Hi there old friend

Here is my brief recap of the weekend hockey:
1. Chicago scored lots of goals. Vancouver did not.
2. Marc-Andre let in a softie and I still don't like the Craps.
3. I should have stuck to my "no watching OT games in the playoffs" rule.
4. Never underestimate a team with Ronnie Francis behind the net.

Today, I'm looking at the NHL annual award presentations. There are a lot that I don't agree with but I'm gonna just take a look at a few.

Jack Adams award (coach of the year). Nominated are Todd McLellan, Claude Julien, and Andy Murray. I like Todd I really do. I thought he took a talented team and went far with it. Same goes for Claude (who I don't have a personal preference for one way or the other). This award has to go to Andy Murray. Was there a coach out there who did more with less? No. Getting the Blues to 6th in the West was no fluke. This cat can coach.

Bill Masterton Trophy (The player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey"). Nominated are Chris Chelios (who contrary to popular, not ever Wing fan loves him. I can't stand him - am I the only person to remember how he used to abuse Stevie? Plus I find his frat boy behavior to be a bit much. He's just gross. That's it. Chris Cheligross. But I digress), Richard Zednik, Steve Sullivan. Honestly if you get your throat sliced open by a teammate on the ice, have the wits about you to make it to the bench so you DON'T DIE, and come back to play the game again.... no matter what anyone else does, you can't top that. Zednik in a landslide.

Calder (rookie of the year). Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason, Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan and Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg are all up for this award. As much as my counterpart loves her Bobby, I gotta put my vote (like I have a say) toward Mason. His record alone puts him up there as top 'tender but the fact that he's a rookie and had ten shutouts? Has a rookie goalie since Roy done that? Did Roy do that? Yeah, I'm plugging for Mason.

Hart (writers MVP). I'm really not liking the candidates for this one. Way back when, this award was not automatically to the best player in the league, but to the player judged to be most valuable to his team. I mean props to Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Pavel Datsyuk, but I don't think they were the most valuable to their teams. All important to their teams, yes. That's a given. But where would the Bruins be without Thomas? Where would Chicago be without Kane or Toews? Nashville without Sullivan? The Devils without that goalie not named Marty (Clemmensen, I know.)? I mean really, those teams had guys who were more important overall. I'm not going to pick a winner here because it's sadly become a popularity contest. I'm more interested in the Pearson award anyway.

Norris (Top defenseman). Again this award has changed in meaning. No longer is the best defenseman always nominated. When Lidstrom wins, I think it's fair. I'm not being a homer here. Find me a better defenseman and I'll listen to the argument. But Lidstrom is rarely out of position and makes the game look easy. Games where you don't hear about him just means he's doing his job. This year, he's nominated again along with Chara and Green. While I have no problems with the baby eater Chara, it's Green I do. On most nights, he's a disaster on the blue line. Yes, he gets his points and his plus ratings but I just don't see him as one of the Top DEFENSEmen of the league. Offsensman, sure. Give him the Paul Coffee award or something, but not the Norris. It's a toss up for me between Nick and Chara.

Vezina (best goalie). Steve Mason, Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom, and Tim Thomas nominated. There is that Mason kid again. I think it's a feel good story for Thomas to be nominated and I'd be ok if he won. He back stopped a team that vied for the President's trophy all year. He's one hell of a goalie. I've pitched my thoughts for Mason as MVP, I think it's safe to say I'd be ok with him winning the Vezina. I honestly don't know about Backstrom as I found the Wild just painful to watch this season.

There are other awards out there but I don't really have an opinion one way or the other. Have an opinion, share it please. I've probably picked all the non winners but hey, that's what blogging is all about right?

See that tag called "overtagging"? That's what happens when you have too many tags. I had to edit my tags. What the frak?

Until next time, happy hockey!