Predictions for the 2009 Awards and Standings: Find Out Who Steals the Show
Well it's official now, we're now halfway through the season, which has already has been full of surprises like Claude Lemieux attempting a comeback at the age of 43, someone put down Crosby in the media, and the Boston Bruins look to be one of the best teams in the league.
But I'm writing about that, I'm just going to give a prediction on the following: Individual awards, Division winners, Presidents trophy winner, and what the final look of the standings should look like at the end of this season.
Let's start with the individual hardware:
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Draft Lottery Winners and Losers
Art Ross Winner: Alex Ovechkin
This one I really debated with, I couldn't decide whether Ovechkin would in fact pass Malkin who is 11 points ahead of him.
Although Malkin has been playing very well this season, I believe he's going to hit a rough patch around February and into mid-March. Ovechkin already went through his rough patch this season.
He started the season with five points (two goals, three assists) in his first five games and went 9 games without scoring a goal. He went to Russia to visit his ailing grandfather and came back on a scoring tear.
He scored 25 points in 14 games upon his return in November. He caught up to both the leaders in goals and points. While Malkin does have a considerable distance, Ovechkin will catch up to him, but I feel this one will be decided in the final few games.
Honorable Mentions: Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Marc Savard
Hart Memorial Winner: Alex Ovechkin
Now I know people are going to think I'm biased, but if you really look at someone who is an MVP, Ovechkin fits the bill. Alex has revitalized hockey in Washington, he is the first athlete in Washington to win an any major award in all of Washington sports since 1983.
This year, he's currently in third place in scoring, one point behind Sidney Crosby. He's sixth in hits, first in shots, and he's now even playing on the penalty kill unit, which has Ovechkin on the ice in every kind of situation, playing over 23 minutes a game.
He currently has the most T.O.I. average for a forward, and is plus-12. Ovechkin does it all, he scores, he passes, he hits, he kills penalties, he back-checks, and blocks shots.
He'll do whatever it takes to win, and it's showing in the standings as despite inconsistent goal-tending (Washington is currently in the bottom 10 in GA) they're second in the East in points and running away with the Southeast division.
Honorable mentions: Steve Mason, Ryan Getzlaf, Marc Savard, Niklas Backstrom(wild), Patrick Marleau
Vezina Winner: Steve Mason
Many people think Evgeni Nabokov, Mikka Kiprusoff, or Henrik Lundqvist will be up for this award, while I think the writers of the NHL will vote for these three men as the final candidates and give it to Nabokov, I honestly think the best goaltender this year is rookie sensation Steve Mason.
Mason has been giving the Jackets their best chance of making the playoffs in their whole franchise existence. He took over as a starter when Pascal Leclaire got hurt and has since held on to it.
He has excellent stats for a rookie net-minder that resemble one seeing Dominik Hasek or Martin Brodeur having. In 24 games he has 14 wins, 9 loses, and 1 OTL. He's posting a 1.74 GAA and .939 Sv% with 6 shutouts in 24 games.
His GAA and Sv% won't stay that great by the end of the season but they will still be very good. He'll level off with a GAA of 2.07-2.20 and a Sv% of .920-.929.
Those are way better numbers than who many consider the elite goaltenders in the NHL. His stats can't be argued to be inflated by a great defensive team or anything.
He faces a lot of rubber as the Jackets goaltender, and I think it would make a great story for him to win the Vezina as a rookie.
Honorable mentions: Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller, Niklas Backstrom (Wild)
Rocket Richard Winner: Alex Ovechkin
Right now, he's second with 27 goals tied with Tomas Vanek, and is two behind Jeff Carter. Ovechkin was significantly behind in goals by the time he came back from Russia from Vanek and Richards.
But no one has scored more goals than Ovechkin has in the past 30 games. In the past 30 games, Ovechkin has 25 goals, despite the past three games he hasn't scored a goal so in 27 games he scored 25 goals.
Carter is leading the NHL right now but by the end of the season Ovechkin will have between 57-63 goals.
Honorable mentions: Tomas Vanek, Jeff Carter, Phil Kessel, Patrick Marleau
Calder Memorial Winner: Steve Mason
I already wrote about Steve Mason's accomplishments above for the Vezina, but he is the best rookie of the bunch, which is saying a lot, this is one of the best rookie classes ever, right up with the 2006 class that was highlighted by Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Henrik Lundqvist, among others.
As a side note, I find it humorous almost that Steven Stamkos and Kyle Turris aren't anywhere near being considered for this award so far and almost every hockey analyst predicted either of them to win this award.
Honorable Mentions: Bobby Ryan, Kris Versteeg, Blake Wheeler, Matt Hunwick
James Norris Memorial Winner: Mike Green
This category was the hardest to decide, by far. There are so many great defensemen in this league. Dan Boyle has been great but he is only plus 6. I find this award should be give to the best all around defense men.
Denis Wideman makes a good argument with his plus 25 and 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists).
Certainly this season will not see Niklas Lidstrom win it for the seventh time in eight seasons, unless he has a tremendous second half. He's not doing bad by any standards but not like his previous campaigns.
I honestly believe Mike Green is the best candidate to take over for Lidstrom, which makes all the more marvelous he is only 23 and is in his third full season.
Green despite a shoulder injury that's made him miss 13 games this season has 28 points in 30 games (10 goals, 18 assists). He is a plus 15 and averages 25.13 minutes of ice time. He is certainly behind the charge that's taking place in Washington.
While not a big hitter with only 20 hits, he does have 41 blocked shots, which is pretty good for someone who is so valuable.
If Green had not missed 13 games, he would certainly be leading the NHL defense men in scoring and goals scored, as well as having a higher plus minus. Green might not get the nod, as again this award has had a tendency to go with seniority.
I'm sure by the next 41 remaining games, Green will make a great enough statement for his case as this season's best defensemen.
Honorable mentions: Dan Boyle, Denis Wideman, Shea Weber, Brian Rafalski, Andrej Markov
Jack Adams Winner: Claude Julien
While Brett McLellan may have the best record with the San Jose Sharks, he did walk into a pretty good situation already. San Jose was already a great team under Ron Wilson but couldn't get over the hump.
A change in coaching staff and the Sharks are finally playing like they should have. They already had enough established stars to begin with.
The reason I go with Julien over McLellan is simply, while he walked into a great situation, Julien did not. When he came over to Boston in the start of the 2007-2008 season, he turned a team that was predicted to be in the bubble of the Eastern Conference to a playoff team.
Although they were exited in the first round of the playoffs from the first seed Canadiens, they brought the series to a game seven. They played almost the entire season without Patrice Bergeron and the first several games of the series without Savard.
This year again, people predicted the Bruins to be outside the playoffs or finish with a high seed. Not the case, as they are first in the Conference as well as being first in goals scored and fewest goals against in the entire NHL.
The Bruins are the most balanced team in the NHL. They're doesn't seem to be any holes in their lineup. Even with Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron out long term, there's no stopping them.
Julien has groomed this team very well; he's getting the most out of his veterans as he is with his young players and rookies.
Phil Kessel has turned into a fine goal scorer, Savard is in fourth place for points in the NHL, David Krejci has been out-standing in his second year as he's already passed his last year's totals, and Michael Ryder seems to not have been a bust free agent signing as he's back on pace to be a 30-goal scorer.
Not many coaches are able to get their team to be consistent night in and night out as well as have his team be first in goals scored and have the fewest goals scored against. He is definitely the best coach in the NHL right now.
Honorable mentions: Brett McLellan, Bruce Boudreau, Mike Babcock, Joel Quinnville
Lady Bing Winner: Patrick Marleau
Marleau has been a classy guy, as well as being a dominant force on the ice. He has only 10 minutes in penalties and has 46 points. He certainly is a gentleman on the ice and has tremendous sportsmanship.
Honorable mentions: Pavel Datsyuk, Daniel Sedin, Niklas Backstrom (Wsh)
Now I'm going to give how each conference should look by the end of the season, along with the Presidents winner and division winners.
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Bruins (Northeast) (Presidents winner)
2. Washington Capitals (Southeast)
3. Philadelphia Flyers (Atlantic)
4. Montreal Canadiens
10. Florida Panthers
12. Ottawa Senators
Side note: The last two spots in the East are pretty much up for grabs between 7-10. Any one of the those four teams could finish in the last two spots in the playoffs, which I really wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh ended up not making the playoffs.
If their current skid that started in December continues, their hole will be a lot harder to overcome, but the top six teams I have listed, unless for an unforeseen injury or circumstance, i.e., trade occurs, should make the playoffs.
Western Conference
1. Detroit Red Wings (Central)
2. San Jose Sharks (Pacific)
3. Vancouver Canucks (Northwest)
10. Dallas Stars
11. Edmonton Oilers
14. Minnesota Wild
15. St. Louis Blues
Side Note: Here is even more difficult, as any team from Nashville to Colorado could push any of the teams who aren't in the top four spots out of the playoffs. The West has a lot of good teams and is a very competitive conference, as there really aren't any weak teams.
The Blues certainly would a contending team if they didn't have injuries to McDonald, Kariya, Becks, and Johnson. This isn't counting the other players who have been in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Even the Stars could manage to limp into the playoffs.
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