NHL Awards Scheduled For June 12, 2008

The National Hockey League will be recognizing some of its’ most valuable players on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, Ontario Canada (win two tickets by clicking the image!).  I love the annual NHL Awards show because not only is it exciting to see who will win, but also, isn’t it great to see the players with all (or most) of their teeth, looking clean and all dressed up?

The Awards show will be broadcast in Canada on CBC starting at 8:00 p.m. local time and on Versus in the United States.  Here are the nominees:

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (most valuable player to his team)

• Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames - This is Iggy’s third time as a finalist for this award (he finished second in 2002 and 2004).  This year, he had his second career 50-goal season, recorded a career-best 98 points, led the Flames in goals, assists, points, plus-minus (+27), power-play goals (15), game-winning goals (nine) and shots (338),  became the franchise leader in career games Nov. 29 with his 804th appearance and became the Flames’ all-time goal-scoring leader with his 365th career tally, passing Theoren Fleury.
• Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins - This is Malkin’s first appearance on this list.  He deserves it after stepping up while captain Sidney Crosby was injured.  He leads the Pens in scoring and finished second (behind Ovechkin) with 106 points in 82 games.  He also made history with his 15-game point streak (Oct. 23 to Nov. 22) which is the longest by any Russian player in the NHL!   When you look at the season since December 31st, Malkin has been the league’s leading scorer, with 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists) in 44 games.
• Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals - This is also Ovechkin’s first time on this list and he earned his spot after racking up 112 points (65 goals, 47 assists) in 82 games, capturing the Art Ross Trophy as NHL scoring leader and Maurice Richard Trophy as the League’s top goal scorer.   He has the most power-play (22) and game-winning goals (11) in the NHL.  He also set a single-season NHL record for goals by a left wing and his 65 goals were the most by an NHL player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.

MY PICK: Malkin.  The Pens would not have come this far without him and they are now on the brink of clinching the Eastern Conference title.

More after the jump!

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding rookie)

• Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals - Backstrom finished second among NHL rookie scorers with 69 points (14 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games, three points behind Kane. Backstrom was the League’s Rookie of the Month for December and tallied 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) and a +16 rating in his last 17 outings. His point total was the second-highest by a Capitals rookie in franchise history behind Alex Ovechkin’s 106 in 2005-06. His 55 assists set the club record for a rookie, surpassing Ovechkin’s total by one.
• Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks - The first player selected in the 2007 Entry Draft, Kane tallied 16 points in October as an 18-year-old, the most by an NHL rookie in the season’s opening month since 1992-93. His shootout goal against Buffalo childhood hero Dominik Hasek in his second NHL game gave the Blackhawks their first victory of the season — a 4-3 decision over Detroit Oct. 6. Kane finished the season as the League’s rookie scoring leader and tops on the Blackhawks with 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games.
• Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks - Toews scored his first career NHL goal on his first shot in the first period of his League debut Oct. 10 against San Jose. He went on to record a point in each of his first 10 NHL games (5-5–10), the longest point streak by a rookie starting his career since Dmitri Kvartalnov of the Boston Bruins notched a point in each of his first 14 games in 1992. Despite missing more than a month due to a mid-season knee injury, Toews led all rookies in goals (24), tied for the lead in power-play goals (seven) and ranked third in points (54).

MY PICK: Backstrom but it was a close one for me.  I just sometimes forget that he’s even a rookie at all.

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding all-around defenseman

• Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins - Chara, who as a member of the Ottawa Senators finished second to New Jersey’s Scott Niedermayer in 2004, ranked third among NHL players in average ice time per game (26:50) and set career highs for goals (17), assists (34) and points (51) in a season. He led the Bruins and ranked eighth in the League with 223 hits and improved his plus-minus rating from -21 in 2006-07 to a team-high +14 this season.
• Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings - Lidstrom, who has won the award five times, earned his ninth Norris nomination in the past 10 seasons. The Norris winner 2001 through 2003, plus 2006 and 2007, Lidstrom helped the Red Wings post the NHL’s best defensive record in 2007-08 — a League-low 2.16 goals per game. In 76 games, Lidstrom led all NHL defensemen in scoring with 70 points (10 goals, 60 assists), ranked second in the NHL to teammate Pavel Datsyuk in plus-minus (+40) and was fourth among all players in average ice time per game (26:43).
• Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames - The 23-year-old Phaneuf, who finished third behind Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in 2006 Calder Trophy voting as the League’s top rookie, is a first-time Norris finalist. Along with leading Flames defensemen in scoring with a career-high 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games, Phaneuf led the Flames in average ice time per game (26:25) and hits (194). He also ranked second on the club in shots (263) and third in power-play goals (10).

MY PICK: Lidstrom - how can you argue with stats like that?

VEZINA TROPHY (outstanding goaltender)

• Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils - Brodeur has earned his eighth career nomination as a finalist and is in quest of his fourth career win; he captured the trophy in 2003, 2004 and 2007. Brodeur posted a 44-27-6 record with a 2.17 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and four shutouts in 2007-08, ranking among League leaders in minutes played (first, 4,635), victories (second) and goals-against average (fifth). He became just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach the 500-win mark, following Patrick Roy, and ended the season with 96 career shutouts, seven shy of all-time leader Terry Sawchuk. He extended NHL records by registering his third consecutive and seventh career 40-win season, and 10th consecutive campaign with 70-or-more games.
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers - Lundqvist is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the third consecutive season, having placed third in 2006 and 2007. He posted a 37-24-10 record with a 2.23 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 72 games and led all NHL goaltenders with 10 shutouts. He tied his career high in victories, set last season, and is only the second goaltender in NHL history to record three consecutive 30-win seasons to begin his career, joining Philadelphia’s Ron Hextall (1986-87 to 1988-89). Lundqvist’s 10 shutouts were the most by a Rangers goaltender since John Ross Roach posted 13 in 1928-29.
• Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks - Nabokov, a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time, led the NHL in victories (46), just two shy of Brodeur’s NHL-record 48 set last season, and posted 25 one-goal victories, second to Brodeur’s 26. He ranked second among NHL goaltenders in minutes played (4,561), third in goals-against average (2.14) and tied for third in shutouts (six). Nabokov posted a 43-game consecutive-start streak to begin the season, one short of the longest such streak since 1989-90. He had started 51 consecutive games dating back to March 24, 2007 before getting the night off in Anaheim Jan. 13.

MY PICK: Nabakov - he had an outstanding year and he was incredible during the first playoff series against the Flames.

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct),

• Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings - Voted the Lady Byng winner in 2006 and 2007, Datsyuk could become the first player in more than 70 years to capture the award three consecutive times. The New York Rangers‘ Frank Boucher won the Lady Byng Trophy from 1933 through 1935, capping a run of seven Byng trophies in eight seasons. Datsyuk finished fourth in the NHL scoring race with a career-high 97 points (31 goals, 66 assists) in 82 games and led all NHL players with a +41 rating. He led the club in scoring for a third consecutive season, matching the feat of franchise greats Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman.
• Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres - Pominville, who completed his second full season in the NHL, is a first-time League trophy finalist. He placed near the top of the NHL scoring charts after the All-Star break, notching 42 points over his final 34 contests; only Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (49), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (47) and Sabres linemate Derek Roy (44) tallied more. Pominville finished the season with a career-high 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists) in 82 games and led the Sabres in assists and plus-minus (+16). Underlining his strong two-way game, Pominville tallied 25 of his 27 goals at even strength (24) or shorthanded (one).
• Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning - St. Louis is a Lady Byng Trophy finalist for the third time, having finished runner-up to Datsyuk in last season’s balloting and third in 2004. St. Louis reached the 80-point plateau for the third time in the past four seasons, finishing second on the Lightning in scoring with 83 points (25 goals, 58 assists) in 82 games. He led the Lightning in assists and shorthanded goals (two), tied for the club lead in power-play goals (10) and topped all NHL forwards in ice time for the second consecutive season, logging an average of 24:17 per game.

MY PICK: Pominville - just because.

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (outstanding defensive forward)

• Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings - Datsyuk, who yesterday was named a Lady Byng Trophy finalist for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play, has received his career first nomination for the Frank Selke Trophy. Datsyuk led all NHL players in plus-minus with a career-best +41 rating, topped all NHL forwards with 144 takeaways, 67% more than his nearest rival (Dallas’ Mike Modano, 86) and ranked first among Red Wings forwards in blocked shots (42). The Red Wings posted the top defensive record in the NHL with 184 goals-against.
• John Madden, New Jersey Devils - Madden is a Frank Selke Trophy finalist for the fourth time; he captured the award in 2000-01 and was runner-up in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Madden led Devils forwards in shorthanded goals (three), average ice time per game (19:26) and average shorthanded minutes per game (3:35). He ranked seventh among NHL forwards in face-offs taken with 1,463 and posted a 53.7% face-off winning percentage. The Devils posted the top defensive record in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the NHL overall with 197 goals-against.
• Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings - Zetterberg is a Frank Selke Trophy finalist for the first time. He led Red Wings forwards in average ice time per game (22:04) and ranked second to Datsyuk among Detroit forwards in plus-minus with a +30 rating. Zetterberg led the Red Wings in face-offs taken (1,210) and was second on the club to Kris Draper in face-off winning percentage (55.0%). The Red Wings posted the top defensive record in the NHL with 184 goals-against.

MY PICK: Zetterberg - he continues to be a major asset during the postseason.

JACK ADAMS AWARD (outstanding coach)

• Mike Babcock, Detroit Red Wings - Babcock posted his third consecutive 50-win season behind the Detroit bench as the Red Wings (54-21-7, 115 points) captured the Presidents’ Trophy for the NHL’s top regular-season record. The Red Wings set an NHL record for most first-half victories, posting a 30-8-3 mark through 41 games, and went on to surpass the 100-point mark for the eighth consecutive season — equaling Montreal’s record streak from 1974-75 through 1981-82. Detroit also won its seventh consecutive division title and qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 17th consecutive season, the longest active streak among the major pro sports.
• Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals - Boudreau brought more than 1,000 games of minor-league coaching experience to his first NHL assignment behind the bench and led the Capitals to one of the most dramatic turnarounds in League history. Named head coach Nov. 22 with the 6-14-1 Capitals at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Boudreau led his club to a 37-17-7 mark the rest of the way — capped by seven consecutive victories to close the season — and captured the Southeast Division title in the season’s final game. He became   the fastest Capitals coach to 20 victories (34 games) and 30 victories (53 games) in franchise history.
• Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens - In his second NHL season behind the bench, Carbonneau guided the Canadiens (47-25-10, 104 points) to their first 45-win and 100-point season in 15 years, first division title in 17 years, first Eastern Conference title in 19 years and best road record (25-12-4) in 29 years. Led by Alex Kovalev’s 84-point season — an increase of 37 over 2006-07 — the Canadiens were the NHL’s highest-scoring club in 2007-08 with 262 goals and boasted the League’s top-ranked power-play (90 for 372, 24.2%). Montreal went 25-9 following a loss and did not lose more than three consecutive games all season.

MY PICK: Boudreau - what he did with the Caps and having them make the playoffs is nothing short of a miracle.

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey)

• Jason Blake, Toronto Maple Leafs - In October, Blake was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a rare but treatable form of cancer. Nonetheless, the Hibbing, Minn. native completed the season as one of only three players to appear in all 82 Maple Leafs games. Blake hosted a leukemia awareness night at Air Canada Centre in January and donated $1,000 per goal and $500 per assist during the month to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
• Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings - Chelios completed his 24th NHL regular-season and ninth with the Red Wings in 2007-08. The three-time Norris Trophy-winner (1989, ‘93 and ‘96) and 11-time All-Star Game participant has appeared in 1,616 regular-season games, sixth on the all-time list. In January, the 46-year-old Chicago native became the second-oldest player in National Hockey League history, trailing only Gordie Howe.
• Fernando Pisani, Edmonton Oilers - Pisani missed the first 26 games of the regular season due to ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammation of the large intestine. The Edmonton native suffered abdominal pain and weight loss and was forced to miss training camp and the first 26 games of the regular season. He made an inspirational return to the Oilers’ lineup Dec. 2 in a 4-0 victory at Anaheim and played all of Edmonton’s remaining games.
  

MY PICK: Blake - despite being on the Leafs who, truly, did not do very well, he was dedicated to his sport in spite of what was going on in his private life.  It really is incredible.

LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD (leadership and humanitarian contribution to his community)

• Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames - The Edmonton native appeared in all 82 games for the Calgary Flames in 2007-08, finishing the season with 50 goals and 48 assists for a career high 98 points. The 2001-02 winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award, Iginla was once again a force on a nightly basis for Calgary, using his impressive skill set that combines speed, strength and a quick release.  The 30-year-old right-winger has become the level by which all power forwards are measured. His experience and leadership abilities have elevated Iginla into a perennial contender for the Pearson Award, as he has gained the respect and admiration of his fellow players. If awarded the 2007-08 Lester B. Pearson Award, Iginla would join eight other players who have received the honour on more than one occasion. 
• Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins - Native of Magnitogorsk, Russia appeared in all 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading the team in goals (47) and assists (59) while finishing second in the NHL in total points (106). Malkin proved this season that he is a dominant force in the league with his strong play while key Penguins teammates were out of the line-up with injuries.  His 15-game point streak earlier in the year is the longest ever for a Russian born player. The 21-year-old combines strength and pure scoring ability and is already mentioned alongside the top talents in the game, in only his second full season in the NHL. The 2006-07 Calder Trophy recipient is looking to become the fourth member of the Penguins to win the Lester B. Pearson Award, following in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.
• Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals - From Moscow, Russia, he appeared in all 82 games for the Washington Capitals, securing the NHL’s top spot for goals (65) and points (112). A finalist of the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award, Ovechkin has taken the NHL by storm with his unrivalled ability to score goals and his exuberant enthusiasm for the game of hockey. In just his third season, the 22-year-old led the Capitals to the playoffs this year, after an incredible run that saw the club clinch the Southeast Division crown. Ovechkin, along with Malkin, would become just the second Russian born player to receive the honour, following Sergei Fedorov (1993-94). The Lester B. Pearson Award would be Ovechkin’s third major trophy win of 2007-08, following the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points and the Maurice Richard Trophy for topping all goal scorers during the regular season.

MY PICK: Iginla - his time in the league has not changed him and he is a role model for younger players.

*Portions of the nominee breakdowns were taken from the NHL website.