Here's a look at the likely winners of the NHL's fabulous post- season awards. But who really cares? Because, as we all know, LCS Hockey hands out its own prestigious awards in our Season Review issue, which usually hits the web in late June. Those are the awards the players truly cherish. So all this NHL jazz is sort of Dullsville. But we might as well talk about it. There's nothing else to do. Why the hell did A&E have to take off "Columbo"?

ART ROSS TROPHY
The first three trophies listed have all been decided. No voting needed. Sort of like the time Arnold Jackson ran for class president. Aw, you knew he was gonna win. That kid was a real go-getter. And I think Dudley was his campaign manager. So right there, that's golden.

Anyway, Jaromir Jagr won his third Art Ross, and second in a row, with 127 points. The Czech Wonder Kid almost lapped the field, owning a 20-point bulge over his nearest competitor. This was also the second straight year that Jagr created a needless distraction right before the playoffs by publicly criticizing coach Kevin Constantine. Way to go, Jags!

NHL Point Leaders
Player         Team        GP   G   A  PTS
Jaromir Jagr   Pittsburgh  81  44  83  127
Teemu Selanne  Anaheim     75  47  69  107
Paul Kariya    Anaheim     82  39  62  101
Peter Forsberg Colorado    78  30  67   97
Joe Sakic      Colorado    73  41  55   96

MAURICE RICHARD TROPHY
Teemu Selanne captured the first ever Richard Trophy by scoring 47 goals in 75 games. This marks the first full season since 1969-70 that there hasn't been at least one 50-goal scorer in the NHL.

NHL Goal Leaders
Player         Team         GP   G
Teemu Selanne  Anaheim      75  47
Jaromir Jagr   Pittsburgh   81  44
Tony Amonte    Chicago      82  44
Alexei Yashin  Ottawa       82  44
John LeClair   Philadelphia 76  43
Joe Sakic      Colorado     73  41
Eric Lindros   Philadelphia 71  40
Theo Fleury    Colorado     75  40
Miroslav Satan Buffalo      81  40    

JENNINGS TROPHY
The Dallas Stars allowed a league low 168 goals this season to claim their first ever Jennings Trophy. Ed Belfour and Roman Turek will get their names engraved and stuff.

HART TROPHY
This could be a close call between Jaromir Jagr and Alexei Yashin. There's no denying that Jagr is the most dominating offensive force in hockey, but he wasn't exactly the epitome of a team player this season. He floated a bit early and was back to his usual complaining self by the end of the year. Basically, when Jagr wasn't scoring, he wasn't doing anything. Thankfully, he scored a whole lot. Any advantage Yashin may have had by playing in Canada likely got squashed by Jagr's dazzling overtime winner in Wayne Gretzky's farewell. The whole world, including the Canadian press, got to witness his brilliance. That goal alone will probably be enough to swing the vote. Curtis Joseph might get some attention for leading the Maple Leaf resurgence, but it won't be enough.

Likely Winner: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins

Runner-up: Alexei Yashin, Ottawa Senators

NORRIS TROPHY
This one should be all Al MacInnis. The Big Daddy Mac led all defensemen in scoring with 62 points, recorded his seventh career 20-goal season, logged nearly 30 minutes a game, was among the league leaders with a +33, and appeared in 82 games. MacInnis has never won a Norris. This will be his year.

No other defenseman really distinguished himself from the pack the way MacInnis did. Ray Bourque had a nice year in Boston, but he finished at a -7. Nicklas Lidstrom was his usual steady self, but he always gets overlooked so this year won't be any different. Brian Leetch was a -7, which actually isn't too bad considering he played for New York. Two unlikely guys that could receive some votes are Phil Housley and Fredrik Olausson. Housley (79-11-43-54, +14) was extremely valuable to a young Calgary squad that needed some leadership along the blue line. And Olausson (74-16-40-56, +17) is a big reason why Anaheim finished with the league's top power play. Ever Steady Freddy really gave the Duck offense a shot in the arm.

Likely Winner: Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues

Runner-up: Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins

VEZINA TROPHY
Dominik Hasek quietly went about having his best season ever. It's true. He didn't really get as much press as usual, but Hasek was amazing, posting career bests in goals-against average (1.90) and save percentage (.937). This is the sixth consecutive season that Hasek has led the league in save percentage. That's kind of special. He also closed in style, earning his ninth shutout in Buffalo's season finale.

If not for the Dominator, Byron Dafoe would be skating away with his first career Vezina. Dafoe was marvelous for the Bruins, finishing first in shutouts (10), second in save percentage (.926), and third in goals-against (1.99). But it still won't be enough to clip Hasek.

Ron Tugnutt deserves some credit for finishing with a remarkable 1.79 goals-against average and a real swank .926 save percentage, but he only played 43 games. You're not gonna win a Vezina playing 43 games.

Likely Winner: Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres

Runner-up: Byron Dafoe, Boston Bruins

CALDER TROPHY
There was a great crop of rookies this season, perhaps the best since 1992-93. Colorado boasted two great ones in Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury. Hejduk led all rookies in scoring with 48 points, one ahead of New Jersey's Brendan Morrison. Of course, Hejduk had the benefit of playing on a line with the likes of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Theo Fleury all year long. That'll probably hurt him. Drury didn't see nearly as much premier ice time but still notched 20 goals and 44 points. He also plays a more physical game and can skate either center or wing on any of the top three lines. You gotta admire his versatility.

Billy Muckalt was the favorite at the halfway point but got pulled under by a horrible Vancouver team. Mark Parrish led all rookies with 24 goals, but I think half of 'em came in like four games. Parrish was also a healthy scratch on more than one occasion. That's never good. Pittsburgh's Jan Hrdina may be the best two-way player of them all, but his 42 points won't carry much weight since he fed off Jagr.

But a year or so down the road the two best players from the class of 1998-99 will be Ottawa's Marian Hossa and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier. If Hossa had played more than 60 games, he probably would have snagged the Calder. He's just that good. Both Hossa and Lecavalier are going to be really big stars. I can't say enough nice things about them. So why try?

Likely Winner: Chris Drury, Colorado

Runner-up: Milan Hejduk, Colorado

ADAMS TROPHY
This is going to be all Jacques Martin. He turned the Ottawa Senators into a powerhouse. I didn't even think David Blaine could have done that. And Blaine's the devil. He's gotta be. How else could he get that card with that chick's name on it in the beer bottle? Or turn that bum's cup of coffee into a big cup of change? Oh yes, he's the devil.

Likely Winner: Jacques Martin, Ottawa

Runner-up: Ken Hitchcock, Dallas

LADY BYNG
Does anybody really care? Yeah, I didn't think so. Don't be surprised if they give this one to Gretzky as a going away present. But it looks like it will probably be Selanne. The Finnish Flash had only 30 penalty minutes to go along with his 47 goals and 107 points. Other candidates include Joe Sakic (29 pim), Pavol Demitra (16 pim), Nicklas Lidstrom (14 pim), and Ray Bourque (34 pim). Although Sakic probably lost his chance when he laid the smack down on Doug Gilmour with the People's Left hand.

Likely Winner: Teemu Selanne, Anaheim

Runner-up: Pavol Demitra, St. Louis Blues

SELKE TROPHY
Does anybody really care? Yeah, I didn't think so. The usual suspects will be in contention, including Michael Peca, Peter Forsberg, Jere Lehtinen, and Mike Modano. Joe Sakic was getting a bit of a push there for a while, since many believe he was Colorado's best defensive player this season, but people still think Forsberg first when considering defense.

Despite all the big name favorites, I think a swell fellow by the name of Magnus Arvedson will take the title. The Swedish winger was tremendous for the Senators, scoring 21 goals and 47 points and leading Ottawa with a +33. Arvedson has exceptional straight-ahead speed and is one of the strongest skaters in the league. It would be nice to see him get some recognition.

Likely Winner: Magnus Arvedson, Ottawa

Runner-up: Michael Peca, Buffalo

[ issues | nhl archive | home | nhl history | about us | search | comments ]