 100+ point season and their pro sports active leading 19th straight post-season appearance. Most importantly Todd Bertuzzi did not attempt to kill anyone, all in all I'd say it was a pretty positive year for hockey.

Masterton Memorial Trophy: Jose Theodore (G, Washington)

Finalists: Kurtis Foster (D, TB), Jed Ortmeyer (RW, SJ)

This award is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. His son died last year soon after birth so obviously to overcome that, start a charity in his honor and play an NHL season makes him very deserving. Theo can now add this to the trophy case that already includes a Vezina and Hart (MVP) award from 2002. The only other player to earn both of those in the same year is Hasek. 

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Martin St. Louis (RW, TB)

Finalists: Pavel Datsyuk (C, Det), Brad Richards (C, Dal)

St. Louis beat out last years winner, Datsyuk in a close vote. The Byng is given out to the player who displays the most sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct while also showing skill. St. Louis and Datsyuk seem to slug it out for this honor every year. It could have gone to either of them in my eyes, however, I agree with Martin winning so both of them could take home hardware (hint). St. Louis put up 94 points on top of only 12 penalty minutes. In contrast Dats registered his lowest point total, 70, since 2004 with 18 minutes in the box. It is also always more difficult to keep your cool for a struggling team like the Lightning or Stars rather then a power house such as Detroit. 

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk (C, Det)

Finalists: Jordan Staal (C, Pit), Ryan Kesler (C, Van)

This is what I meant by the hint earlier. Datsyuk continues to show brilliance on the ice year after year and prove why he is one of the cornerstones to the NHL's darling franchise. The Selke trophy is awarded to the best defensive forward. No one else even comes close to Dats in this category. He showed in the finals the last 2 years, he was often forced to defend Malkin or Crosby, that he can stop a scoring chance just as easily as he can create one. This was a disappointing season offensively for him but he still out performed the other finalists from that stand point as well. This is Pavel's 3rd straight Selke and I see no reason why he doesn't make it an even 4 in a row next year. Staal will win this someday and he is a poor mans Datsyuk, however, unfortunately he came into league during a future hall of famers prime. 

Calder Trophy: Tyler Myers (D, Buff)

Finalists: Jimmy Howard (G, Det), Matt Duchene (C, Col) 

You knew I'd disagree with one of these and here it is. Don't get me wrong Myers had a great rookie year. However, 48 points (only 11 goals) is not exactly eye popping. Not only that but he was surrounded with veteran talent on a pretty good team in Buffalo. Myers fit a necessary role as a third line center who could give you a nice extra scoring punch and win a face off, great, but he was not this years rookie of the year. Despite all the team accomplishments and amazing individual talent that has put on the winged wheel over the years one of the most successful marque franchises in all of professional sports has not had a Calder winner since 1965. It appeared another drought would end this season too. Unfortunately it was not to be despite Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard playing to an almost MVP level. Howard posted a 37-15-10 record, a .924 save %, a 2.26 GAA, and even 3 shut outs for a team riddled with injuries that had to go on a 16-2 tear to earn the 5th seed. Yes, he was inconsistent in his first playoff run as starter, he had tons of talent in front of him despite most of them underachieving, but his stats speak for themselves. None the less, Howard no longer has to worry about a hall of famer coming in and snatching the starting job from him, he will be between the pipes for Hockeytown as the top guy for the next decade. The future of this franchise no longer rests on Nikcklas Lidstrom's shoulders, all the pressure is now on Howard's. 

Vezina Trophy: Ryan Miller (G, Buff)

Finalists: Martin Brodeur (G, NJ), Ilya Bryzgalov (G, Pho) 

Brodueur certainly could make a case he was robbed of his 5th career Vezina trophy (Hasek's 6 are the record), however, I think the right man won. Brodeur is nominated every year for name alone but this season he lead the league in wins, 45, shut outs, 9, goals allowed, and games played. I'm sure you're now thinking how the fuck didn't he win? Well he had a stacked roster in front of him full of snipers and also the Devils trap style allows for less scoring chances. Miller had a career year with 41 victories, a .929 save %, a 2.22 GAA, and hung 5 goose eggs. Not taking anything he did in the Olympics into account it is nice to see an American hero and a guy who has never won before pick up his first Vezina when the runner up has the wins record, 3 cups, and 4 Vezinas already on the shelf. Miller was also the only nominated net minder to not lose 20 games. All 3 of these guys could have won and I  wouldn't have argued, they were all their teams MVP's, but I'm pleased with the recipient. 

Norris Trophy: Duncan Keith (D, Chi)

Finalists: Drew Doughty (D, LA), Mike Green (D, Wash)

This was one of the biggest locks of the night. The Hawks just keep picking up hardware following their cup win and once again it's well deserved. Keith netted 69 points on defense and switched to a full time defenseman role after splitting duties on the blue line and at forward last season. Another big key when handing out the Norris for best dman is the plus minus. Keith had a +21. An argument can be made for Green who lead all dmen with 76 points and a +39, however, he basically plays the role as the third forward when on the ice. This guy gets beat so many times per game his back probably has blisters. If this was going to the best offensive defensemen Green would run away with this every year but unfortunately for him that is not what the awards all about. The trick is scoring while playing a shutdown D. *This season marked the first time since 1997 Lidstrom did not receive a nomination, he is a 6 time winner. *

Hart Trophy: Hendrik Sedin (C, Van)

Finalists: Sidney Crosby (C, Pit), Alexander Ovechkin (LW, Wash)

This was actually a bit shocking to me, although I feel the right man won. Reports from several reliable sources were saying Crosby was going to win the award as well as sources proclaiming it would be 3 in a row for Ovie. Neither of those were accurate as the best of the Sedin twins receives the honor. Sedin led the league in scoring with 112 points, he blasted 29 goals and registered 83 assists, his brother Daniel with about 30 points less was the next closest guy on his team. Without his career year and then some the Canucks may have been several spots lower in the standings. Crosby and Ovechkin could win this award every year in all honesty but both of them now are surrounded with a great deal of talent. Obviously Malkin is a big help to Sid but the reason the Pens have won 2 East titles and a cup is due the secondary scoring which judging by Staal's Selke nomination is only getting better. Ovie can rely on guys like Semin, he is very underrated, as well as Green and company. Crosby and Ovechkin both did score 50 goals but had 30 less assists and 3 less points. They will both win this several more times before they hang em up but this may be Sedin's only shot so I'm glad he got it. Sedin also had 166 shots on net compared to Ovechkin's 368 for any of the haters out there, Crosby had 298 Pens fans.