June 14, 2007...1:51 am
Tomorrow’s Predictions
One article on NHL.com decided to list some predictions about who will win what trophy tomorrow.
Well, following in suit, I think I will make my calls and rationale as to which players will come away with major trophies tomorrow evening at the awards ceremony, as well as who should win each trophy.
Hart: Crosby will and should win. I agree with the article about this for one very specific reason: He is not only the MVP of his team, he is the MVP of the NHL. He is the face of the New Model in which the NHL is high-scoring and exciting, and he is the leader of a team that plays exactly that style of game. Sidney Crosby not only helped his team make the playoffs, but he is charismatic and savvy as well. There is no doubt in my mind that Crosby is the league’s MVP.
Pearson: What player is going to vote against that logic? Crosby. Yes, a case can be made that Lecavalier is a more all-around player, but what he adds in defense and experience, he loses in sheer talent. Crosby led the league in points as a 19-year old, and that without any regular partner. Take St. Louis away from Lecavalier, and let’s see him pull of his stellar year.
Vezina: Luongo should win, because of consistency, in my mind. Brodeur was often amazing, but had off-nights. Luongo, while he started a bit slowly, was nothing short of the best player on the ice every single night following something around game 12 for the Canucks. And, while the playoffs are not supposed to be included, I can’t help but feel that a year in which both top contenders are so even statistically, the one who fell apart in the playoffs will get the edge.
But, I think that Brodeur will be given the nod. Why? Because the NHL awards often go to a more veteran player because it’s taken for granted that the younger will have many more chances to win the same award. And it’s true that Brodeur may be on his way out if he doesn’t get the defense he was used to from ‘95 until the lockout. I think that the voters will throw Brodeur a bone and then turn their attention to Luongo for next season.
Norris Trophy: Lidstrom is head-and-shoulders above the two Ducks’ defenseman, in my opinion. The three men are all stellar, but Lidstrom is still the best +/- player in the league, and that bodes well for him. Niedermayer is the best scoring defenseman in the league, sure, but Lidstrom is so dominant defensively and not too shabby offensively, either. He was the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the NHL, and that claim should win him the Norris. Pronger should just roll over and die, by the way. If he wins the award after that playoffs (and who cares that they don’t count… that playoffs made me mad!), then the judges deserve to be retired on the spot!
Calder Trophy: If Statsny had been as good year-round as he was at season’s end, he would be the undebatable recipient of this award. As it is, Malkin was the best all-round player out of the three nominees, and he should and will win the title of rookie of the year.
Selke Trophy: Ah, give it to Pahlsson. He deserves it, and though he was one of the most quiet players year-round, his style of play didn’t change all that much come the playoffs. Just because there was a lot more hype in the post-season doesn’t mean that true hockey enthusiasts missed out on him through the season, which is clear since he was even nominated. I say they should and will choose Pahlsson.
Lady Byng Trophy: Sakic will win the trophy, and unlike what the article thinks, I think he should. Because, the Lady Byng is labeled as going to the player who best combines sportsmanship and level of playing ability throughout the season. Just because he happened to be the most penalized doesn’t mean that he doesn’t show great sportsmanship off the ice as well as on, and the fact that he pulled off a hundred-point season despite a team that was collapsing around him suggests to me that he is more demonstrative of a high level of play than St. Louis, who was paired with Lecavalier all year. Not to mention there is also the veteran factor again. Give him one now. St. Louis will get more if he continues to stay out of the penalty box!
Jack Adams Award: I think that Therrien deserves it and will win it. In fact, I don’t know why the voters int he article think that Ruff will be the favorite going in. The hype has seemed to be on Therrien all along because of his team’s amazing turnabout. And he deserves the credit, surely. Who else would have kept up Jordon Staal, who was considered sure to return to the minors at the start of the season. He managed a lot of talented young players and turned them into a bona-fide contender, which deserves far more than Ruff does… especially considering Ruff’s success was basically handed to him because of a dominant lineup.
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