NHL Preseason Awards
By E. Spencer Kyte
Love of Sports Correspondent
The first four games of the NHL season have been played, and Dany Heatley is on pace to score 82 goals.
So, too, is Tyler Kennedy in Pittsburgh, while “King Henrik” is ready to win all 82 for the Rangers.
Barring any weird “sign of the apocalypse” taking place throughout NHL arenas this year, none of those things will actually occur.
But right now, it’s all about projections and predictions. Here’s who’ll be taking home some hardware at the end of the year.
TLOS Preseason Predictions
Division Winners
Atlantic: Philadelphia
Pittsburgh’s going to be relying on secondary scoring from the Devils’ favorite player (Miro Satan), a bounce back year from Jordan Staal and a breakthrough from kids like Tyler Kennedy. They’re also going to be playing a good portion of the year without their top two defensemen. As for the Rangers, well, they’re the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist’s a definite Vezina Trophy candidate every year, but there isn’t enough in front of him to inspire thoughts of grandeur. Philly surprised everyone with a solid run in the playoffs last year and will only get better with Simon Gagne returning to health.
Northeast: Montreal
Not to be a buzzkill or anything, but I can already see the parallels being drawn between Les Canadiens and the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies celebrated their 100-year funk by playing lights out throughout the regular season before having the lights turned out in three games by the Dodgers. This year marks the Canadiens’ centennial season, and expectations are higher than usual for le bleu, blanc et rouge to deliver. The window of opportunity has closed for Ottawa, but watch out for Lindy Ruff’s Sabres.
Southeast: Carolina
Washington’s a popular pick thanks to some kid named Alexander Ovechkin, and Tampa Bay’s a warm fuzzy pick as the team to deliver a nice bounce back story. That’s all well and good, but if you expect me to believe Jose Theodore’s going to get the job done in Washington or “Mr. Mullet” Barry Melrose will rally the troops to great heights in Tampa, you’re out of your mind. Gimme the guys who won it not too long ago.
Central: Detroit
My fandom of the Red Wings aside, I really don’t think I need to explain this one. They’ve had 100 points for eight straight years, people. Book it.
Northwest: Calgary??
Can I get a push on this one? None of these teams overly inspire me, so Calgary earns the division title almost by default. Colorado’s counting on Peter Budaj, Edmonton’s still in diaper phase with all their kids, Minnesota couldn’t score in a room full of naked nymphos and Vancouver’s trying out their 487 wingers alongside the Sedin Twins. Lucky for me, this is the division I’ll get the most television coverage of since I’m moving to Cranbrook, British Columbia in two weeks. YEAH!
Pacific: San Jose
One, because they’ve been there consistently year after year, although they’re perennial playoff disappointments. But they also get a second nod because Todd McLellan’s taken over behind the bench after apprenticing in Detroit the last few years. No more “defense first” in San Jose. Joe Thornton will be unleashed.
Eastern Conference: Philadelphia
Western Conference: Detroit
Stanley Cup Champions: Can You Say Repeat?
Individual Awards
Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey
Until someone beats him, Brodeur will be my pick every year he straps on the pads. Each season, the pundits predict a slide for Marty and the Devils, and every year Brodeur steps up, wins 35 games or more, gets closer to Terry Sawchuck’s shutout record and shows why he’s the best in the NHL.
Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman): Dion Phaneuf, Calgary
Meet my favorite hockey player. He does it all - literally. And after getting his first nomination last season, I don’t see Phaneuf playing the Susan Lucci role of always being nominated and never getting the win. He scores goals, delivers the biggest hits in the game, drops the mitts when he has to and has gotten better each year he’s played. This year will be his best yet.
Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Henrik Zetterburg & Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
They’re going to split the award, because these two are head and shoulders above everyone else in the league as the best two-way players. When the guys who finish 1-2 on your team in scoring are also your top two penalty killers (sorry Drapes), you know they’re special. Both these boys are, and they’ll be collecting more hardware this season to prove it.
Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Luke Schenn, Toronto
Remember years back when Barrett Jackman of the Blues sort of came out of nowhere to win the Calder based on his all-around game? I kind of see the same thing happening with Schenn this season. Of course, this pick rests on the Leafs keeping him with the big club the entire season, something he’s earned this preseason. But this is the Leafs we’re talking about, so he’ll probably get sent back to the CHL, so Carlo Colaiacovo can log a few extra minutes before getting hurt.
Jack Adams Trophy (Coach of the Year): Peter Laviolette, Carolina
If they do surprise and win the Southeast as I think they will, Laviolette will deserve a bunch of the credit. Actually, he’s deserved more credit than he’s gotten thus far behind the bench in the NHL. I bet the Islanders wished they never fired him in the first place now that they’re on coach No. 4 since he left town.
Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player): Mike Richards, Philadelphia
I’m falling in line with the hockey mind I respect the most in the media, Pierre LeBrun, and hitching my horses to the Flyers captain and the league’s next Steve Yzerman. The guy does whatever’s asked of him – be it scoring goals, killing penalties, winning big faceoffs, etc. And if Philly’s to make the run at the Cup, as I expect them to, Richards will be the driving force.
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