Previewing the Nominees for the NHL Awards

The National Hockey League will hold their annual awards ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday.

The top three goaltenders nominated for the Vezina Trophy include, from the Washington Capitals, Braden Holtby, the Los Angeles Kings, Jonathan Quick and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ben Bishop. 

Holtby looks to be the favorite as he led the Capitals to the best record in the NHL during the regular season. Holtby tied Martin Brodeur’s single season win record of 48, during the season. He had the fifth best goals against average at 2.20 and eight best save percentage of .922 on the season. Quick though can’t be overlooked as he finished second in wins with 40 on the season. 

Quick played the most minutes between the pipes, logging 4,034 minutes of ice time during the season. His managed to have a .918 save percentage. Bishop on the other hand led the league with a 2.06 GAA and had a .926 save percentage, which could help him take home the top goaltender honors. Bishop also had a career best of six shutouts on the season, second most in the NHL. 

The fact that Holtby was able to match all-time great and former New Jersey Devils goaltender, Brodeur’s win record, will most likely put him over the top in the voting for the Vezina. 

The top three rookies up for the Calder Trophy include, Philadelphia Flyers, Shayne Gostisbehere, Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid and from the Chicago Blackhawks, Artemi Panarin. 

Gostisbehere led all rookie defenseman in scoring with 46 points as well as power play points with 22. His 17 goals were the most scored by a rookie defenseman, since Dion Phaneuf put up 20, a decade ago. The Ghost, also had a 15 game scoring streak during the 2015-2016 season, which included four overtime game winning goals. 

McDavid, the number one overall draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, despite suffering a broken clavicle during the season, was able to put up 48 points in 45 games. His 1.07 points per game average ranked third of all players that played in at least 40 games on the season.   

McDavid won the rookie of the month honors in three out of the six months. No other rookie won it more than once, and McDavid missed about two months on the season. Following his injury, he put up 32 points in 36 games. 

Panarin, scored 30 goals and 77 points in 80 games with Chicago this season. He also helped Patrick Kane have on of his best scoring seasons of his career, while playing on the same line together.

Panarin led all rookies in scoring, and was ninth overall in points throughout the league. In the Blackhawks seven postseason games, he added seven more points. 

The fact that he was in the top 10 in scoring, and led all rookies probably gives Panarin a leg up on the competition, but if McDavid had not got injured during the year might be a different situation. 

The Jack Adams Award for top coach during the season, includes Barry Trotz of the Capitals, Gerard Gallant of the Florida Panthers and Lindy Ruff of the Dallas Stars. 

Trotz led the Caps to the best record in the NHL this past season. Washington’s 120 points was 11 more than the Stars, who were the second best in the league in 2015-2016. 

Under Trotz this past season they set a franchise record for victories with 56.  In his third time being nominated for the award, he is hoping with these record breaking stats this might be his season. 

Gallant could give Trotz a run for his money though. He was able to lead the Panthers to their best season in their 20-year history. The Cats 47 wins and 103 points were franchise records for Florida.

 The fact that the Panthers were not expected to break 100 points, and do as well as they did, could help push Gallant over top for the honors.  

Ruff led the Stars to the second best record in the NHL and the Western Conference regular season title, after Dallas had missed out on the postseason in 2014-2015. The start of the season looked a little bleak for the longtime, former Buffalo Sabres coach, but he was able to turn the Stars around to win the division. 

The fact the Capitals were the top team in the league this season under Trotz should be enough to get him the Jack Adams Award. 

The Norris Trophy presented to the top offensive defenseman will be won by either, Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings or Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Sentators.  

Karlsson became the first defenseman to score at least 82 points on the season since Brian Leetch (85) of the New York Rangers and Ray Bourque (82) of the Boston Bruins did it 20 years ago. This past season Karlsson put up 16 goals and 66 assists. 

He led the league in ice time with 28:58 and his Corsi average of plus-7.1 was one of the best in the NHL. The reigning Norris Trophy winner only had one negative amongst his stats in 2015-2016, his minus-2 rating and the fact his team was unable to make the postseason. 

Doughty’s 51 points were the most of his career since 2009-2010 when he scored 59 points. He finished the year as a plus-24. The third time finalist is still looking for his first Norris Trophy. 

Burns played all 82 games this past season, and scored 27 goals and 75 points. Burns has become a fan favorite amongst the league, but like Karlsson finished the season on the negative side of the plus/minus rating, with a minus-5. 

As Doughty was able to play both sides of the ice well this past season, he should be able to take home his first Norris. The fact that he had a huge plus should also help him win it as well. 

The Selke Trophy for top defensive forward, will be won by Patrice Bergeron, of the Boston Bruins, Ryan Kesler of the Anaheim Ducks or Anze Kopitar of the Kings. 

Bergeron is vying for his fourth Selke, in five tries, which would tie him with former Montreal Candiens player Bob Gainey for the most. Bergeron is one of the top forwards in both ends of the ice, this past season he scored 32 goals and 68 points in 80 games, while winning about 57.1 percent of his faceoffs. His 1,978 faceoffs were the most taken in the NHL.

Kesler is hoping to the fourth time will be the charm for him. During the season, he won 58.5 percent of his faceoffs for the second best record in the league. He put up 21 goals and 53 points this past season, while working both ends of the ice. He also led the league in blocked shots, amongst forwards with 92. 

In 81 games, Kopitar was able to score 25 goals and 74 points on the season. He finished second in plus/minus with a plus-34. He was a runner-up the past two seasons for the Selke as well.

The fact that Bergeron’s faceoff percentage was slightly better than Kopitar’s, will probably help give his fourth Selke. 

The Hart Trophy for Most Valuable Player will be won by either, Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins or Jamie Benn of the Stars. 

Kane became the first U.S. born player to win the scoring title with 106 points this past season. He has led his team to three Stanley Cup victories in the past six seasons, which helps with his resume as being one of the MVP’s to his team. 

Kane was the best player during the regular season, and had 17 more points than his nearest competitor which should give him MVP honors for 2016. 

 

Crosby though led all scorers, since January 1^st with 58 points in 44 games. He finished third in scoring behind Kane and Benn though for the whole season. The fact he was 21 points behind the leader will probably hurt his chance at the prize though. 

Benn played all 82 games for Stars, while scoring 89 points leading them to the best record in the Western Conference. The first time finalist also become the first Stars player to light the lamp 40 times, since Mike Modano did it in 1993-1994. 

The Masterton Trophy presented to the player that best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey will be presented to either Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers, Mats Zuccarello of the Rangers or Pascal Dupuis of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Jagr, led the Panthers to their best record in their 20-year history. He has been lauded for his work ethic both on and off the ice, as well as has been a mentor to some of the younger guys on the team. Zuccarello battled back from a skull fracture and brain contusion he suffered during the 2015 playoffs. While Dupuis was able to bounce back from a blood clot in his lung. 

Benn, Holtby and Kane are the nominees for the Ted Lindsay Award, presented to the most outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players Association. All three finalists are first time nominees for this award. If Kane is able to win it, he will become the first American born player to take home the honor. 

Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals, John Tavares of the New York Islanders and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators are the three nominees for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. The award is presented to the player that exemplifies great leadership to his team. 

The King Clancy Trophy presented to the player that exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice as well as humanitarian contributions to his community, will be presented to either P.K. Subban of the Candiens, Matt Martin of the Islanders or Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames.