Host for the show is somebody called Kenan. I'll confess to being largely unfamiliar with his work, but no doubt he'll make the event a rare triumph despite trying to find an alternative, better paid job throughout the evening and nobody will dare to make an unnecessarily long speech after he forces Nikita Kucherov to stay out on stage talking for seven minutes after picking up the Art Ross Trophy.
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| An embarrassing moment for Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, as he realises the thing on which he just broke his tooth was not a pineapple, as he had been led to believe |
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
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Further enhanced his status in the game by giving up his time to share the ice with players who could probably never have dreamed of getting such an opportunity.
Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Racked up the first 120+ point season by a European player since 2005/06, or as long-time Hart Trophy voters would tell you, the first 120+ point season by a European player since 2000/01.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where you will find the David Dunlap Observatory telescope, the largest in Canada and the home of pioneering work on globular clusters, phenomena which feature a high density of stars around the centre, so a return visit should be a unique experience for him.
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"
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)
Despite his slight frame, was shrewdly snapped up by the London Knights as a youngster, the team president and head coach hugely impressed by his skill level, determination and history of ending up behind a fallen Turgeon in the mid-90s.
Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
While the Lightning have been the subject of many envious looks from rivals after signing the star Russian to successive team-friendly contracts, for balance, the benefits of those deals to the player should be noted, which include no state income tax, an extra day off during first round playoff series and an April vacation in Europe.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
While honoured to have received the Ted Lindsay Award a year ago, the Oilers phenom could not hide his bemusement at again winning the Edmonton media's prestigious Communal Piss Trough Trophy for leading the team in plus-minus.
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
Brent Burns (San Jose Sharks)
Despite again leading all NHL defensemen in scoring, the Shark's Norris candidacy was criticised by the always outspoken Drew Doughty, who felt that the key criterion of performance in 2012 should be taken into account.
Mark Giordano (Calgary Flames)
Despite finishing second among all NHL defensemen in scoring, the Flame's Norris candidacy was praised by the always outspoken Drew Doughty, who felt that the key criterion of not being Brent Burns should be taken into account.
Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Always wore #41 before reaching the NHL, but switched to #77 on arriving in Tampa Bay, partly as a tribute to Ray Bourque, partly because #41 was already in use by a teammate, marking the last time Mike Smith stopped something of significance.
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
Ben Bishop (Dallas Stars)
Has an association with Jim Nill and owner of a record in his final season with the St. Louis Blues freakishly similar to someone else's in their final season with the St. Louis Blues who has an association with nil gym.
Robin Lehner (New York Islanders)
I figure a good sign that a player has performed well is being able to find praise by fans of his team's biggest rivals, so thanks to @HankBlows69 and @MAGA4Avery for telling me that the Islanders goalie had produced "the best ever season in the NHL by an ex-Frölunda goalie playing in New York" and how they admired "a guy who stops the damn puck instead of washing his hair".
Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Recipient of the Order of Honour from Vladimir Putin in 2014, making him the only person pull off the combination of being recognised by a regime hostile to the sitting US president and winning the AHL Goaltender of the Month award, although only on a technicality, since Tim Thomas refused to collect his AHL Goaltender of the Month award.
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| Blackhawks emergency backup Scott Foster received a warm ovation to recognise his amazing achievement of breaking the franchise record for most minutes played by a goalie without playing outdoors |
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
Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues)
Faced an uncommonly tough road to get to this point compared to most NHLers, evidenced by taking a full six years to become a regular on a big league roster after first making racially insensitive comments on Twitter, rather than the typical one or two.
Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres)
After being suspended by the IIHF for an unsporting reaction to receiving a silver medal at the 2018 World Juniors, resolved with his new employers at the subsequent NHL draft to avoid in future being exposed to any possibility of coming close to second place.
Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks)
A native of Sundsvall, a city on the east coast of Sweden which has burned down four times in its history, a statistic that is only one Stanley Cup Final defeat away from being matched by his new home city.
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)
Among his many achievements, famed for having played through a punctured lung, a separated shoulder, a broken rib and a broken nose during the Stanley Cup Final, but his Bruins teammates were also there when the Vancouver fans threw those things on the ice, so it's unclear why he gets all the credit.
Ryan O'Reilly (St. Louis Blues)
Bizarrely blamed by some fans in Winnipeg for the Jets GM's failed efforts to capitalise on a limited opportunity to win the Cup, but the Blues' centre is adamant that he had nothing to do with any Chevy pickup making a mess of the window.
Mark Stone (Ottawa Senators / Vegas Golden Knights)
Signed a $76 million contract extension with Vegas shortly after being acquired at the trade deadline, disappointing Senators management who had previously made an offer believed to be within $75 million of that figure in a bid to keep him in Ottawa.
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
Nick Foligno (Columbus Blue Jackets)
A solid, if unspectacular, offensive career overall, yet still highlighted by the odd elite-level statistic, such as being in the all-time top 10 scorers for Team Foligno.
Robin Lehner (New York Islanders)
Widely applauded for his almost unprecedented act of bravely revealing anything at all about his health while on a Lou Lamoriello team.
Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks)
Returning for the 2019/20 season would achieve the extraordinary feat of being criticised by Boston sportswriters across four different decades.
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| After the inside of his suit based on military fatigues received underwhelming reviews from fashion critics in previous years, William Karlsson shocked everyone with the improvement in his results once he got away from khaki lining |
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)
The star Finn notes on his personal website that "most people call me Barky. I am not sure how this name came about." which sounds ridiculous reasoning but will make more sense when Dale Tallon puts down "Barksy" on his list of players to protect in the Seattle expansion draft.
Sean Monahan (Calgary Flames)
Subject of what was recently voted the third best parody account on Hockey Twitter, behind @NHLbyMatty and @PR_NHL.
Ryan O'Reilly (St. Louis Blues)
While the Blues were perhaps not the expected destination of most observers when the Sabres opted to trade the star pivot during the off-season, there is a least some indication that a deal between the teams had been in the works for at least 18 months.
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.
Craig Berube (St. Louis Blues)
Of First Nations descent and part of NHL history back in 2013, when bench boss of the Flyers against Ted Nolan's Sabres, making it the first time two head coaches in the same game had severely annoyed Dominik Hašek between 15 and 16 years previously.
Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning)
After replacing the fired Guy Boucher, almost instantly turned the Lightning into a perennial contender and top destination for elite talent, so it will be interesting to see if the person who replaces Guy Boucher after his third firing can do something similar.
Barry Trotz (New York Islanders)
Credited with outside the box thinking in devising as many ways as possible to reduce the number of goals conceded by his team at Barclays Center compared to the previous season.
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 General Manager who best excelled at his role during the regular season
In practice, normally awarded to: The General Manager who best excelled at reaching the Conference Final during the regular season
Doug Armstrong (St. Louis Blues)
Ever since the ignominious end of his tenure as GM in Dallas, has been nicknamed "Sabres Crease" due to Brett Hull stepping in and taking something he hadn't earned.
Don Sweeney (Boston Bruins)
It takes nothing more than a cursory glance at the Bruins' recent draft record to identify moves such as picking Jake DeBrusk ahead instead of Oliver Kylington in 2015 as key to the team's refreshed line-up staying among the league's best, so it's fair to assume anything more than a cursory glance is unnecessary.
Don Waddell (Carolina Hurricanes)
Among the small group of people to have only played in a single career NHL game and among the small group of people to have only won a single career Nino Niederreiter trade.
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| Daniel/Henrik Sedin explains to his son/nephew how Bryan Trottier managed to hand write his whole victory speech on his plaque on the King Clancy Memorial Trophy |
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