NHL Awards 2012: Date, Time, TV Schedule and Finalists

With the 2012 NHL playoffs in full swing, the fans of the sport are as into the action now as they have been all season. That’s why announcing the finalists for the awards now will make the fans care and tune in when they go live.

The full slate of playoff games ahead will appease the fans for now, but when it’s all said and done, the fans need to invest some time into the awards ceremony.

When: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Encore Theater at Wynn, Las Vegas, Nev.

Watch: NBC Sports Network—United States and CBC—Canada

2012 Awards Finalists

Ted Lindsay Award (NHLPA’s most outstanding player)—Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos, Henrik Lundqvist

With the NHL Players Association hardly ever going against the league’s MVP vote, I have to say Evgeni Malkin walks away with this award as well. With an amazing regular season, Malkin proved that he can be a star even without Sidney Crosby in the lineup.

Hart Trophy (MVP to his team)—Henrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos

As good as Lundqvist and Stamkos was this season, this award is Evgeni Malkin’s. The Penguins star carried the load through the Sidney Crosby drama and was the only player in the NHL to top 100 points.

Jack Adams Award (top head coach)—Ken Hitchcock, Paul MacLean, John Tortorella

With the St. Louis Blues finishing in second place in the Western Conference after being projected to miss the playoffs before the season started, Ken Hitchcock and his stern methods have worked for the young Blues team. Hitchcock wins in a landslide.

NHL Foundation Award (community service)—Mike Fisher, John-Michael Liles, Matt Moulson

This is an award that we can’t predict, and I wouldn’t want to. As far as I’m concerned, with the work all of these men do for their communities and for the good of other people, they’re all winners.

Norris Trophy (top defenseman)—Zdeno Chara, Erik Karlsson, Shea Weber

As great as Chara and Weber were for their respective teams this season, this ward has to go to Ottawa Senators young defender Erik Karlsson. The 21-year-old defender led all defenders with 78 points and was the biggest reason Ottawa made the playoffs.

Calder Trophy (top rookie)—Adam Henrique, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

With three very deserving stars in the Rookie of the Year chase, I have to lean toward No. 1 overall pick and Edmonton Oilers stud this season, RNH.

Selke Trophy (top defensive forward)—David Backes, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk

Until otherwise noted, Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk is a lock for this award. After winning three of the last four seasons, I think he ties the all-time record with his fourth Selke.

Lady Byng Trophy (skill/sportsmanship)—Brian Campbell, Jordan Eberle, Matt Moulson

With the rebirth of the Florida Panthers, defender Brian Campbell is the perfect face to put on this award in 2012. It makes sense to give the Panthers some sort of credit.

Masterton Trophy (perseverance, dedication)—Daniel Alfredsson, Joffrey Lupul, Max Pacioretty

After the neck injury that Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty suffered, there is no doubt that he should walk out of the 2012 NHL Awards show with the Masterton.

General Manager of the Year—Doug Armstrong, David Poile, Dale Tallon

This is the closest race of any of the awards this season so far, but it has to go to the highest seeded team in the playoffs: Doug Armstrong’s St. Louis Blues. A wild year of rebuilding is just part of a much bigger project that has been going on for years.

Vezina Trophy (top goaltender)—Henrik Lundqvist, Pekka Rinne, Jonathan Quick

While the popular pick has to be Henrik Lundqvist, I would put my money on the more talented Pekka Rinne. An amazing year in Nashville had more to do with who was in between the pipes than anything else.

Check back for more on the National Hockey League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NHL Page to get your fill of all things hockey.

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