2009 NHL off-season trades, rumours, draft thread

Alexander Ovechkin wins the big individual prizes tonight - the Hart, the Pearson and the Richard trophies - and says he'd rather have the Stanley Cup.

After accepting the Hart from teammate Sergei Fedorov and Grammy Award-winning singer Michael Buble, Ovechkin stepped to the podium and indicated that he'd happily exchange all the hardware for a championship.

"Next year, Stanley Cup will be ours," said Ovechkin.

A man who does have the Cup, Evgeni Malkin, is understandably willing to let Ovie keep the Hart and Pearson this time around.

"I try to win next year and after," said Malkin. "I have the big trophy so..."



http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/653323

And here are your winners:

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP, regular season) - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington

Lester B. Pearson Award (most outstanding player as voted by the players) - Alexander Ovechin, Washington

Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (most goals, regular season) - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington

Art Ross Trophy (top scorer, regular season) - Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh

Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP, playoffs) - Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh

Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) - Tim Thomas, Boston

William M. Jennings Trophy (goalies with the fewest goals allowed) - Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, Boston

Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (best save percentage) - Tim Thomas, Boston

Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) - Steve Mason, Columbus

James Norris Memorial Trophy (best defenceman) - Zdeno Chara, Boston

NHL Plus-Minus Award (best plus-minus rating) - David Krejci, Boston

Frank J. Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct) - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and dedication) - Steve Sullivan, Nashville

King Clancy Memorial Trophy (humanitarian/charitable work) - Ethan Moreau, Edmonton

NHL Foundation Player Award (community enrichment) - Rick Nash, Columbus

Mark Messier Leadership Award (who knows why this fucking joke prize exists?) - Jarome Iginla, Calgary

Jack Adams Award (coach of the year) - Claude Julien, Boston

NHL Lifetime Achievement Award - Jean Beliveau

 

The NHL has more silverware than a Long Island dowager's mansion.

 

That's partly why I denigrate the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which was founded only in 2006 to ostensibly recognize an "individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes."

Not only does it more or less duplicate two other trophies that already exist - the NHL Foundation Award (established 1997) and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (1987) - it's a joke because the idea of Mark Messier as this supreme leader has become so overblown that it's just a crock of shit. Leads by positive example? Yeah, okay. I'd say you could ask Trevor Linden for his take on it, but he's far too classy to go there and it would probably hurt too much to dredge up the unpleasant memories associated with Messier's "positive leadership" in Vancouver.

 

If this was 2004, I would say 'yeah, Iginla deserves that award, as cheesy as it is.'

But today? GTFO.

 

who was he up against for it?

 

Don't believe there were finalists. I think he was just selected. And I think the "presented by Bridgestone" (the official tire of the NHL, I believe) is a big reason why it exists.

 

I absolutely love it, though here's hoping Ovechkin never touches the Stanley Cup. ;D

 

The Messier thing is by Cold FX.

The Roger Crozier Award is also a promotional award - MBNA is behind it - but it to me is acceptable because it recognizes not only an official statistical category (best save percentage) but also a longtime MBNA employee, ex-Wings/Sabres goalie Crozier.

 

I would have sworn that was from two years ago. Snoop was all the media rage when the Ducks won the Cup. Seems like you couldn't get through an Anaheim home game without the obligatory Snoop Dog interview. He might have been interviewed more than Niedermayer that spring.

Oh, well, good to see that not all the celebrities are hopping on the Lakers' bandwagon.

 

Rumour in Calgary this morning: outdoor game at McMahon Stadium on New Year's Day.

They'll leave in the extra seats from Grey Cup.

Opponent TBA.

 

Yeah, because everyone wants to play or watch hockey in -30C weather

The outdoor game shit is getting tired.

 

So, you wouldn't be a fan of Leafs vs Hamilton Tigers out on Burlington Bay?