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 1st
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.
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