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The Hart trophy has always carried the unwritten rule...
'07-08
AWARDS
PREVIEW
An
in-depth look at the top candidates...
The
annual NHL Awards night has typically been somewhat anticlimactic.
However, that could all change this year, as a new guard of young
dominant hockey players is blazing a trail through the trophy races
that traditionally have been the domain of the established stars. In
fact, this could be the most wide-open awards field in decades. With
that said, here's a look at the potential frontrunners for each of the
main end-of-season hardware...
TOP
HART CANDIDATES
Alexander
Ovechkin, LW, Washington
The Hart trophy has always carried the unwritten rule of moderate team
success for a candidate to be Hart worthy. For Ovechkin to move to the
front of the class, as he has in the goal-scoring department, he may
need to drag the surging Capitals into a playoff position. His numbers
and his flash certainly merit top-dog consideration but a postseason
berth might be the clincher.
Jarome
Iginla, RW, Calgary
"Iggy" faced the team success hurdle himself in 2002, when he
was edged out by Montreal goaltender Jose
Theodore for the league MVP, but he now has the supporting cast
to possibly contend for the Cup. One of the game's most recognized
captains, Iginla does it all for the Flames: Scoring, fighting and
leading by example. He's a true definition of a most valuable player.
Roberto
Luongo, G, Vancouver
Given the injury woes and lack of offense in Vancouver, if the Canucks
find their way into the top eight in the Western Conference, Luongo is
going to get serious consideration as the most important player to his
team's night in and night out success. "Bobby Lou" simply must be
'on'
every night or the Canucks are usually in deep trouble.
DARK HORSE: Evgeni
Malkin, C, Pittsburgh. Happily applying his trade the in the
shadow of Sidney
Crosby, Malkin was thrust into the limelight when his captain
went down with a high-ankle sprain. The result? A rocket up the scoring
charts to the top of the heap and the crowning of yet another Pittsburgh
franchise player. Since then, Crosby has returned and Malkin has given
way to Ovechkin in the league scoring race.
WINNER? Ovechkin. The Caps are starting to look like a playoff
club and Ovechkin is certainly deserving as the game's most electrifying
player.
TOP
CALDER
CANDIDATES
Nicklas
Backstrom, C, Washington
Backstrom has played the role of Adam
Oates to Ovechkin's Brett
Hull this season, and the rookie Swede has gotten better as the
season has soldiered on. The slick pivot is as talented a passer as has
come along in the NHL in quite some time, and he has found a magical
relationship with the game's most dynamic player.
Peter
Mueller, RW/C, Phoenix
Mueller had been in a bit of a rut in his inaugural NHL campaign, but he
recently went on a hot streak to help his candidacy. He often
quarterbacks the Phoenix power play and is one of the go-to offensive
players in the Coyotes attack. He likely won't lead all freshmen in
points this season but has turned enough heads to get plenty of Calder
consideration.
Patrick
Kane, RW, Chicago
The scoring exploits of the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft are
nothing short of remarkable. Ordinarily, the impact scoring
contributions from junior-eligible players are reserved for the best of
the best like Wayne
Gretzky, Mario
Lemieux and Sidney
Crosby. However, Kane has been part of Chicago's one-two rookie
punch--along with center Jonathan
Toews--and produced like a seasoned NHL veteran.
DARK HORSE: Toews, C, Chicago. An injury that tossed Toews to the
sidelines for 16 games has likely cost the other 'Hawks dynamo his shot
at the Calder, and his absence has had a negative effect on Kane's
chances as well.
WINNER? Backstrom. The feed man to Ovechkin's net-filling
assault, Backstrom has a chance to win the rookie scoring race going
away.
TOP
SELKE
CANDIDATES
John
Madden, C, New Jersey
Much like teammate Martin Brodeur
and the Vezina trophy, Madden gets mentioned almost automatically when
the Selke comes up. Injuries to Jere
Lehtinen (Dallas), Rod
Brind'Amour (Carolina) and Samuel
Pahlsson (Anaheim) may open the door for the seasoned Devil.
Patrick
Sharp, W/C, Chicago
Lost in the Toews/Kane shuffle in Chicago, Sharp has been a force
killing penalties and providing two-way excellence for the Blackhawks.
Sharp has been a constant menace in short-handed situations and has
played virtually every role imaginable under coach Denis Savard.
Henrik
Zetterberg, C, Detroit
Zetterberg has become such a tremendous two-way threat that he no longer
plays anywhere but center for Mike Babcock's Red Wings. While he is a
tremendously gifted offensive player, No. 40 is just as good in his own
end. He shouldn't be penalized for being the best scorer among this
year's candidates.
DARK HORSE: Ryan
Kesler, C, Vancouver.Kesler has been a thorn in the side of all
competing NHL clubs this season, as he continues to refine his game. On
a team that relies heavily on sound defense, Kesler is one of
Vancouver's keys to victory.
WINNER? Madden.The voters will probably give the nod to a more
traditional Selke nominee this year, and Madden is a prototype.
TOP
JACK
ADAMS
CANDIDATES
Brent Sutter, New
Jersey
A tough schedule to start the season, as the Devils' new arena was
getting the finishing touches, had New Jersey off to a rough start. Some
even questioned Sutter as a head coach. All that is in the distant past,
however, as the Devils have one of the league's best records since
November 1. A great blend of motivational and technical skills, Sutter
is now a proven winner at all levels.
Wayne
Gretzky, Phoenix
Rarely do great hockey players make great hockey coaches, as they
struggle to teach what to them was obvious and natural. So it was of
great concern when the greatest player of them all stepped behind the
bench in the Desert. As Gretzky has proven his whole career, however,
there is nothing predictable about "The Great One". His young Coyotes
are challenging for a playoff spot much sooner than most expected.
Guy Carbonneau, Montreal
If one looks back at preseason prognostications, the Canadiens were
nowhere to be found among the top eight in the Eastern Conference. They
were expected to be a middling team with a slim chance at a playoff
spot. Instead, they're challenging for the conference lead in March.
Several young Habs have changed the face of the Canadiens, but
Carbonneau is the one that has pushed all the right buttons.
DARK HORSE: Michel Therrien, Pittsburgh.The Penguins' bench boss
has done a great job of keeping a young but talented roster
focused--especially after Crosby went down to injury.
WINNER? Gretzky.He's just far too popular of a choice to pass
up.
TOP
NORRIS
CANDIDATES
Nicklas
Lidstrom, Detroit
Unless you're watching martial arts movies from the 1980's, you should
never mention the term 'Norris' without quickly uttering the name Nick
Lidstrom. The smooth-as-silk Swede is the very pulse of the
league-leading Red Wings, as Lidstrom controls the pace of the game both
offensively and defensively. His recent injury may actually make it a
race this time around, instead of a landslide.
Sergei
Gonchar, Pittsburgh
The stock had fallen considerably for Gonchar after Year 1 in
Pittsburgh, but he has returned to form since early last season. Gonchar
is among the scoring leaders among blueliners and, more importantly, is
a plus player for the first time since he wore Washington Capitals
colors in 2002-03. He may not be as good as others in his own zone, but
scores enough 200 feet away to make up for his transgressions.
Zdeno Chara,
Boston
The Boston Bruins have managed an excellent season despite the injury to
Patrice
Bergeron and a lack of scoring depth throughout their roster.
One of the biggest reasons for their return to playoff form is the play
of mammoth captain Chara. The 6-9 Slovak plays in all situations for the
Bruins, filling the role of shutdown defender, power play triggerman and
team policeman when his teammates get pushed around.
DARK HORSE: Dion
Phaneuf, Calgary.He lags behind the points leader among
defensemen, and probably makes a few too many mistakes to win the award,
but Phaneuf's intimidation and impact in all aspects of the game will
get him some consideration. WINNER? Chara.Lidstrom's injury has opened the door for the big
bad Bruin to win it.
TOP
VEZINA
CANDIDATES
Martin
Brodeur, New Jersey
The single greatest threat to the Patrick
Roy legacy resides in Newark, New Jersey these days, and answers
to the name of Martin Brodeur. "Mr. Consistency" has been
fortunate to play for a lot of excellent defensive Devils teams over the
years, but has also provided the backbone that has fuelled their
Cup-winning squads. He's a great team player and the game's best
goaltender.
Roberto
Luongo, Vancouver
Currently sitting just outside a playoff spot in the West, Vancouver's
Luongo doesn't have the win count that other contending goaltenders
boast, but if the award is meant for the league's best goaltender then
Luongo deserves consideration. If he is off his game, the Canucks are in
tough to succeed--an event that has proven to be extremely rare since
his trade from Florida.
Evgeni
Nabokov, San Jose
The Sharks have leaned on Nabokov like no other puck-stopper in the
league this season--not even Brodeur. The San Jose goaltender has led
the league in minutes played from start to finish. San Jose is now
viewed as a strong Cup contender, made stronger with the acquisition of
defenseman Brian
Campbell, and they have the goalie to lead them out of the
Western Conference.
DARK HORSE: Ilya
Bryzgalov, Phoenix.The Ducks-turned-Coyotes goaltender has made
a huge impact on the fortunes of the "Desert Dogs". He's unlikely to
win but truly deserves to get a few votes.
WINNER? Brodeur.This looked like a close race until recently, as
Brodeur has upped his game at crunch time.
