With the season almost done, it seems as good a time as any to list my picks for the NHL's individual awards.
ART ROSS: Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers. Barring injury in his final games, he's going to win this one running away. It'll be his sixth Ross Trophy, tying him with Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe. Only Wayne Gretzky (10 Ross trophies) has won more.
RICHARD: Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers. Barring a late run by Alexander Ovechkin, Jagr should easily win this one, too.
CALDER: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals. This has more to do with Ovechkin leading Sidney Crosby in the rookie scoring race. Ovechkin is also perhaps the most dazzling individual goalscorer since Pavel Bure, but he's also not shy to get physical. He's already among the game's elite.
ADAMS: Peter Laviolette, Carolina Hurricanes. Laviolette gets the nod because of the work he did in turning a club that was considered at the start of this season to be a bottom-feeder into one of the elite in the NHL. The 'Cane challenging for the Conference title gives him the edge over the Rangers Tom Renney.
VEZINA: Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames. Kipper has thus far played the second-most games and faced the sixth most shots. Yet he's second in wins, fifth in goals-against average and save percentage, and leads the league in shutouts. Taking all this into account, that makes him the Vezina winner in my book.
NORRIS: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings. He's leading all blueliners in points, but that's not why he gets the nod. He's been the long-time anchor of the Wings blueline and remains one of the reasons they're still among the league's elite. His all-around game makes him simply the best d-man in the NHL this season.
HART: Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers. No question, Jagr is deserving of the chants of "MVP" from the Blueshirts faithful. He's led the formerly sad-sack Rangers back into the playoffs, and has thrived under the new NHL rules. He's genuinely enjoying hockey again, and showing everyone why he's the best player in the game today.
I tried to write something far too long to add on the comments so I guess I may have to write my own blog in response, BUT, I have to agree on most counts. A couple are up in the air, but I will elaborate later.
So I will make my points qucik n easy:
Jagr: Check, Check, Check...
Lidstrom: Check, just don't forget Chara, and get the engraving ready with the name Dion Phaneuf for about the next decade.
Kippur: Don't discount Legace, but Calgary is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league and there's a reason they are #1 in their division. You spelt his name out pretty clearly here.
Laviolette: Agreeable, but Babcock derseves mention.
K, blueprint for my blog is ready, but bravo. Well read, well written, and well respected opinions.
Oh yeah, and Go Habs Go.
The Schwartz
Last edited by The_Schwartz on April 1st at 12:38 PM.
now for Jagr for Hart, im thinking of the Pearson trophy, and with the respect my boy Ovechkin has garnered with his peers, dont rule him out for Pearson as well.
No offence, but Babcock was taking over a Cup contender so he had a lot to work with. Laviolette took over a team that nobody thought would contend for a playoff berth, let alone the President's Trophy.
As for Legace, sorry, but Kiprusoff's stats are more impressive, particularly when he's backstopping a team that has half the firepower of the Red Wings. Blanking Thornton and Cheechoo in one game doesn't make you a Vezina candidate in my book.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
