2008 NHL Awards Nominees

Here's the list of nominees in each category and my pick on who is going to win. Well, they may not actually win, but I'll pick who I think should win...but you knew that going into this. The awards will be presented from Toronto's Elgin Theatre (the same place Conan O'Brien did a week's worth of shows a few years back) on Thursday, June 12, 2008. This year seems to have more clear-cut favorites than there has been in seasons past. Oh, man, I can't wait for those just effing terrible Ron MacLean jokes! Good--no GREAT--times!!


ADAMS TROPHY (Best Coach):
Mike Babcock, Detroit Red Wings;
Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals;
Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... Mike Babcock. Anybody who can lead a team like the Red Wings to that many points year after year needs to be recognized for that kind of stability of excellence. Bruce Boudreau is the sentimental pick because he took over the Capitals when they were just completely horrible at Christmas and got them to rally around Ovechkin and play for each other. Plus, the career minor leaguer who finally makes good is a great story. We'd love it if he won, but it really should be Babcock.


CALDER TROPHY (Top Rookie):
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals;
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks;
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... The undersized Patrick Kane, who is primed to become one fo the guys (along with his teammate, Toews) who will lead the Blackhawks back from the brink of apathy in Chicago, once a great hockey town. He also, you know, led all rookies in goals and points. Really, if you think about it, this would be a closer race if Toews hadn't missed time with injuries and in Washington, Backstrom looked like a kid with a lot of composure and skill. It really is an exciting time in the NHL with all of the young, qulaity players out there.


HART TROPHY (League MVP):
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames;
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins;
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... Alex Ovechkin. Not only did he lead the NHL in points and score over 60 goals in a season but for that last month of the season, he put the Capitals on his back and literally carried them to the playoffs and an exciting first round series against Philadelphia. Iginla is one of those dudes who is always up for this award as well he should be. Malkin's season cannot be over-looked. In fact, if the Caps had missed the playoffs, you'd have a legitimate, spirited debate that Malkin should be the Hart winner.


LADY BYNG (Sportsmanship...ahem, "Gentlemenly Play"):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings;
Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres;
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... Pavel Datsyuk. He finished fourth in the league in points and seems to never be penalized. Also, we bet he doesn't show up to accept the award. He has, um, a bit of a history of skipping the awards ceremony. I guess the guy figures a trophy with the first name of "Lady" in it isn't too cool. Still, it almost always goes to a super-scorer (like, say, Mike Bossy) who racks up the points and stays out of the sin bin. (And yes, that's the first time I have used the words "sin bin" in the history of this website.)


NORRIS TROPHY (Top Defenseman):
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins;
icklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings;
Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... Nicklas Lidstrom. I never thought I would think that I had seen better defensemen than Denis Potvin and Raymond Bourque, but Lidstrom is a certified genius. (People who know me understand that when I call someone a genius that I hold them in the highest esteem.) Lidstrom is amazing and man, I still get a kick out of watching him play. And again, the guy may already have more Norris Trophies than the Norris freaking family but that shouldn't stop him from adding another.



SELKE TROPHY (Top Defensive Forward):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings;
John Madden, New Jersey Devils;
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks... Pavel Datsyuk. You wonder if Madden can sneak one in there since Zetterberg and Datsyuk may split the Detroit votes but I think that as a scorer who can play defense, Datsyuk is ahead of the league as an honest-to-goodness two-way player. Madden's game is darn-near strictly defense and while he is very, very good, he does not have the dangerous offensive spark that the other two possess. I think Pavel wins by a nod. Plus, if he is winning two trophies, he's gonna HAVE to show up.


VEZINA TROPHY (Top Goaltender):
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils;
Henrik Lundqvist, NY Rangers;
Evgeny Nabokov, San Jose Sharks.

NYIFORLIFE.com picks: Brodeur. He played 77 out of 82 games (as didNabokov), had 44 wins and a 2.17 average. Nabokov had more wins but Brodeur had a higher save percentage. Plus, let's face it, the guy is Martin Brodeur! I know that we aren't supposed to let the playoffs cloud our voting but it is impossible not to think about yet another Sharks collapse in a series where the goalie needed to step up and steal a game or two. As far as Lundqvist goes, we all know he is over-rated because we see more of him in this area than the national media does.