From the Rink: 2011 NHL Awards
The NHL celebrated the official end of the 2010-11 season with the NHL Awards presented in Las Vegas. Jay Mohr hosted the somewhat awkward performance but kept things moving quicker than any other awards show I can remember.
The evening started out with the presentation of the Norris Trophy. For the seventh time in his career, Nicklas Lidstrom took home the award tying him with Doug Harvey and trailing only Bobby Orr’s 8. Lidstrom became the first 40 year old defenseman to amass 60 points and the first since Rob Blake in 1999 to win the award with a minus rating.
Up next was the award for the leagues top point producer in the regular season. Daniel Sedin ran away with the Art Ross as he accumulated 104 points and followed up his brother Henrik’s outstanding year with one of his own.
Pavel Datsyuk’s Selke run came to end this year in part because he missed 26 games but also due to year put together by winner Ryan Kesler. Kesler came off of a strong Olympic performance with one of his best seasons yet. Ryan led all forwards in blocked shots with 80 and matched up with each teams top lines.
But not only did he match an opposing team’s top line, he also played on his teams top line. Kesler potted 41 goals this season and had a career best face off percentage of 57.4 %. It certainly doesn’t take away the sting of losing the Cup but it is a nice reward for an outstanding player.
With no Sydney Crosby and no Evgeni Malkin for the second half of the season, many believed the Pittsburgh Penguins would fall flat and fade in the East. But, alas, Dan Bylsma would have nothing of it and with his ragtag team of overachievers almost claimed the top spot in the conference.
This coaching performance shone brighter than the stellar jobs pulled off by Barry Trotz in Nashville, who made the playoffs for the 6th time in 7 years, and Alain Vigneault, who led the Canucks to a fourth 100 point season. With the second most wins and points in franchise history, the Jack Adams Award was a no brain-er with the absence of the two superstars.
The Calder Trophy went to the youngest player in the NHL, one who just celebrated his 19th birthday a month ago. Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes led all rookies with 63 points and was the face of the All-Star Game from Raleigh.
Even though he allowed some of the weakest goals seen in the Stanley Cup Finals, Roberto Luongo paired with Cory Schneider to allow the least goals in the regular season to take home the William Jennings Trophy.
The Canucks continued to be well represented as the awards show went on. Mike Gillis took home the GM of the Year award as he was able to hold together a team that lost multiple starting defenseman. In the face of such injuries, Gillis did not panic and make a rash move and his perseverance paid off as the team made it the Finals.
Daniel Sedin also took home the Ted Lindsay award as the MVP as voted on by the players.
Martin St. Louis took home his second straight Lady Byng Trophy, posting 99 points with only 12 penalty minutes all season.
Ian Laperriere received the Bill Masterton Trophy for his Perseverance and Dedication to Hockey for his performance in the playoffs last season. After taking a puck to the eye and suffering a concussion in the first round, Laperriere fought back and played in the Stanley Cup Finals against Chicago. Due to complications from his concussion, Laperriere missed this whole season and his career is in doubt.
Doug Weight was awarded the King Clancy Award for Leadership and Humanitarian Contributions. During his time on the injured list this season Weight still took part in many community events with the Islanders, giving back as much as he could.
Tim Thomas’s record breaking, Stanley Cup winning season came to an end with his receiving his second Vezina Trophy. Thomas set an NHL record with a .938 save percentage, besting Dominik Hasak’s save percentage by .01%. Thomas also posted a league leading 2.00 goals against average in the regular season.
The big winner of the night was Corey Perry, who took home the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading the league in goals scored in the regular season with 50 goals. Perry was also presented as the NHL Hart Trophy winner as the league’s MVP.
Perry’s strong late season push to help lead Anaheim into the playoffs and his penchant for scoring winning goals helped push him past Daniel Sedin and Steven Stamkos as the best player this past year.
With the conclusion of the Awards show the 2010-11 NHL season comes to a close but the 2011-12 season starts up right away. The NHL will release the regular season schedule on Thursday and the NHL Entry Draft starts Friday. The post season is in full swing and before we know it, hockey will be back. Check back with bluemenonice.com for all the latest Blues and NHL news.
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