Hart (Henrik Lundqvist/Evgeni Malkin/Steven Stamkos)
Who should win: Evgeni Malkin
This is a bit of a tough call. Both Malkin and Stamkos make a great case as to why they should win the Hart. Stamkos hit the 60 goal mark this season while Malkin hit the 50 goal mark and was the only player to crack the 100 point mark, which is why he will win it tonight. If that’s not enough, Malkin is the big reason Pittsburgh was able to make the playoffs without Crosby in the lineup for most of the season. The Lightning took a big step back despite the huge performance from Stamkos.
Vezina (Lundqvist/Pekka Rinne/Jonathan Quick)
Who should Win: Quick
Lundqvist has A LOT of help in front of him. The Rangers play a game where sacrificing the body is a must so the Ranger defense keeps a lot of pucks from getting through to Henrik. Jonathon Quick was the backbone for the Kings and the main reason a team unable to score goals throughout much of the regular season scratched and clawed their way into the 8th spot.
Norris (Zdeno Chara/Erik Karlsson/Shea Weber)
Who should win: Shea Weber
You could make a case for Erik Karlsson but I think his offensive numbers don’t quite make up for his defensive liability. Shea Weber is a force and with Lidstrom not up for it this season and Chara having won it already, it think it is Shea Weber’s time.
Calder (Adam Henrique/Gabriel Landeskog/Ryan Nugent-Hopkins)
Who should win: Landeskog
This is one of those categories you wish would include postseason abilities because if it did, it would be Adam Henrique without question but it doesn’t. Which means, I pick Landeskog to win it because he was the most impactful rookie in the field this season. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the best offensive rookie but Landeskog did more.
Lady Byng (Brian Campbell/Jordan Eberle/Matt Moulson)
Who should win: Brian Campbell
He’s the only defenseman on the ballot and its much harder for a defenseman to stay out of the box.
Selke (David Backes/Patrice Bergeron/Pavel Datsyuk)
Who should win: Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron was so important to the Bruins this season that I think he should win this. I mean Bergeron is to the Bruins offense what Chara is to the Bruins defense.
Adams (Ken Hitchcock/Paul MacLean/John Tortorella)
Who should Win: Hitchcock
The Blues were a threat all season long because of Hitchcock. The guy is a genius. His impact on this team was far greater than the other two had on there teams.
Masterton (Daniel Alfredsson/Joffrey Lupul/Max Pacioretty)
Who should win: Pacioretty
We remember the hit on Pacioretty and if you don’t, go reminder yourself why he should win this hands down.
Lindsay — Player MVP (Lundqvist/Malkin/Stamkos)
Who should win: Malkin
Again you could make an argument for Stamkos but I will again point out that Pittsburgh was without Crosby most of the season and Malkin carried this team for most of the season. I wouldn’t have put Lundqviust in this categorty instead I would have put Giroux in his place.
GM of the Year (Doug Armstrong/David Poile/Dale Tallon)
Who should win: Tallon
Tallon went into Florida, made a crazy amount of deals and signings and got them to the playoffs. People in southern Florida were talking hockey once again. That’s enough for me to give it to him but you have to applaud Armstrong for bringing in the right head coach.
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