Wilkernator's NHL Awards Preview
Hart: Jaromir Jagr, Rangers
Despite Joe Thornton's late season point rally to claim the point lead from him , it is still definitely clear that this guy is this year's Hart winner, he carried the Rangers into the playoffs. Imagine New York, only 123 points less. Jagr revived his declining career, and showed the Rangers the player he was, maybe even better, in Pittsburgh.
Now, Joe Thornton can be considered as a follow up because he helped the Sharks into the playoffs, but the thing is, that the Rangers haven't made the playoffs in the last several season, the Sharks have.
Art Ross: Joe Thornton, Sharks
Thornton beat out Jagr, who could've also had his name here, by 2 points in a late-season explosion to take this Art Ross trophy. Well done Joe, this shows how much the Bruins would've loved to keep you, then again, maybe not.
Let us not forget that the Sharks and Bruins were both mediocre teams for much or not all of the first half of the season, then in that slumping half they deal Thornton to the San Jose Sharks and he lit up their team and had a hot stick all season long whereas the Bruins went on a small streak but then slumped down again, they could've used Joe Thornton then.
Runner-ups: Jaromir Jagr, Alexander Ovechkin.
Vezina: Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames
Kipper does it again, except this time in a full season, winning 42 games, tied for the lead, and is the league leader for GAA and ranks 4th in save percentage.
What can we say more? The guy played 38 games last season and finished second in Vezina voting, this season, he's played 74 and will definitely be considered for this trophy.
Runner-ups: Martin Gerber, Marty Turco, Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist
Calder: Alexander Ovechkin
There is not doubt the great Alexander beat out fellow rookie Sidney Crosby for this trophy, this was perhaps one of the greatest "rookie" rivalries ever. "Sid the Kid versus Alex the Great."
Ovechkin became only the 2nd rookie to score 50 goals and 100 points, the other was Teemu Selanne. Ovechkin is the butter on the bread of this mediocre Capitals team, who will rebuild their team around him.
Runner-ups: Sidney Crosby, Henrik Lundqvist, Peter Prucha, Dion Phaneuf.
Masterton: Cristobal Huet
Cristobal Huet will not win the Vezina, he may also not win the Stanley Cup, but this trophy should got to the goalie, who carried the Canadiens on his shoulders, who drove Jose Theodore out of town and who is responsible of their current playoff seed.
Without him, the Canadiens would've been nobodys, like the Leafs.
Hip, Hip, Huet!
Jack Adams Award: Peter Laviolette
Laviolette's team is amongst the best in the NHL and is now a serious cup contender; we have him, and Jim Rutherford to thank for this.
