The 2010 NHL Awards were this past wednesday night and they were a bit of a surprise. The first award worth discussing is the Mark Messier Leadership Award which is awarded to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season. This year's winner was Sidney Crosby of the Penguins who is the undoubted leader of the Pens. Next up was the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. This years winner was Shane Doan of the Coyotes. Doan has been with the franchise since thier last season in Winnipeg as the Jets, his rookie season. Doan may actually be one of the best underrated players in the NHL. He plays in Phoenix which would possibly explain why throughout his career he has not really been noticed but has put up very solid numbers in a good career.
Moving on we have the Ted Lindsay Award which is the Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association. This years winner was Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. It was really no surprise that Ovechkin took the award. Ovechkin has been tearing the league up since coming in as a rookie in 2006 and was no surprise he walked away with the trophy. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey, was up next. This year's winner was Jose Theodore of the Capitals. Jose Theodore was known for his time in Montreal, has been a backup in D.C but has known for his charity work in the area. This was the most emotional award of the night as Theodore was saddened by the loss of his son almost a year ago.
Next up was the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. This years winner was Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was actually a surprise to me. The reason being is that it feels like St. Louis seemed to fall off the planet. In 2004, the year before the lockout, St Louis won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Since the Lockout St Louis has posted 61, 102, 83, 80, and 94 points respectively. But the thing is that whenever you hear about coming out of Tampa is either Steve Stamkos and his success, or how bad the Lightning are. So for St Louis to get the award and get some positive notoriety for himself and the Lightning is nice to see.
Next up is the Frank J. Selke Trophy which is awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. There was no surprise when the award went to Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. This again is no surprise that Datsyuk won the award, he has won it for the last 3 years straight. In fact of the last 6 Selke Thophies that have been awarded 4 of them have been one by a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Datsyuk has won the last 3, and Kris Draper was the other Red Wing, when he won it in 2004. The only non Red Wing to win the award was Rod Brind'Amour who won the award in back to back years before Datsyuk took it 3 straight times.
Now for the biggest awards of the night and we start with the Jack Adams Award which is Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. The winner this year was Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett. Again another award that wasnt really a surprise due to where the Coyotes finished. Next up was the Calder Memorial Trophy which was awarded to the league's most outstanding rookie player. The winner this year was Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres. Meyers winning was not a surprise one bit. He was one of the key reasons the Sabres made the playoffs and was by far the team's best defenseman, which knowing the Sabres is kind of saying something.
Next up are the 3 biggest individual awards the NHL has. First up is the James Norris Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. This years winner was Duncan Keith of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. This was a nice changeup for the award. Since the start of this decade the award has been won by the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom (who won it 6 times) Zedano Chara, last years winner, Scott Niedermayer, and Chris Pronger. The fact that the none of those guys were finalists shows the direction the leagues is going. It really is nice to see. What makes this so cool is that Keith lost 7 teeth in the playoffs just to win the Cup, showing his heart and guts. Next up is the Vezina Trophy which is awarded to the league's top goaltender. This year's winner was Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. Of all the awards that were given out this one seemed like a give me. Miller pretty much carried the US to the Gold Medal game against Canada, and really if he wasn't in goal for the Sabres I really feel that they would not had won the division and made it took 6 games in the playoffs. The way Miller played this year for the Buffalo seemed a lot like what people are used to seeing out of Martin Brodeur in New Jersey.
Finally on to the biggest trophy of the night, Hart Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the league's most valuable player. This years winner was Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks (Pictured above). HE actually beat out Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin for the trophy. Like I said this was the biggest surprise of the night, but in retrospect it really wasnt. The reason was because you expect the huge numbers year after year from Ovechkin and Crosby but the fact tha Sedin won the scoring race with 112 points and help the Canucks get into the 2nd round of the playoffs was a big statement.
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