SBN Hockey picks NHL award winners

by James Mirtle on Apr 6, 2009 10:40 PM CDT Comment 59 comments

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman comments on the weather during a news conference held to promote the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas, Monday, April 6, 2009. The event will be held in June. Standing at right is George Maloof, owner of the Palms hotel and casino.

Browse more photos »

Rather than rehash all of the various NHL awards debates going on around the hockey world these days, we at SBN have decided to put together a list of 30 nominees — one from each team — for five of the biggest awards: the Hart, Norris, Vezina, Calder and Selke.

Here are SBN Hockey's picks:

Team	Blog	Hart	Norris	Vezina	Calder	Selke
Ana	Battle of California	Ryan	Pronger	Hiller	Ryan	Marchant
Atl	Bird Watchers Anon.	Kovalchuk	Enstrom	Lehtonen	Bogosian	Reasoner
Bos	Stanley Cup of Chowder	Thomas	Chara	Thomas	Wheeler	Yelle
Buf	Die By The Blade	Miller	Spacek	Miller	Butler	Gaustad
Cal	Matchsticks & Gasoline	Iginla	Regehr	Kiprusoff	Pardy	Bourque
Car	'Canes Country	Whitney	Pitkanen	Ward	Sutter	Staal
Chi	Second City Hockey	Keith	Keith	Khabibulin	Versteeg	Ladd
Col	Mile High Hockey	Smyth	Liles	Budaj	Stewart	Wolski
Cmb	TBA	Nash	Hejda	Mason	Mason	Malhotra
Dal	Defending Big D	Eriksson	Grossman	Turco	Neal	Petersen
Det	Winging It In Motown	Datsyuk	Lidstrom	Conklin	Ericsson	Datsyuk
Edm	TBA	Roloson	Souray	Roloson	N/A	Horcoff
Fla	The Litter Box	Booth	Bouwmeester	Vokoun	Frolik	Peltonen
LA	Battle of California	Doughty	Doughty	Quick	Doughty	Handzus
Min	Hockey Wilderness	Koivu	Schultz	Backstrom	Clutterbuck	Koivu
Mon	Eyes On The Prize	Markov	Markov	Halak	Halak	Koivu
Nas	On The Forecheck	Dumont	Weber	Rinne	Rinne	Ward
NJ	In Lou We Trust	Parise	Martin	Clemmensen	N/A	Elias
NYI	Lighthouse Hockey	Streit	Streit	Danis	Okposo	Nielsen
NYR	Blueshirt Banter	Lundqvist	Girardi	Lundqvist	Korpikoski	Betts
Ott	Silver Seven Sens	Alfredsson	Volchenkov	Elliott	Elliott	Alfredsson
Phi	Broad Street Hockey	Carter	Timonen	Biron	Giroux	Richards
Phx	Five For Howling	Doan	Michalek	Bryzgalov	Boedker	Hanzal
Pit	PensBurgh	Malkin	Gonchar	Fleury	Goligoski	Staal
SJ	Fear The Fin	Marleau	Vlasic	Nabokov	McGinn	Pavelski
St. L	St. Louis Game Time	Mason	Colaiacovo	Mason	Oshie	McClement
TB	Raw Charge	St. Louis	N/A	Smith	Stamkos	St. Louis
Tor	Pension Plan Puppets	Blake	Kubina	N/A	Schenn	Kulemin
Van	'Nucks Misconduct	Burrows	Mitchell	Luongo	Raymond	Kesler
Was	Japers' Rink	Ovechkin	Green	Theodore	Alzner	Steckel

Now, with 150 different picks there (once the list is finished), I imagine there'll be just a wee bit of controversy. Express your disappointment in the comments here or over at the individual blogs, where they've been stating their cases.

I'll keep bumping this list to the top as the results come in. And don't forget to vote for the Masterton winner.

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Comments

Interesting Selke race...

Koivu vs. Koivu vs. Staal vs. Staal

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Apr 6, 2009 8:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Header: Photo of the year.

The Litter Box - Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Apr 6, 2009 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Vlasic for the Norris in San Jose is a bold choice. I like it. He deserves a lot more credit than I think he gets

Eriksson for Hart in Dallas? I’ve only seen a few Stars games, but just from those, it looked like Ribeiro was the one driving the bus. I knew Eriksson was scoring a few, but I had no idea he had 28 even strength goals. That’s downright impressive.

I also wouldn’t have guessed Souray over Visnovski for the Norris in Edmonton.

Is Halak eligible for the Calder? He played 16 games two seasons ago.

P.S. I like the idea of splitting it up by team. It’s interesting to see bloggers rate their own team’s players, because they get to watch them a whole lot more than I do.

by RyanV on Apr 6, 2009 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's a tough decision in Dallas for the Hart.

Ribeiro definitely is a playmaker, bt it really came down to Steve Ott and Eriksson. Ott was the emotional catalyst for the Stars with Morrow gone and he really started to show off his offensive skills.

But Eriksson was other-worldly. He’s great in the defensive zone and he scores a ton of even strength goals. He also has one of the top shot % in the league.

Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.

by Brandon Worley on Apr 6, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Halak

He’s not listed as a rookie on NHL.com. I don’t know why he wouldn’t be called a rookie, though. I thought it was 25 games played to lose eligibility (he played 22 regular season games + 2 playoff)? Remember, Andrew Raycroft won the Calder despite him playing in a decent number of career games before making it permanently.

Halak looks a lot better up there than Matt D’Agostini would, that’s for sure.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 7, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure that he’s technically a rookie either, but that’s what our blogger submitted. It’s fine for this list, I think.

by James Mirtle on Apr 7, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There must be a different rule for goalies and GP for rookie eligibility. Grabovski played more games than Halak.

Andrew Raycroft played 21 games over 3 years before his Calder winning 2003-04 campaign, so I don’t see why Halak wouldn’t be called a rookie in this case. It seems very contradictory that he’s not.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 7, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Among the Calder restrictions a rookie cannot have played in 6 or more games in any two preceeding seasons. Halak has 16 games in 06/07 and 6 in 07/08. That makes him NOT a rookie.

by PuckStopsHere on Apr 7, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a bizarre clause.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 7, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Edmonton really need a Calder candidate? I mean, Reddox is it by default, and Reddox’s own mother wouldn’t vote for him over someone like Bobby Ryan or Steve Mason, so…yeah.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Apr 6, 2009 9:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, the blogger didn’t give one initially, so … yeah. It was either that or N/A.

by James Mirtle on Apr 6, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That blogger sounds like a smart cat. ;)

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Apr 6, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Markov

There weren’t enough categories on here for him. Ugh. What a horrid end to an unfortunate season.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 6, 2009 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not!

Schneider Possible Against Rangers, Markov Doing Better Than Reported

http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2009/4/7/825690/schneider-possible-against-rangers

by Robert L on Apr 7, 2009 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, I just realized all my Anaheim picks exclude the players that vote-bots had pushed into the ASG starting lineup.

Vote-bots, when will you ever learn?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Apr 6, 2009 10:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why would anyone pick a Vezina candidate from Colorado at all?

by IAmJoe on Apr 6, 2009 11:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We forced him at gunpoint?

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Apr 7, 2009 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can confirm that

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Apr 7, 2009 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not boyle?

interesting Fear the Fin chose vlasic…

by OSF on Apr 7, 2009 2:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wild

Mikko over Backs?
Nick over KimJ?

epic fail

nhlsarok.blog.hu

by prEGnant__tEEns on Apr 7, 2009 3:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnsson = disaster

I refuse to give the Hart to a goalie. They have their own award.

by nathaneide on Apr 7, 2009 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would you also disqualify defensemen because ‘they have their own award’ as well?

by Fauxrumors on Apr 7, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forwards also have the Rocket Richard trophy. And coaches have the Jack Adams. So maybe the stick boy should get the Hart…?

by Habs on Apr 7, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1) Actually the Richard trophy is NOT a forwards only trophy, but it would be a shock to see a defensemen win it. ; )
2) However your point is accurate/true; why treat goalies difefrently? Each position has their own award, so why not allow goalies win the Hart if they truly are the best player?

by Fauxrumors on Apr 7, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schultz is Lemaire’s go-to guy for tough matchups. Johnsson, not so much.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Apr 7, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blue Jacket Picks

James, may I?

Hart: Rick Nash
Norris: Jan Hedja
Vezina: Steve Mason
Calder: Steve Mason
Selke: Manny Malhotra

by Truth Serum on Apr 7, 2009 5:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks T.S.

by James Mirtle on Apr 7, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jan Hedja, eh?

Sabres could have used him……

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Apr 8, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spacek?

Really??

Well, at least he didn’t pick Sekera….

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Apr 7, 2009 6:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well it was either him or Lydman and I wasn’t putting any support behind Toni turnover. Rivet would be a good choice as well but I really think that Spacek was the heart of this defense.

by Zachary Zielonka on Apr 7, 2009 7:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spacek gets the nod for his outstanding accent/interviews. Jaro’s going to kill RJ with the number of times he has to say ‘Spacek GUNS it wide of the net’…

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by TheTick on Apr 7, 2009 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I understand there wasn’t a clear cut choice for this. I just thought if you’re going to flip a coin, I’d rather have it not land on Jaro.

The whole D needs a re-tool…….

……or Tyler Myers.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Apr 7, 2009 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another thing too that I have to admit – his play got better every year since he came to Buffalo.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Apr 7, 2009 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rivet or Tallinder both would have been good choices…

Blue and Gold (of Buffalo)

by Ebscer on Apr 7, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tallinder?

He has been the Sabres most inconsistent defenseman all season. Lydman would be a better choice than Tallinder and if not for the giveaways he would have probably won. I’m not discounting the giveaways as important but his blocked shots and hits are equally important.

Spacek has been decent all season and put up the best offensive numbers on the team.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Apr 8, 2009 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spacek is probably the best all-around defenseman on the team. Lydman blocks a lot of shots and leads all Sabres defensemen in hits but he has too many giveaways. That leaves Spacek as the clear cut winner.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Apr 7, 2009 8:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is that like saying he is the tallest midget?

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Apr 7, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much yes.

by Zachary Zielonka on Apr 7, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The tallest midget plays for the Sabres farm team. His name is Nathan Gerbe.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 7, 2009 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Gerbe isn’t the tallest anything.

by J. Michael Neal on Apr 7, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The fact that it’s a battle between Spacek and Lydman is indicative of just how mediocre Buffalo’s D is.

Lydman is a much better d-man than Spacek, but he’s not without his flaws (giveaways and a ton of horrid penalties). Not quite sure why some Sabres fans think Spacek is some sort of vital cog.

by Make a play Whitner on Apr 8, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say vital

but he is a steady defenseman and has held his own when asked to play against other teams top lines.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Apr 8, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

None of our defensemen are vital but Spacek is the best of an average group in this case.

by Zachary Zielonka on Apr 8, 2009 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Caption for the picture....

“It’s good to be the King”

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 7, 2009 8:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Surely the Ryan in the Anaheim Hart category is RYAN Getzlaf right? Bobby Ryan has been great (how funny does Lowe’s comment about him being a questionable prospect look now?) but Getzlaf is driving the bus. I’m not convinced Bobby Ryan would be the force he has been lately on another line.

by colonial.red on Apr 7, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s Bobby Ryan, and here’s the justification I sent:

Hart: I’m going to go a bit controversial and put Bobby Ryan here – certainly Getzlaf and Perry have been the offensive focus for most of the year, but Ryan’s got better points-per-60-min rates than either of them at even strength and the power play, despite getting a much sillier mix of linemates. A lot of Ducks fans would say Getzlaf as MVP without blinking, and they’re not wrong, but Bobby Ryan is also a much more significant outscorer – he’s already surpassed Getzlaf and Perry in terms of preventing goals-against, and he’s not nearly so prone to unnecessary penalties.

Ironically, Ryan got the nod from me precisely because he was able to be productive on other lines — his promotion to the top line is still a pretty recent development.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Apr 7, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We didn’t nominate, but Getzlaf gets Anaheim’s “Art Ross”.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Apr 7, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So why Pronger over Niedermayer?

And I’m going to take a guess here, but I think Carlye earns the Jack Adams award.

by Wooster11 on Apr 7, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again self-quoting for laziness:

Norris: Chris Pronger – between him and Niedermayer, it’s awfully close, but I think Pronger gets the edge. In all situations, Pronger has been on the ice for 121 GF and 103 GA. Niedermayer in all situations is 110 GF and 110 GA. Both d-men have played 80 games, and in terms of total ice time are within 3 minutes of each other.

That one was fairly coin-flippish. Catch me on a different day and I might say Niedermayer.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Apr 7, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Mason and Tim Thomas should both be easy wins…

Blue and Gold (of Buffalo)

by Ebscer on Apr 7, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

N/A

That’s awesome that Tampa didn’t send a Norris nomination and Toronto didn’t send a Vezina one.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 7, 2009 2:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Coulda worked for the Colorado Vezina too.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Apr 7, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We originally wanted to leave the MVP and Norris blank for obvious reasons but James was getting angry at us.

Actually, our first reply was this:

Calder to Luke Schenn.

A birthday card with “Happy Birthday” crossed out and replaced with “I hope you never come back” for everyone else.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to ask about the Kulemin for Selke pick. Is it ironic or somewhat deserved? I can’t honestly figure it out. I don’t honestly know if he’s good defensively, and since we’re talking about the team with the 30th rank PK unit…

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 7, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

It’s not ironic. That was another one that was originally left blank but we both like Kulemin. From watching his this year the thing that’s impressed me the most is his defensive awareness and the way he changes speed to pressure the puck the most effectively on the Leafs.

Having said that…the Leafs stink defensively so this is a tallest midget situation.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Apr 7, 2009 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome.

This was a GREAT idea. Very well done. I love this, I really do.

I couldn’t agree with the choice of Gologoski more. He’s going to be a special point guy on the PP for the Pens in the near future. And missing 56 games and still being the one voted for Norris on the Pens speaks volumes about what Gonch means to them. He makes the PP go, baby.

I can’t say enough how much I love this post…great stuff.

by Flashy56 on Apr 7, 2009 8:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs