The Lindsay is given out by the NHLPA, and awarded to the most outstanding player as decided by the players. Since we couldn’t do the whole player votes part (what sets it apart from the Hart) we went in a slightly different direction. The tUB Lindsay is going out to the BEST player, irregardless of value to the team. So with that said, the winner of the Lindsay is…
Winner: Ryan Johansen
CBJProspects: (1) Finally the NHL learned “you don’t mess with the Johan” as Johansen led the CBJ and scoring many of which were also scoring multiple clutch goals. Johansen bounced back from getting scratched in last year’s AHL playoffs and showed why he was selected 4th overall back in 2010.
DerDrache: (1) This year the story truly was Ryan Johansen’s coming-of-age as a bona fide #1 NHL centerman. By many estimates there are fewer than 20 true #1 centermen in the league and Johansen’s 30 goals (5 of which were game winners) put him only below Pavelski, Seguin and Crosby in terms of goal-scoring by a center. That’s good company to be in. Ryan was also one of few iron men on the team to play in all 82 regulation games and all playoff games with Letestu and Johnson being the only others to match him. The future is bright for this one.
AlisonL: (1) Led the team in goals, points and finally had the season a number 4 overall pick should have. And it looks like he’s hungry for more. I think Joey’s attitude also says a lot about the team this year – he came ready to work hard and show what he can do. He also definitely seems to contribute to the family feel around this group of guys and he’s shared a bit of his funloving side – which contributes to culture off ice just as much as he’s bringing points on ice.
TheCoachUB: (2) What a jump for the kid. He’s now clearly the Jackets best forward. He went from all potential to 30+ goals and 60+ points against tough competition in a single year. He’s now a bonafide number one centre, something the Jackets have never really had.
Sergei Bobrovsky
TheCoachUB: (1) Not as obvious a winner as last season, but Bob is basically locked in as a top five goaltender. He’s the best player on the Jackets, and the best Jackets player among his peers.
CBJProspects: (2) After a slow start/being injured, Bob was Bob again putting the team on his back getting them into the playoffs.
AlisonL: (2) Confidence and performance in net. That’s what Bob brings. As Jarmo and JD have said you build your team from the net out…looks like we have our guy. Now about that next contract…
DerDrache: (3) First, the vitals: During the season he was 32-20-5 with a 2.38 GAA and a 0.923 save percentage. That’s a goalie that a team can play with confidence in front of. While he may not have outright stolen as many games this year as last year and his playoff performance was rather unremarkable, Bob gave the skaters a chance to win and the confidence to play more aggressively.
James Wisniewski
DerDrache: (2) I’m sure this will draw the ire of some but what was Wiz brought here to do? Direct pucks at the net from the blue line and be a force to be reckoned with on the power play. Did he accomplish that? Absolutely. With a whopping 28 power play points, Wiz was a constant threat when we had the extra attacker and logged an average of 22:37 on the ice per game. As the Coach pointed out so well in yesterday’s write up anyone who spends that much time on the ice is bound to cough the occasional puck but Wiz was a huge contributor to the team’s success this year.
AlisonL (3): Another guy showing up like he’d been expected to. What a performance by this guy this year – as I’ve said before a healthy Wiz is a revelation. He’s also been acknowledges as a mentor to some of the younger players and a guy who works hard on forging bonds among team members…guys who like each other want to keep playing with each other and earn the right to stay together.
TheCoachUB (3) See my post from yesterday. Wisniewski is elite when it comes to offense from the backend. Yes, his defense needs a little work, but are there any other Jackets players who could be described as elite at anything? Wiz helped power one of the best CBJ powerplays ever, led the team in assists and powerplay points, was ninth in the NHL in points by a defenseman (and had a higher points per game than three players ahead of him), and was third among defensemen (and ninth overall) in powerplay points. His outstanding-ness may be lopsided, but that good side is really freaking good.
Others receiving votes:
CBJProspects (3) Brandon Dubinsky – He’s definitely part of the heart and soul of the team. Along with his tremendous shut down of Crosby in the playoffs.
Come back next week for our winners of the Jack Adams and the Selke!
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