2010-11 NHL Individual Awards Predictions

Here is a comprehensive look at which players will be bringing home NHL awards at the end of 2010-11:

2010-11 NHL Awards

Hart Memorial Trophy 

Winner: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin is going to be in the MVP conversation year-in and year-out and is arguably the greatest player in the world. He leads an excellent Capitals attack and without him the rest of Washington’s forwards are much easier to keep in check. A deep playoff run this year will separate Ovechkin from other candidates like Sidney Crosby and Henrik Sedin assuming he will be near the top in goals and points. Ovechkin’s combination of consistent goal scoring and physical ability and is unmatched by anyone in the NHL and he will win MVP honors again.

Rocket Richard Trophy

Winner: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin’s MVP this year is going to be given based on the Capitals’ improvement come playoff time and of course, his goal scoring. He fell off the race due to injury last year, but is back this year where scoring 60 goals is always within reach.  Usual threats Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos will be in the mix and look to Jarome Iginla and Jeff Carter to get back on track with more goals this year. Ovechkin in turn will take home the Art Ross Trophy for the most points as well.

Vezina Memorial Trophy

Winner: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

Luongo will be excellent as always in net for the Canucks this year and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals are going to validate how Vancouver will put all the pieces together to come out of the West and Luongo’s performance this year is going to be a big reason why. He has improved in the postseason and won a gold medal on a big stage at the Olympics. This is going to be the year for the Canucks and the year for Luongo bringing home his first Vezina as the NHL’s best goalie.

James Norris Memorial Trophy

Winner: Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers

It was a real surprise last year how Pronger was not even a finalist for the Norris Trophy awarded to the best defenseman after being such a key cog for the Flyers’ unbelievable playoff run. Philadelphia is slated to improve all around with a full year of coach Peter Laviolette and another trip to the Finals will show how consistently important Pronger is and how it was a mistake to not have him in the running for the Norris last year.

Calder Memorial Trophy

Winner: Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers

After Tyler Myers won Rookie of the Year honors last year, the Calder Trophy is going to be awarded to a promising young forward this season in Taylor Hall. There is a lot of hype going on in the City of Champions about Hall, who was the No. 1 pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The Oilers decided to take Hall because of his greater size compared to fellow talent Tyler Seguin, who went No. 2 to the Boston Bruins after both of them had about the same scoring numbers in the OHL.

The difference between the two at the pro level in 2010-11 is that Hall is going to be responsible for more of Edmonton’s offense while Seguin will produce as a secondary offensive contributor for a talented Bruins team. Also look out for center Jeff Skinner in Carolina who like Hall will be expected to be a key contributor right away for the Canes.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Winner: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

This is more of a conclusion on how Datsyuk has played throughout his career, which has already included four Byng trophies. He is always going to be able to produce offensively with all-world stick handling and always has a very calm and respectful demeanor on the ice.

Frank J. Selke Trophy

Winner: Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers

Richards is finally going to be recognized for his two-way ability with the Selke Trophy, although it is understandable how he has competed with Pavel Datsyuk every year in the Selke race. This will be the year Richards breaks through for the Selke with Datsyuk coming in a very close second.

Jack Adams Award

Winner: Craig Ramsay, Atlanta Thrashers

Ramsay is inheriting a great crop of talent acquired this offseason in Atlanta, as well as their improving young talent that they have. The Thrashers have playoff aspirations this year and while it may not be a huge surprise if they do Ramsay will be credited with putting all of the new pieces together with the young players they already have. This could have been awarded to John Anderson but Atlanta decided to fire him although he almost got them to the playoffs without the talent they have this year and Ilya Kovalchuk.

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Winner: Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes

Ilya Bryzgalov is in line for another good season in Phoenix and his efforts to get the Coyotes back to the playoffs after a surprise 107-point season. He is going to be in the Vezina conversation all season long but the Coyotes’ success is not going to match what Roberto Luongo and the Canucks will accomplish this season. The Masterton Trophy will be a good consolation if Bryzgalov loses out to Luongo or Buffalo’s Ryan Miller for the Vezina.

Ted Lindsay Award

Winner: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The Lindsay Award (formerly the Lester P. Pearson Award) is given to the most outstanding player as voted on by the NHLPA and is often coupled with whoever wins the MVP, although Ovechkin won the Lindsay Award and Henrik Sedin won the Hart in 2010. Ovechkin is going to be able to take home both honors this year highlighted by a deep Washington playoff run.

Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award

Winner: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have gone through drastic offseason changes this past offseason, a surprising amount for a team coming off a Stanley Cup championship. Toews is going to be a big reason why the Hawks can still hold off the Red Wings in the Central Division and how this year’s team will be able to have great chemistry and work together after such a massive roster overhaul.