Part two of my NHL Awards Projection is the Vezina trophy.
Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie)
(1) Ben Bishop: [38GP, 26W, .934Sv%, 1.96GAA]
What a year Big Ben is having, Tampa Bay has found their starting net minder at last. After being dealt to Tampa for Corey Conacher last year at the trade deadline Bishop has been outstanding for the Lightning. He leads the league in save percentage and is third in both wins and goals against average. He has been a huge part of keeping Tampa Bay in contention for the Atlantic Division. Especially in the absence of Steven Stamkos. This team looks primed for a playoff run as long as Bishop keeps up what hes done thus far. Assuming he builds off his numbers in the first part of the season Bishop should win his first Vezina in what could be the most contested award of the year.
(2) Tuukka Rask [39GP,23W,.930Sv%, 2.08GAA]
Tuukka Rask got off to a blazing start in his long awaited first full season as the undisputed guy in between the pipes for the Boston Bruins. After a remarkable playoff run that saw Rask fall just short of his second Stanley Cup (won cup as backup in 2011) last season. There is not a single person who would blame him for the Bruins six game loss to the Blackhawks. His incredible playoff performance and collective body of work led Boston GM Peter Chiarelli extending Rask to a lucrative long term deal. Tuukka fell on a bit of a rough patch a few weeks back but has since rebounded. If he can elevate himself to his 2013 playoff form there is no doubt he could win this years Vezina.
(3) Semyon Varlamov [42GP, 26W, .925Sv%, 2.43GAA]
It looks as if Semyon Varlamov has fianlly become the guy Colorado thought he was when they trade a first and second round pick for him back in 2011. Under the tutelage of Hall of Fame goalie turned coach Patrick Roy, Varlamov has had a career year. With 26 wins on the season he finds himself sitting 3rd in the entire NHL. Assuming he doesn't falter down the stretch, and Colorado continues to play great hockey in front of him this is definitely a guy that warrants some Vezina consideration.
Honorable Mention: Antti Niemi, Josh Harding, Marc Andre-Fleury
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014
NHL Award Projections Part 1 (Hart Trophy)
With all teams have played between 50 and 55 games, things are starting to fall into place. However there is the Olympic break which can be sort of a wild card concerning players health, confidence, and rest come down the stretch run of the NHL season. Here at this point are my NHL award projections.
Hart Trophy (MVP)
(1) Sidney Crosby: [53GP, 27G, 47A, 74Pts]
Sid is right where we all expected him to be at this point. He is leading the league in points and assists, fourth in league in goals and has a plus/minus of 13. The remarkable things about 87 is his two way play. He is nearly as good in his own end as he is on the offensive side of things. "He's a modern day Ron Francis with more flash".** I fully expect him to keep up his current pace down the home stretch of the season and barring injury should be nearly a unanimous Hart Trophy winner 2014
(2) Alexander Ovechkin: [48GP, 36G, 15A, 51Pts]
Now I already know people will have a problem with Alex Ovechkin being the number two over a guy like Ryan Getzlaf, or John Tavares. However, Ovechkin won the Hart last year by doing the exact thing he is doing this year....SCORE GOALS. He scores more often and consistently than any other player in the NHL. If OV can get hot and finish the season with 60 plus goals and continue to carry his team offensively, you know he will steal some votes.
(3) John Tavares: [54GP, 23G, 41A, 64Pts]
It seems like John Tavares gets better and more fun to watch every season. He was recently named to Team Canada which has since said is a huge honor. He has been producing at an extremely high rate this season with 64 points in just 54 games played. Those 64 points have him sitting in second for the league points lead. If Tavares is able to continue his play at both ends of the ice and can lead the New York Islanders into the playoffs he becomes an extremely attractive Hart Trophy candidate
Honorable Mention: Ryan Getzlaf, Patrick Kane, Ben Bishop
Hart Trophy (MVP)
(1) Sidney Crosby: [53GP, 27G, 47A, 74Pts]
Sid is right where we all expected him to be at this point. He is leading the league in points and assists, fourth in league in goals and has a plus/minus of 13. The remarkable things about 87 is his two way play. He is nearly as good in his own end as he is on the offensive side of things. "He's a modern day Ron Francis with more flash".** I fully expect him to keep up his current pace down the home stretch of the season and barring injury should be nearly a unanimous Hart Trophy winner 2014
(2) Alexander Ovechkin: [48GP, 36G, 15A, 51Pts]
Now I already know people will have a problem with Alex Ovechkin being the number two over a guy like Ryan Getzlaf, or John Tavares. However, Ovechkin won the Hart last year by doing the exact thing he is doing this year....SCORE GOALS. He scores more often and consistently than any other player in the NHL. If OV can get hot and finish the season with 60 plus goals and continue to carry his team offensively, you know he will steal some votes.
(3) John Tavares: [54GP, 23G, 41A, 64Pts]
It seems like John Tavares gets better and more fun to watch every season. He was recently named to Team Canada which has since said is a huge honor. He has been producing at an extremely high rate this season with 64 points in just 54 games played. Those 64 points have him sitting in second for the league points lead. If Tavares is able to continue his play at both ends of the ice and can lead the New York Islanders into the playoffs he becomes an extremely attractive Hart Trophy candidate
Honorable Mention: Ryan Getzlaf, Patrick Kane, Ben Bishop
Friday, January 24, 2014
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