Rask

Remember a year ago when a trio of Bruins left Las Vegas with major hardware?

Well, this season’s NHL Awards show will probably be lacking in Bruins presence, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some black-and-gold candidates that could factor in the voting. But the reign of Zdeno Chara at Norris Trophy winner, Tim Thomas as Vezina Trophy winner and Claude Julien as Jack Adams Trophy victor are obviously going to end after Boston’s disappointing season.

As always voting on all the awards is a difficult task. Below is a look at my ballot cast as a voting member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Hart Trophy

(The player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

I went back and forth between Crosby and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin for the better part of the last month, and finally decided that Crosby deserved the slight edge because of the way he was able to elevate his game – from an already high level – in the face of leading a team that was defending its Stanley Cup title and suffered through injuries throughout. It just seemed like Crosby was able to answer the bell any time Pittsburgh needed a hero, and there has to be a character element to this vote as well. Crosby has emerged as one of the premier leaders, while Ovechkin is still settling into wearing the ‘C.’ That he had to be suspended twice this season also hurt Ovechkin’s case on my ballot. The argument for Henrik Sedin of Vancouver is that he had the least aid on his roster, but you don’t pick up 83 assists without some semblance of a supporting cast. I ranked Ryan Miller of Buffalo third, ahead of Sedin, and then gave my fifth-place vote to Tampa Bay sniper Steven Stamkos.

Norris Trophy

(To the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.)

Duncan Keith, Chicago

The next time I see Washington’s Mike Green skate a regular shift against the opposition’s top line will be the first, so he’s automatically not able to be the winner when you factor in the “all-around” aspect of this award. Keith kept it tight in the points race between him and Green and was a defensive force all season long on a team that likes to open things up. Drew Doughty similarly tackles tough assignments for the young Kings and I ranked him ahead of Green for second. After Green, I gave the nod to Nicklas Lidstrom – still steady and calming in all three zones after all these years – fourth and Chris Pronger of Philadelphia fifth.

Calder Trophy

(The player selected as the most proficient in his first year in competition.)

Tyler Myers, Buffalo

From start to finish this season, Myers somehow kept his level of play high despite the demands of the position and his team’s style of play. Watching him skate at his size is a marvel, and the way he joins the play is reminiscent of some of the greatest offensive defenseman the game has ever seen. There’s no way anyone else should get this award. I’ll be accused of “homer-ism” for giving my second-place vote to Tuukka Rask over Jimmy Howard of Detroit, but the Bruins rookie led the league in goals-against average and save percentage for the league’s worst offensive team – and got the Bruins into the playoffs. Matt Duchesne’s play tailed off as much as the entire Colorado team down the stretch, but he earned my fourth-place vote, followed by Dallas’ Jamie Benn, who was solid for the entire year and played a responsible game, as opposed to John Tavares of the New York Islanders who was padding his point totals down the stretch for an awful team.

Selke Trophy

(To the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.)

Ryan Kesler, Vancouver

I don’t believe that Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk should be penalized for playing less time than most of the candidates on the penalty kill – except when it comes down to a tie-break. Datsyuk’s takeaway total and faceoff prowess are impressive, but Kesler equaled him in both areas plus was a dominant penalty-killer. So I figure it’s time to give this award to someone else. Jordan Staal is going to win this award in the near future, and his play as Pittsburgh’s shutdown third-line center earned him my third-place vote. A first-hand look at Patrice Bergeron every night allowed me to know he was facing the top line on the other team’s roster every single night plus winning tons of key faceoffs. Vernon Fiddler was a huge part of Phoenix’s rebirth and newfound commitment to defense, so he gets my fifth-place vote.

The PHWA also votes on the Lady Byng Trophy. I won’t bore you with my explanation for my votes, but I’ll just tell you it’s time for Martin St. Louis to finally get his recognition.

The PHWA does not vote on the Vezina (GMs) or the Jack Adams (broadcasters). If my two cents are worth anything, I’d tab Miller for the Vezina based on his runner-up finish to Rask in GAA and save percentage. And without a doubt Dave Tippett of Phoenix should be the unanimous selection for the Adams. He should get one vote for every preseason prediction that had the Coyotes at the bottom, or close to it, of the Western Conference. And to think they earned the fourth seed. What a great turnaround and a great story, and a lot of credit goes to a great coach.