Chicago Blackhawks: My Team Awards for the 2010-2011 Season

After a valiant effort to defend their crown and move out of the 1st round of the NHL Playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks season is over. So it is time for me to take it all in, and determine who will win my seasonal awards.

Jonathan Toews is up for the Selke Award, and he was the Conn Smythe Award winner last season. Duncan Keith won last season for best defenseman with the Norris, but I have a feeling that my prestigious awards mean much more to them.

Again, this is my opinion regarding the winners of these awards, thus they are open to debate. Please voice your opinion.

And here are the categories:

Rookie of the Year

Best Goal

Best Fight

Most Overrated

Most Underrated

Low Point in Season

High Point in Season

Player to Watch in 2011-2012

Least Valuable Player

Most Valuable Player

Rookie of the Year: Corey Crawford

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks at American Airlines Center on February 11, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Nominees:

Nick Leddy

Ben Smith

Corey Crawford

Corey Crawford is the winner of the first award in a category that he ran away with.

Crawford snatched the goaltender position away from veteran Marty Turco on his way to 57 regular season starts, and appeared in all seven post-season games.

His record of 33-18-6 and GAA of 2.30 were just what the Blackhawks needed this season. His efforts throughout the series with Vancouver are what he will likely be remembered for most. He kept them in every game, and showed that he truly is a netminder that the team should invest in and build around.

Best Goal: Ben Smith

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 24: Ben Smith #57 of the Chicago Blackhawks is introduced to the crowd as 'the star of the game' after scoring the winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanl

Nominees:

Patrick Kane Scored 100th Goal

Duncan Keith pumps up team to get back in the series

Ben Smith sends the Vancouver series to Game 7

And the first two awards of the evening go to rookies on the Blackhawks.

The first year player who was a member of the Boston College Golden Eagles last season made an impact on the enormous stage that is the NHL Playoffs.

With his backhand over Roberto Luongo, he gave the Blackhawks the opportunity to win the series back in Vancouver after being down 3 games to none. Though they were unable to capitalize on that chance, Smith has cemented his place in Blackhawks history with a goal that no one could have expected from #57.

Best Fight: John Scott

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 19: John Scott #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks fights with Kevin Westgarth #19 of the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center on December 19, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Nominees:

John Scott v. Cam Janssen

John Scott v. Kevin Westgarth

Brent Seabrook v. Jason Chimera

John Scott was basically brought in to the Blackhawks organization to win this award.

He has done just that with his beatdown of the King's Kevin Westgarth. It was a bloody whopping that left many wondering why Westgarth would want to face off with the 6'8 Scott.

Blackhawks coaches are expecting more out of Scott next season, and do not simply want a enforcer who is a liability on defense. It would be nice if he was able to give more, but a few times this season he gave something for the Blackhawk fans to appreciate.

Most Overrated: Troy Brouwer

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - JUNE 11: Troy Brouwer #22 waves to the corwd during the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade and rally on June 11, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Nominees:

Troy Brouwer

Brian Campbell

Patrick Kane

Back in August before the season was underway, I felt that Troy Brouwer was going to emerge as one of the Blackhawks' best offensive threats this season. With Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien gone, Brouwer had the chance to step up and become one of the top scorers on this Hawks team.

He was unable to get that done. Whether it was injuries or more inconsistencies, Brouwer never seemed comfortable on ice, and it showed on the stat line.

17 goals and 19 assists was not what the Blackhawks needed from a player that was constantly given the chance to prove himself on the top two lines. Also, he did not register a single point in the seven playoff games against Vancouver.

Brouwer will need to regroup this offseason and show that he can be the player that people saw glimpses of in the Cup Final against the Flyers.

Most Underrated: Dave Bolland

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - JUNE 11: Dave Bolland #36 waves to the crowd during the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade and rally on June 11, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Nominees:

Bryan Bickell

Tomas Kopecky

Dave Bolland

The old saying, "You don't know what you've got 'til its gone," was never more true then for the Blackhawks when they had to wait for more than a month for Dave Bolland to return.

The feisty center has made a name for himself in the past few postseasons. With his play that threw the Sedin's off their game, and how he came back with a vengeance yet again in 2011. In the regular season he had an impressive +/- of +11 in 61 games.

In four games against Vancouver in the playoffs, he had more points than Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp who both played in all seven games. He was the primary catalyst for a team that brought the Canucks to the brink of elimination.

Low Point of the Season: Being at the Mercy of the Minnesota Wild

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 29: Jose Theodore #60 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a victory over the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center on March 29, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Wild beat the Blues 3-2 in a shoot out. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

Nominees:

Being down 3-0 to the hated Vancouver Canucks

Needing a Minnesota win to get in the playoffs

Losing a playoff series to Vancouver

April 10th 2011 was a whirlwind day of emotions for Blackhawks fans everywhere.

The Hawks had every opportunity and scenario in their favor to reach the playoffs. The only thing that they could not do was lose in regulation at home against their arch-rival Red Wings.

They did just that and it were then put in the position of hoping the Minnesota Wild would win their final regular season game against the Dallas Stars.

The Wild won, and the rest is history, but for about five hours it could not get any more stressful or nerve-racking then being a Hawks supporter.

High Point of the Season: Raising the Banner on Opening Night

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CHICAGO - OCTOBER 09: Members of the Chicago Blackhawks carry the Stanley Cup Championship banner across the ice in a ceremony before the Blackhawks season home opening game against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on October 9, 2010 in Chicago,

Nominees:

Coming back from 3-0 to tie the series

Patrick Sharp wins All-Star Game MVP

The Blackhawks raise the championship banner/White House visit

The greatest moment of the season very well could have been when the Blackhawks scored that goal in overtime to send them to a historic series win in Vancouver. But, it was not meant to be.

So, the top moment of the season occurred before a puck was dropped at the United Center this season. It was the Blackhawks raising a Stanley Cup banner for the first time in the stadium's history, and the first for the organization in 49 years.

The legends of the 1961 team came back for the occasion, and it was an electric atmosphere to say the least.

The White House visit was also very memorable as the team was on hand alongside Chicago-native President Obama. Former Blackhawk Brent Sopel was also there which was a pleasant surprise.

Player to Watch in 2011-2012 Season: Jeremy Morin

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CHICAGO - OCTOBER 01: Jeremy Morin #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks warms-up before a pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center on October 1, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Penguins 5-2. (Photo by Jonathan D

Nominees:

Jeremy Morin

Kyle Beach

Brandon Pirri

Ben Smith and Nick Leddy have made their way onto the list of well-known players for the Blackhawks. But, someone like Jeremy Morin could emerge onto the roster with more frequency next season.

Morin appeared in nine games last season, but was often moved back and forth to Rockford because of issues with the salary cap. He was able to notch three points with the Blackhawks, and seemed like he could become a player to look out for in time.

He is a gifted scorer and very well could earn his keep next season. There isn't any rush for Morin though, as he is only 20 years old.

Least Valuable Player: Marty Turco

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Marty Turco #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks in goal against the Dallas Stas at American Airlines Center on February 11, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Nominees:

Viktor Stalberg

Fernando Pisani

Marty Turco

The 35-year-old Marty Turco certainly seemed to be helpful to Corey Crawford all season, but he really was not really all that helpful for the Blackhawks overall.

The former All-Star goalie came to the Blackhawks thinking he was going to be the starter all season for the defending Stanley Cup champions. After some struggles he was relegated to back-up for a team that became Corey Crawford's.

He went 11-11-3, only played in one game in the last month and played no time in the post-season. Financially, it would have almost been worth it to simply keep Christobal Huet as back-up.

Most Valuable Player: Jonathan Toews

Al Bello/Getty Images

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 12: Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks poses for a portrait prior to the 2008 NHL Awards at the at the Elgin Theatre on June 12, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Nominees:

Corey Crawford

Jonathan Toews

Patrick Sharp

Brent Seabrook

The grand-daddy award of them all, the MVP.

Cases can be made for a handful of players on the Blackhawks this past season for why they were the MVP.

Corey Crawford kept the Blackhawks in the playoff hunt with games where he simply put the team on his back.

Patrick Sharp was scoring when no one else on the team seemed to want to join him. His All-Star Game MVP honor gave the spotlight to one of the game's most underrated players.

Brent Seabrook was the best defenseman for the Blackhawks all season. His play was a welcome sight when the blue-line lacked what it took to be a playoff-caliber team.

But, I give the award to Jonathan Toews who yet again was the captain that the Blackhawks deeply needed. His 76 points led the team as well as his +/- of +25 which was the highest among offensive players on the team by a wide margin.

Though he was shut down for much of the playoffs against Vancouver, Toews got the goal that gave the Blackhawks one last chance in overtime of Game 7. One of the game's best captains continues to show that he will be a force to reckon with for years to come.