The finalists for the Vezina, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng Memorial Trophies have been chosen.  I will update this post as more nominees are announced.  The winners will be revealed at the 2009 NHL Awards which will be broadcast from Las Vegas, NV on June 18, 2009.  I’m going to list my predictions in each category but feel free to let me know who you think will win in the comments area!

VEZINA TROPHY

The possible Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) winners include Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins), Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild) and rookie Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets). I think that all three of these finalists have a shot for different reasons.

• Tim Thomas finished the season with a 2.10 GAA and helped the Bruins become the team with the second-best record in the league.  He’s also been good in the postseason where his team swept the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.
• Mason had a GAA of 2.29 and he was truly impressive throughout the year considering the fact that he is a rookie and has been battling mononucleosis.  He was pretty abysmal, however, in the playoffs and the Columbus Blue Jackets made an early exit.
• Backstrom finished the season with a 2.33 GAA but the Minnesota Wild failed to make the playoffs.  Still, of the three finalists he had the most wins with 37, making him the fifth most winningest goalie in the league.

MY PREDICTION:  Thomas.  He was solid this season and so was his team and I think that will give him the edge he needs to take home the Vezina.

image: TSN

NORRIS TROPHY

The finalists for the Norris Trophy (top defenseman) are Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins), Mike Green (Washington Capitals) and Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings).

• Chara is arguably the best player on the Bruins and the captain has done an excellent job leading his team to the top spot in the Eastern Conference this season.  He has had more ice time than his fellow finalists with an average of 26:04 per game and had 19 goals (fourth best among NHL defensemen) and 31 assists, leaving him with 50 points.
• Green led the defenders with 31 goals and 73 points but really made his presence known during Washington’s power play since 18 of those goals were scored on a man-advantage.  That ranked second to superstar teammate, Alexander Ovechkin, best among NHL defensemen and fourth among all players.  He is also tied with fellow finalist, Lidstrom, for third most game-winning goals (4).  He sets himself apart, however, with his 86 hits, 110 blocked shots and 49 takeaways.
• Lidstrom is a leader on the Wings as he has been for years.  In the 17 seasons he’s played since entering the NHL in 1991, he’s only missed 32 games which speaks volumes about his durability.  I can’t stand Detroit but this man needs to be recognized for the amazing player that he is.  He’s also just a really great skater with excellent hand-eye coordination.  He logged 16 goals and 43 assists for a total of 59 points this season.

MY PREDICTION: This is a tough one.  I really am having a hard time choosing but since I have to pick just one person, I’m going to say Chara.

CALDER TROPHY

The nominees for the Calder Trophy (top rookie) this year are Steve Mason (goaltender, Columbus Blue Jackets), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks) and Kris Versteeg (Chicago Blackhawks).

• Mason had a history-making season and has done better than some of the greats (Brodeur, Roy, Sawchuk, etc…).  The kid, who battled mononucleosis toward the end of the season, recorded 10 shutouts (#1 in the league), ranked second with a 2.29 save percentage, eighth with 3,664 minutes, ninth with 33 wins, 10th with 61 games and 11th with a .916 save percentage.  Unfortunately, the fairytale fell apart in the postseason…
• Ryan was drafted in the 2005 Entry Draft (#2 behind Sidney Crosby) and finally, he got to play this year after spending two more years in the junior league (although, he did begin the season in the AHL since the Ducks had no room in the salary cap for him).  He led all NHL rookies with 31 goals and 57 points.  He also had an impressive 17.8 shooting % from 174 shots. The rookie also led the Ducks with a plus-13 rating and 12 power-play goals (17th overall in the NHL).
• Versteeg registered 22 goals and led all NHL rookies with 31 assists.  He also ranked fourth among rookies with a plus –15 rating.  He has incredible puckhandling ability and led the Blackhawks and tied for fourth in the NHL with four shorthanded goals.  Ryan and Versteeg tied for second among NHL rookies with three game-winning goals.

MY PREDICTION: Bobby Ryan, especially given his team’s surprising performance during the quarterfinals.

SELKE TROPHY

The Selke Trophy (top defensive forward) will be awarded to one of the following players: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) or Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers).

• Datsyuk has a lot of desirable qualities (see all the good stuff I wrote about him in the Lady Bing section below) but he has a chance at winning this award for the second time because he really is a smart player.  He pays attention to his own game play and that of his opponents and he tries to improve himself accordingly.  As such, it’s hard for rivals to know exactly what he’s going to do and part of that is because he’s so quick in getting in on the forecheck.  In comparison with his competition for this award, Datsyuk outscored both Richards and Kesler by logging 32 goals and 65 assists for 97 points (4th in the NHL).  Datsyuk was third in the NHL with a plus-34 rating and won 56% of his faceoffs (9th overall).
• Kesler brings intensity to the game both physically and emotionally.  He makes his presence known and he definitely knows how to bring out anger in his opponents.  Kesler might be the most versatile of these three nominees because he’s able to center a checking line or play the rugged forward on the right side of the first line with the Sedin twins.  His stats aren’t as great as those of Datsyuk or Richards but this award isn’t all about the numbers – it’s also about having good judgment and being a keen observer.  Kesler finished the regular season with 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points (63rd overall) but he had a plus –8 rating, two shorthanded goals, blocked 77 shots and won 54% of his faceoffs.
• Richards was named an alternate captain for the Flyers last season but was promoted to captain before the season began.  You only need to watch a few games to see his clear leadership qualities.  He led the team in assists, takeaways (83) and faceoff percentage.  He also led the league with seven shorthanded goals and had the best season of his career with 30 goals, 50 assists and a plus-22 rating.  He also managed to block 90 shots and had 147 hits (33rd in the league).

MY PREDICTION: Kesler.  He may not have the numbers on paper but I think that he has shown how strong he is as a player and I think it made a difference in Vancouver’s push to the playoffs.

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY

This year’s Lady Byng Memorial (for sportsmanship) nominees are Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) and Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils).

• Datsyuk could be the first player since Boucher in 1931 to win the Lady Byng four times in a row.  He’s got some impressive numbers to go along with his good behavior.  He led the Red Wings with 65 assists (fifth in the league) and 97 points (4th overall) and was third on his team with 32 goals.  He was instrumental to his team’s power-play success with 11 goals and 25 assists for a total of 36 power-play points.  As if that wasn’t enough, the mid-sized player managed to block 33 shots.
• Parise had quite a year during his fourth season in the NHL.  He played his 300th game, got his 100th goal and 200th point.  The Devils can thank him for his big effort in improving their offensive attack – he took an amazing 364 shots which is the third-highest in the NHL.  He also played in every game and finished the season with 45 goals (3rd in the league) and 95 points (5th overall).  He also had 14 power-play goals, eight game-winners and spent just 24 minutes in the penalty box.  Pretty saintly, if you ask me.
• St. Louis is one of those rare spirited players that somehow manages to avoid taking penalties.  Maybe it’s because he’s smaller than the average player (5-foot-9 and 177 pounds) or he really could just be a nice guy.  Whatever the reason, he’s never spent more than 38 minutes in the box in 10 NHL seasons which is downright incredible.  Also, despite the fact that his team was doing extremely poorly this year, he kept his head in the game and led the Lightning with 30 goals (seven on the PP and three game-winners), 50 assists and 80 points.

MY PREDICTION: I think that Parise has a good shot because he had an overall great season but there’s something to be said about a player who continues to work hard on a team that’s slowly sinking like St. Louis.  Still, if you look at the points-per-penalty minute ratio, St. Louis produced 5.71 points per penalty minute; Datsyuk, 4.4 and Parise, 3.96.  Maybe that will give St. Louis enough edge to win.

With the elimination of the Minnesota Wild from this year’s playoff race, Jacques Lemaire has decided that it is time for him to step down from his coaching duties. He spent eight years in the job (from the time the franchise joined the NHL) and felt it was time for him to move on.

image: TSN

“I think it’s time for the organization to get a new coach, get a new voice, try to bring this club to another level,” said Lemaire. “When I first started, I always said there will be a time when I’ll have to go. I saw that time, and it’s now… First of all, I never thought I would stay this long.  I was pleased and impressed with the fans and the people living in Minnesota. I have to say the same thing for my wife. It’s a place that she loved. She was calling Minnesota her home. It was great. It’s sad to leave, but we have to do it.”

The 63-year-old led the Wild to a 291-256-107 record during his time behind the bench which includes the 209 wins in its first six years (the most of any of the nine NHL expansion teams since 1991).

The veteran who took the New Jersey Devils to a Stanley Cup championship in 1995 is not ready to leave the NHL completely.  “I still love coaching,” Lemaire said. “I’m going to work and I want to stay in the game, that’s for sure. I still believe I’ve got a few years. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I want to stay in the game.”

I hope he gets his wish.  Maybe they should hire him down in Tampa Bay or Montreal.  Both teams could use a little help right about now.

Wow.  I know the goal against Vesa Toskala was bad but watch this one.  It doesn’t change direction or anything – it just bounces into the back of the net.  This change of events is likely the reason the Minnesota Wild came back and beat the San Jose Sharks. 

Marek Zidlicky took a backhand shot from mid-ice and, incredibly, it bounced right back backup goalie, Brian Boucher.  Watch the goal:

Niklas Backstrom has been re-signed by the Minnesota Wild.  The goaltender’s contract has been extended by four years, during which time he will earn $24 million. 

I’m not surprised.  He’s doing well.  So far this season, in 51 games he’s got a 28-18-4 record with a 2.24 goals against average (GAA), a .925 save percentage and a team record six shutouts (tied for second in the league right now).  He also got to participate in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. 

Team captain, Ethan Moreau, is on the bench after suffering a horrific eye injury over the weekend in a game against the Minnesota Wild.  It happened on Saturday night when the Edmonton Oilers forward was hit in the right eye by the stick of Antti Miettinen (Wild). 

While it’s true that he didn’t need surgery right away, the full extent of the injury isn’t immediately clear so doctors will have to monitor it over the next few days.  

Here’s the video of the injury.  It’s pretty gruesome so don’t watch it if you think it’s going to bother you:

image: TSN

The Montreal Canadiens have been dealt yet another blow.  Winger, Alex Tanguay has been benched for at least 6 weeks with a suspected separated shoulder.  If you have been to this site in the past, you’ll know that Alex is one of my favorite players so I was really unhappy when I heard he was hurt. 

The Habs continue to have horrible luck.  Tanguay joins a long injured list including captain Saku Koivu (foot), goaltender Carey Price (currently day-to-day with lower-body injury), Christopher Higgins (shoulder), Georges Laraque (groin) and Mathieu Dandenault (forearm). 

After discovering that a hip deficiency is causing his groin problems, Minnesota Wild star, Marian Gaborik, may opt to have season-ending surgery to correct the problem.

Despite only playing in six games this season, Gaby has posted three goals and two assists so, even though he will become an unrestricted agent this summer, I’m hoping the Minnesota Wild re-signs him.  I also hope they don’t encourage him to skip the surgery and play in pain for now because it’s not worth it.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, Jamie Heward, was released from the hospital after suffering a concussion during last night’s game against the Washington Capitals.  He will be traveling home to Tampa today but will be out of the lineup indefinitely. 

Kent Huskins will not be playing for the next two to three weeks.  The Anaheim Ducks defenceman broke a bone in his foot on New Year’s Eve during a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets (wow, that just sucks all around…)

images: TSN

Marc-André Bergeron is injured but could the news about Minnesota Wild’s top-scoring defenceman be any more vague?  

According to TSN, he will be out of the lineup for “weeks” with a “lower-body injury.”  Um, okay.  That’s it?

I didn’t see the game but I do know he was hurt during the match-up between Minnesota and the New York Islanders last Friday.  Anyone see what happened?

image: TSN

Tobias Stephan made 19 saves and earned his first NHL win after leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 victory last night, giving the Minnesota Wild their first loss of the season.

Stephan redeemed himself last night, trying to forget the loss of his last NHL game. In 2007, he was put in net against Chicago and appeared to be leading the team to a shutout win. The Wild were ahead by one point but with 1.5 seconds left, the Blackhawks scored leading the game to overtime. Unfortunately, the Stars lost the game.

It’s great that he was given a second chance and was able to win the game. Congrats to Tobias for getting his first win in the NHL!

Here’s the scoring summary:

• MIN: Bergeron, M. (PPG, 06:13 in 1st), Brunette, A. (PPG, 03:55 in 3rd)
• DAL: Morrow, B. (00:13 in 1st), Ott, S. (12:45 in 1st), Richards, B. (15:39 in 1st), Niskanen, M. (PPG, 12:06 in 2nd)

image credit: TSN

*Written by Lauren Croteau, for Jeanne, who is away.

The Minnesota Wild led the visiting Chicago Blackhawks for most of the game and went on to a 3-2 win at home last night.  I think Hawks goaltender, Cristobal Huet, was feeling emotional last night and you could really see his frustration after Antti Miettien scored on him in the second period.  Here is the scoring summary:

• CHI: Sharp, P. (13:35 in 1st), Keith, D. (15:26 in 3rd)
• MIN: Brunette, A. (17:58 in 1st), Miettinen, A. (04:31 in 2nd), Burns, B. (PPG, 13:17 in 2nd)

Marian Gaborik has been placed on the injured reserve by the Minnesota Wild after missing four straight games due to an undisclosed lower-body injury.  I’m hoping things improve for Gaby quickly since he’s had all kinds of injuries during his time with the team and negotiations for a contract renewal are currently at a standstill (I would keep him - they need to secure him before it’s too late, in my opinion). 

image credit: TSN