The 2018 NHL Awards show reverts back to normal after the excitement of last year, when the event was combined with the results of an expansion draft revealing an impending dreadful Vegas Golden Knights team stocked with the mere dregs of the player pool made available by 30 infallible general managers.
While this won't add to the proceedings on the night itself, some related anticipation comes from the recent announcement that voters' ballots will be subsequently made public, finally providing some accountability to the choices made by those with the responsibility, namely 200 Hockey Men and 200,000 employees of The Athletic.
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| Bill Foley with the joyous expression that can only come from being a billionaire, having lots of attention on you at a big party in Las Vegas and seeing Dale Tallon approaching you |
Hart Memorial Trophy
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The player adjudged most valuable to his team
In practice, normally awarded to: A high-scoring forward, since goalies and defensemen "have their own awards", unlike high-scoring forwards
Taylor Hall (New Jersey Devils)
His offensive dominance in taking an otherwise pedestrian Devils team to the playoffs caused many observers to remark that they could not believe how he alone was enough to get it done, words also used by Ray Shero to describe Adam Larsson a couple of summers ago.
Anže Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
Something of a controversial selection, given the outcry among those who believed Connor McDavid remained an eligible candidate for the award, but tough to argue with the case built by the pivotal role he played in extending the Kings' season a full 10 minutes beyond the voting deadline.
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
Looking to emulate something previously done by Eric Lindros under Bobby Clarke, in becoming MVP while playing for a G.M. who is a past winner of the award, but not looking to emulate anything else that happened to Eric Lindros under Bobby Clarke.
Ted Lindsay Award
Voted on by: Members of the National Hockey League Players' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The most outstanding player in the NHL
In practice, normally awarded to: "Whatever means the lowest escrow"
Taylor Hall (New Jersey Devils)
A year before becoming the first pick in the NHL Draft, was actually drafted as low as 89th overall in the 2009 KHL Draft, although this is now widely acknowledged by Edmonton media to have been a historically strong draft for low-scoring second pair defensemen.
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
Endless comparisons to fellow Cole Harbour product and first overall pick, Sidney Crosby, did not ease off after dramatically stepping up his game after the trade of a teammate centre taken in the top three of the draft, much in the same way that Crosby only emerged as a Cup-winning talent after the trade of Evgeni Malkin to the Los Angeles Kings in 2008.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
Was appropriately made the cover star of NHL 18, a video game that lets you pull off spectacular individual moves on the ice and have the chance for your team to be rebuilt through hugely unrealistic trades.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position
In practice, normally awarded to: The Canadian defense player who demonstrates throughout October the greatest all-round ability to be "due" in the eyes of 90% of the press
Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
Continues to take some heat for a mid-season proclamation about the relative quality of the Golden Knights and the Kings, but his statement that there was no way he'd be on the losing side four times in the playoffs to Vegas proved entirely accurate.
Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Joined Erik Karlsson in dressing up as a pirate when arriving to the All-Star skills competition, causing some chatter given nobody could remember seeing Karlsson in close proximity to a good defenseman wearing the same outfit before.
P.K. Subban (Nashville Predators)
His outgoing nature in a sport riddled with conformity makes him a target of much coded criticism, though I'm not sure the French language really counts as a code.
Vezina Trophy
Supposed to be awarded to: The goaltender who is adjudged to be the best at this position
In practice, normally awarded to: The goaltender who is adjudged to be the best at wins, GAA and clutch wins
Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)
Broke Tom Barrasso's record for most wins in a season by a US-born goalie and is seemingly well on the way towards becoming a similar favourite of the
Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators)
Despite a long history of strong results and personal accolades, remains a player with as many critics as supporters, since it is an incontrovertible truth that for every person that says no team has made a better eighth round draft pick since he was taken, there is one who says that no team has made a worse one.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)
The third Russian player taken in the first round of the 2012 draft, has easily surpassed the achievements of Nail Yakupov and Mikhail Grigorenko thanks to his much-admired ability to not be drafted by the Oilers or Sabres.
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League
In practice, normally awarded to: The player selected as the highest point-scoring forward in what might be his third year of competition in the National Hockey League after what might be no or several years of competition in another professional league
Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders)
Gave the New York Islanders an elite 1-2 scoring threat down the middle, unlikely to be matched by any team next year, especially the New York Islanders.
Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks)
An outstanding rookie season was cut short by injury after a collision with Cal Clutterbuck and an open bench door, earning the multi-positional and hard-hitting door a five-year $17.5m contract extension from an impressed Garth Snow.
Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes)
The Coyotes have been keen to capitalise on the rookie's marketability as a clutch scorer, but attempts to trademark the nickname 'Clayton Killer' were rebuffed on finding it was already taken.
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| Model Carol Alt has had Alexei Yashin by her side for almost 20 years, earning her the nickname 'New York Islanders Salary Cap Summary' |
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game
In practice, normally awarded to: The forward who is considered by PHWA members to be the best defensively, based on a balanced analysis of zone-starts, Corsi %, quality of competition, usage and shot prevention while shorthanded and penalty differential, though an insignificant minority might just look at reputation and plus-minus.
Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins)
Although credited with one assist in Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, that goal was not scored by Marchand, as he could not complete a key pass to Braddy in the game that ended the Boston team's season.
Sean Couturier (Philadelphia Flyers)
By scoring seven points in two games playing with a torn MCL, entered the pantheon of Flyers to ultimately suffer failure after performing playoff heroics in the face of adversity, joining Kate Smith (dead) and Michael Leighton (Michael Leighton).
Anže Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
A Selke finalist for the fourth time in the past five seasons, after finishing second in 2013/14, placing third in 2014/15, winning in 2015/16 and having a -10 rating in 2016/17.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey
In practice, normally awarded to: The player who missed the most games through injury the season before, especially if injury caused by incident of vehicular donutshopicide
Brian Boyle (New Jersey Devils)
After failing to break through with the Los Angeles Kings, went on to become a defensive specialist in the league, a reputation first attached to him by one shrewd observer after apparently shutting down a young Artem Anisimov in the AHL playoffs, despite facing Artem Anisimov in the AHL playoffs precisely as many times as I have.
Roberto Luongo (Florida Panthers)
A rollercoaster career bookended by the confidence-boosting experience of being traded by Mike Milbury and the confidence-shattering experience of not being traded by Dale Tallon.
Jordan Staal (Carolina Hurricanes)
Engaged in a tight family competition for most playoff points over the past six years, currently sitting alongside Jared, a mere three points behind Eric and eight behind Marc.
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| "Travis, congratulations on winning the NHL Foundation Award. Like you, I also pledge to devote a large amount of time over the next year aiming to enrich the lives of certain people in the Calgary community." |
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Voted on by: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability
In practice, normally awarded to: The player adjudged to have had the fewest penalty minutes when the voters quickly skim down the list of top 20 scorers five minutes before the deadline to send in their ballot
Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
While many have suggested that the talented Finn will be given away to Seattle at the earliest opportunity, the concept is clearly a joke, since Vegas isn't ever going to consider letting him go.
William Karlsson (Vegas Golden Knights)
Many viewed his 43-goal breakout as one of the biggest surprises ever seen in the NHL, but as one of the six greatest playoff goalscorers in Columbus Blue Jackets history at the time of the expansion draft, perhaps this should have been expected.
Ryan O'Reilly (Buffalo Sabres)
Has admitted recent struggles as alternate captain on a poor Sabres team, igniting trade talk, so donut be shocked to see him put himself in the shop window, ending up in a position of no responsibility and coming away with his reputation intact.
Jack Adams Award
Voted on by: Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association
Supposed to be awarded to: The coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success
In practice, normally awarded to: The coach adjudged to have coached either the most injured team or the team with the best PDO/shootout-fuelled record.
Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche)
Coached the Avalanche to a 47-point improvement on the previous season, which sounds impressive until you realise Patrick Roy's ability to make his 2013/14 team ready to play so much more than the season before translated to a 73-point gain.
Bruce Cassidy (Boston Bruins)
After his first playoff appearance as an NHL head coach 15 years ago ended in his team blowing a series lead by losing four straight games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, this season with the Bruins showed just how much he had learned over that time.
Gerard Gallant (Vegas Golden Knights)
In a never-to-be-repeated occurrence, was let go by the Florida Panthers before joining the Golden Knights and playing a major part in their wildly successful first season.
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| Four feet tall, a mix of silver and mahogany and silent at a podium in front of the media; John Tortorella with the Jack Adams Award |
General Manager of the Year Award
Voted on by: General Managers of all NHL clubs and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media
Supposed to be awarded to: The top National Hockey League General Manager
In practice, normally awarded to: The National Hockey League General Manager Who Apparently Did A Slightly Better Job Than [checks notes] Peter Chiarelli and Pierre Dorion?
Kevin Cheveldayoff (Winnipeg Jets)
Drafted 16th overall out of the Western Hockey League by the New York Islanders and no subsequent NHL playing career to speak of, which is also a sentence describing two sides of a Peter Chiarelli trade involving a finalist for a different award.
George McPhee (Vegas Golden Knights)
Shaped a remarkable season for a first-year expansion team, featuring NHL career best performances from, among others, Tomáš Hyka, Vadim Shipachyov and 40% Of Derick Brassard's Cap Hit.
Steve Yzerman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
After winning the award with the 2014/15 Tampa Bay Lightning, looking to make history by winning the award with the 2013/14 New York Rangers.
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| In hindsight, there was a clue as to which assistant GM would be favoured by the Maple Leafs for promotion, when Kyle Dubas represented the team at the 2017 awards show while Mark Hunter stayed at home |
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