Half Season NHL Awards
Well we’re at the half way point of the season so why not dish out some awards. Let’s take a look at what we think the best of the NHL Awards at the half way point in the season….
Calder – Best Rookie of the first half of the season
Finalists – John Tavarez, Matt Duchene, Michael Del Zotto
Winner – John Tavarez
…and it’s not even close. What this kid is doing on a Islanders roster that is anything but stacked is amazing. Don’t get me wrong Duchene has been nothing short of amazing for the Avalanche this season and Del Zotto is carving out his niche as a killer Power Play quarterback but Tavarez is the one at the top of the heap.
Norris – Best Defenseman
Finalists- Rich Peverly, Christian Ehrhoff, Chris Pronger, Duncan Keith, Tobias Enstrom, etc…
Winner – Toss up.
There’s too many good defensemen that have been pretty damned impressive so far this season. The list above stands out as the cream of the crop so far. Don’t get me wrong there are others that are developing into Norris candidates this season and may make the cut at the end of the season.
Selke – Best Defensive Forward
Finalists – Mikko Koivu, Ryan Kesler, Thomas Plekanec
This is a tough one as this is one of these awards that does not have any sort of pre-defined critera to judge on. Even past award winner Rod Brind’amour said he wished he knew what the criteria was for. So…
Winner – Ryan Kesler
– Of the ones listed above Kesler has had the better performance as a defensive forward this season. He has raised his game up another notch and will soon become a premiere forward in the NHL. Kesler’s defensive skillset is just a small piece of what he brings to the table.
Jack Adams Best Coach of the first half of the season
Finalists – Dave Tippett, Lindy Ruff, Joe Sacco, Barry Trotz
Winner – Dave Tippett
- All of the above coaches are more than deserving of a nod for the Half way Jack Adams but Dave Tippett was given only a week before the season started to put his system into place. Look where Phoenix are in the standings. Yeah I know this may look as a homer vote. However, given the other candidates, they don’t match up with what Tippett has done with this team in such a short amount of time.
Veznia Best goaltender of the first half of the season
Finalsists – Ilya Bryzgalov, Ryan Miller, Martin Brodeur
Winner – Bryzgalov and Miller
- Sorry Devils fans, at this point in the season these two goaltenders are playing at a level that no other goaltender is near right now…not even Brodeur.
Hart – MVP
Finalists – Ilya Bryzgalov, Ryan Miller, Henrik Sedin, Marian Gaborik
Winner – Bryzgalov and Miller
- Honestly, if you took any of these four players out of the lineup which would have the biggest negative effect on their respective teams?
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