The 2009 NHL Award Predictions

With the 2009 NHL Awards show coming up tomorrow in Las Vegas, I think it is time give everyone my predictions.

This is the first time the event has been held in Las Vegas; the inaugural event in a three year agreement with Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

This year's event will bring together players, celebrities, business partners and fans more than ever and will provide more opportunities for all to participate in the celebration.

Lester B. Pearson

The Lester B. Pearson Award is presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Nominees:

Pavel Datsyuk
Evgeni Malkin
Alexander Ovechkin

My pick: Alexander Ovechkin —

For the first time ever, three Russians are up for both the Lester B. Pearson and Hart trophies. This shows just how good Russia is at developing forwards with immense skill and talent.

Personally, I think the choice is easy in Alexander Ovechkin. The three finalists are not the only ones who can receive votes—and there is no doubt that Crosby will steal some from Malkin—as there are people who believe Crosby is the more valuable player on the Penguins.

Also, Pavel Datsyuk is extremely talented, but there is no doubting the help he had. With a supporting cast of Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Marian Hossa, you are not likely to win the MVP award.

There is no doubt that Ovechkin had help in the likes of Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin, but the surrounding casts in Pittsburgh and Detroit were much better, and Ovechkin once again led the league in goals. Its just too bad Ovechkin missed three games or else he could have won the big four individual awards for the second year in a row.

Hart Memorial Trophy

The Hart Memorial trophy is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League.

Nominees:

Pavel Datsyuk
Evgeni Malkin
Alexander Ovechkin

My pick: Alexander Ovechkin —

The Hart Trophy is a little different than the Pearson Award, as this one is voted on by the Writer's Association and is supposed go to the most valuable member of an NHL team. Not just the best overall player.

Going by this criteria, how can you not choose Ovechkin? Both Malkin and Datsyuk had tremendous seasons, but are they even the most valuable players on their teams? If so, it's by a very slim margin.

One could argue that it is Sidney Crosby on the Penguins and Nicklas Lidstrom on the Red Wings. That is why I think Ovechkin is the clear choice for this award.

Vezina Trophy

The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "judged to be the best at this position." At the end of each season, the 30 general managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team during the regular season.

Nominees:

Tim Thomas
Steve Mason
Nicklas Backstrom

My pick: Steve Mason —

What Mason did this year for the Columbus Blue Jackets as a rookie was nothing short of amazing. He took the team on his back and led them into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Mason went through the stretch run with mononucleosis, proving he could play in big games.

Nicklas Backstrom had a fine season, but I am of the belief that the Vezina winner should at least carry his team to the playoffs. Minnesota also had an extremely tight defensive system under former coach Jacques Lemaire.

Tim Thomas also had an amazing season, but if you look at his roster, he had a lot of help. With a defense that consisted of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman on the top pairing and forwards such as Marc Savard, David Krejci, Phil Kessel, Patrice Bergeron and Michael Ryder scoring goals, Boston was a well balanced team.

It will be a tight race between Mason and Thomas, and should be exciting to find out the results.

Norris Trophy

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position." At the end of each season, members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote to determine the player who was the best defender during the regular season.

Nominees:

Nicklas Lidstrom
Zdeno Chara
Mike Green

My pick: Zdeno Chara —

This should be a close race between Chara and Lidstrom with Green a distant third. While 31 goals is an amazing accomplishment for Mike Green, a defenseman's first job is to defend and Green is far to below the defensive level he should be at to win the Norris Trophy. This year's playoffs certainly proved that.

Many people believe Lidstrom had an off season, at least by his standards, but the truth is that from mid-November on, Lidstrom was his usual dominant self, leading the Wings throughout the season. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to keep his stranglehold on the Norris Trophy due to one guy, Zdeno Chara.

Chara was the driving force for the Bruins and many people believe he should be up for the Hart Trophy over Pavel Datsyuk. Chara scored 19 goals this season while shutting down the top players in the league. His presence alone intimidates players. This should be a tight race between him and Lidstrom.

Calder Trophy

The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The voting is conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the conclusion of each regular season to determine the winner.

Nominees:

Steve Mason
Bobby Ryan
Kris Vertseeg

My pick: Steve Mason —

My personal belief is that this is not even close and it will likely be reflected in the voting. Steve Mason went above and beyond in his rookie year compared to Ryan and Versteeg.

Don't get me wrong, Ryan and Versteeg had very fine seasons. Ryan's 31 goals in just 64 games is an incredible achievement and he should be a force to reckon with in the future.

Meanwhile, Versteeg had a coming out party, getting 22 goals and 53 points while being a great dressing room guy. I'm sure no one had him in their top three rookies to begin the season.

It's hard to argue with Masons numbers: first in shutouts, second in GAA and ninth in wins on a team that wasn't supposed to make the playoffs. If Mason wins both this award and the Vezina, he will become just fifth goaltender in league history to do so.

Frank J. Selke Trophy

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association following the regular season.

Nominees:

Ryan Kesler
Pavel Datsyuk
Mike Richards

My pick: Pavel Datsyuk —

Another trophy that may come down to the last vote is the Selke award. I believe Datsyuk is the front runner due to his win last year and the fact that he also had 97 points this year.

Yes, I know the award doesn't take points into effect, but if you don`t think it effects the voting then you are crazy. This is more like the award for best two way player because there are better defensive players then these three that might not score more than 10-15 points a year.

Either way, all three of these players know their way around the defensive end of the ice and either all of them deserve to win it. When the nominees were named, I thought it was ridiculous that Zetterberg was not named, as his work against Getzlaf and Crosby in the playoffs should have proved just how good he is.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The voting is conducted at the end of the season by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Nominees:

Pavel Datsyuk
Martin St. Louis
Zach Parise

My pick: Martin St. Louis —

Kind of a tough award to predict on and an award that does not mean much in the hockey world. Pavel Datsyuk has won it the past three years, but I think they will award it to St. Louis to change things up a bit.

Jack Adams Award

The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the regular season.

Nominees:

Andy Murray
Todd McLellan
Claude Julian

My pick: Andy Murray —

This is an easy one for me as Murray led a very young team to the playoffs with a 25-9-7 second-half record, the best in the NHL. He also did this with many injuries to deal with.

Todd McLellan had a fine season in his first year as a head coach, but the Sharks are always near the top of the standings and the depth on his roster was unmatched by many teams.

Claude Julien also had a great year by leading the Boston Bruins to first place in the Eastern Conference, but looking up and down his roster shows that he also had many weapons to work with. There is no doubt in my mind that Murray should be coach of the year.