NHL Awards: Who takes home the hardware?

Vegas, baby.

As the stars of the National Hockey League shave off their playoff beards and don their classiest (and, hopefully, lightest) attire for the annual awards ceremony in Adult Disney World on Wednesday, we give you a quick, nickel-slot primer on all of the 2012 NHL Awards nominees, our favourites to take home the hardware, and encourage you to cast your vote for the shiniest individual awards in a team-first sport.

“Individual awards are a wonderful reflection of a guy’s ability, but they’re also a wonderful reflection of the guys you’re playing with and the team you’re playing for and the competition that surrounds you. I think everybody understands that,” seven-time Stanley Cup winner Bryan Trottier said.

“It’s been beaten to death, but everybody who’s been fortunate enough to win an individual award, to a man, will say the same thing: ‘It’s wonderful. Thank you very much. But I couldn’t have done it without the boys.’ “

Here’s a rundown of all the awards and nominees:

Awarded to: Player most valuable to his team
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: Henrik Lundqvist (G, New York Rangers), Evgeni Malkin (C, Pittsburgh Penguins), Steven Stamkos (C, Tampa Bay Lightning)
Who will win: Evgeni Malkin
Who should win: Evgeni Malkin
Why that guy? After twice finishing as runner-up for hockey’s greatest individual award (2008, 2009), the bridesmaid* is ready to become the bride. With Sidney Crosby absent for the bulk of the season, Malkin led the league in points, scored 50 goals for his first time ever, and was the engine that propelled the Pens to one of the East’s best regular-season records. The human highlight package did all this while returning from injury, improving his defence (a career-best plus-18) and staying out of the box (a career-low 70 PIM). Not that it counts for much here, but he led his country to a gold medal at the World Championships as well. (*Of course, by “bridesmaid” we mean extremely-skilled Russian hockey beast.)

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Awarded to: Best goaltender
Who decides? NHL general managers
Nominees: Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers), Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings)
Who will win: Henrik Lundqvist
Who should win: Henrik Lundqvist
Why that guy? Although a strong argument could be made for John Q (word to Denzel Washington), Quick already won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe; any more would just be excessive. And, seriously, how can Lundqvist be nominated for the Hart but not win the Vezina? It’s kind of like when Eminem is nominated for both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at the Grammys. Everyone knows he’s not winning Album of the Year, yet Best Rap Album is a given. Lundqvist posted 39 wins, a 1.92 GAA and .929 save percentage — career bests all — in leading the Rangers to the East’s finest record. Though close, each one of those stats is better than Quick’s. Plus, L.A.’s golden boy is four years younger; the Vezina is in his future.

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Awarded to: Best defenceman
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators), Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)
Who will win: Erik Karlsson
Who should win: Shea Weber
Why that guy? Though the Boston Bruins have won more Norris trophies than any other franchise (13), this is really a two-horse race. Chara won in 2009, and unlike the Senators and Predators, the Bruins had an underwhelming season. Karlsson, a first-time nominee, crushed his competitors in terms of offence (78 points), but Weber, a second-time nominee, has been the backbone of the Preds for half a decade. He was a career-best plus-21 on a defence-first team compared to point-producing Karlsson’s plus-16. The three-time all-star with the make-you-duck point shot should be rewarded.

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Awarded to: Most proficient rookie
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: Adam Henrique (C, New Jersey Devils), Gabriel Landeskog (LW, Colorado Avalanche), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C, Edmonton Oilers)
Who will win: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Who should win: Gabriel Landeskog
Why that guy? If playoff performance counted, the podium would be all Henrique’s (true, he was the only one of the trio to qualify for the postseason, but his maturity and clutch play was remarkable). But based on the regular season, fans shouldn’t be mad no matter who wins. Check the stats: Landeskog (22 G, 30 A, plus-20) Henrique (16 G, 35 A, plus-8), Nugent-Hopkins (18 G, 34 A, minus-2). Because RNH put up comparable numbers to the other two despite missing 20 games due to injury, the voters might side with him. However, Landeskog, who causes the small clusters of fans in Denver to drop their jaws, is the most well-rounded player at this point in time. Though he’s received less press than his fellow nominees, the Swedish winger hits, scores, makes plays and he’s durable. And he was plus-20 on a minus-12 team that finished 11th in the West.

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Awarded to: Player who exhibits the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: Brian Campbell (D, Florida Panthers), Jordan Eberle (RW, Edmonton Oilers), Matt Moulson (LW, New York Islanders)
Who will win: Brian Campbell
Who should win: Brian Campbell
Why that guy? Only two players, Martin St. Louis and Pavel Datsyuk, have won this award for the past six seasons. We know their stranglehold is over, but who will claim the Lady? Campbell should, no question. No defenceman has claimed the Byng (which, if the Awards producers have any knack for puns, will be presented by Matthew “Chandler Bing” Perry on Wednesday) in more than 50 years. Campbell deserves to join Bill Quackenbush and Red Kelly as the only two rear guards to win it. Not only did he score 53 points and quarterback Florida to its first playoff berth in 12 years, Campbell took six minutes in penalties in 82 games — an insane stat for a No. 1 defenceman. For my money, the most underrated player in the NHL this year.

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Awarded to: Forward who best excels in defensive aspects of the game
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: David Backes (C, St. Louis Blues), Patrice Bergeron (C, Boston Bruins), Pavel Datsyuk (C, Detroit Red Wings)
Who will win: Pavel Datsyuk
Who should win: Patrice Bergeron
Why that guy? Datsyuk has already won this award thrice and could four-peat. Writers and players love Pavel, who makes the game read like poetry, and no one will be angry if he reclaims his prize. But Datsyuk (plus-21) missed a dozen games due to injury, and Bergeron (64 points) had his best offensive year since 2006-07 while posting a career-best plus-36, the best plus/minus in the entire league. Backes falls into the just-happy-to-be-nominated category.

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Awarded to: Coach who contributes most to his team’s success
Who decides? NHL Broadcasters’ Association
Nominees: Ken Hitchcock (St. Louis Blues), Paul MacLean (Ottawa Senators), John Tortorella (New York Rangers)
Who will win: Ken Hitchcock
Who should win: Ken Hitchcock
Why that guy? Even though he’s a former broadcaster and even though he got a young squad to buy wholesale into a sacrifice-your-body, defend-first system, Tortorella rubbed too may the wrong way to win the Jack. MacLean did wonders with the surprise Senators, but what Hitchcock did in St. Louis was so swift and obvious. When the Blues made the switch to Hitch on Nov. 6, they rapidly began a climb from a team bound for the basement to winning their first playoff series in 10 years.

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Awarded to: Player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey
Who decides? Professional Hockey Writers’ Association
Nominees: Daniel Alfredsson (RW, Ottawa Senators), Joffrey Lupul (LW, Toronto Maple Leafs), Max Pacioretty (LW, Montreal Canadiens)
Who will win: Daniel Alfredsson
Who should win: Daniel Alfredsson
Why that guy? Seniority plays a factor here. I mean, what if Alfredsson retires? The Masterton would be a swell parting gift. Not that the Sens captain doesn’t deserve it. Is there a more accommodating interview? Has there been a better All-Star Game host in recent memory? One mangled Gatorade bottle notwithstanding, the 39-year-old Alfredsson embodies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. This one’s a no-brainer.

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Awarded to: Player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season
Who decides? Mark Messier, based on suggestions by fans, clubs and NHL personnel
Nominees: Dustin Brown (RW, Los Angeles Kings), Ryan Callahan (RW, New York Rangers), Shane Doan (RW, Phoenix Coyotes)
Who will win: Shane Doan
Who should win: Shane Doan
Why that guy? Callahan might be the cute choice — one great Rangers captain honouring another — but it’s not going to happen. That would be like the Little League coach picking his son as team MVP: even if he deserves it, eyebrows will raise. Though Brown has a shot here (in 2011, the Moose gave his trophy to Cup hoister Zdeno Chara), Doan should and will win. Messier consistently picks guys who’ve been around the league a while (Chis Chelios, Mats Sundin, Jarome Iginla), preferably in one uniform, and Doan, who has been with the Coyotes since they were called the Jets, just led Phoenix farther in the playoffs than its ever been. Plus, the guy never swears and owns a hockey stick made of Skittles – which, everyone knows, is the new Lays.

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Awarded to: The best-performing GM
Who decides? The GMs and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media
Nominees: Doug Armstrong (St. Louis Blues), David Poile (Nashville Predators), Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers)
Who will win: David Poile
Who should win: Doug Armstrong
Why that guy? Poile and Tallon have built winners in tough markets, but Armstrong made a quick (and fantastic) decision to bring in Ken Hitchcock when his team was struggling, allowing him to work his magic for the bulk of the season. Think of the other teams that made positive coaching changes this year, and wonder where those clubs might have finished had the GM pulled the trigger a little sooner. Also, Armstrong should be rewarded for his acquisition of the best one-two goaltending duo of 2011-12, William Jennings winners Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott; the latter, an all-star, Armstrong inked up through 2013-14 for under $2 million a year.

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Awarded to: Player who applies the core values of hockey — commitment, perseverance and teamwork — to enrich the lives of people in his community
Who decides? NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and executives Pat Flatley, Bernadette Mansur and Kenneth Martin, Jr.
Nominees: Mike Fisher (C, Nashville Predators), John-Michel Liles (D, Toronto Maple Leafs), Matt Moulson (LW, New York Islanders)
Who will win: Mike Fisher
Who should win: Matt Moulson
Why that guy? Eerily similar to the King Clancy Award, the Foundation Award is about doing good. The winner gets to donate $25,000 to his charity of choice. In addition to writing a book whose proceeds benefit World Vision, Fisher, a devout Christian, donated $40,000 to Cottage Cove Urban Ministries, a non-profit that serves Nashville’s inner-city youth. Moulson got creative too, vowing to donate $500 per goal to the 326 Foundation, which he created with brother-in-law Jonathan Quick to benefit the Islanders Children’s Foundation and the Kings Care Foundation. He went out and scored a career-best 36 goals too.

(No poll necessary; everyone’s a winner!)

Awarded to: Most outstanding player
Who decides? Fellow members of the NHL Players’ Association
Nominees: Henrik Lundqvist (G, New York Rangers), Evgeni Malkin (C, Pittsburgh Penguins), Steven Stamkos (C, Tampa Bay Lightning)
Who will win: Evgeni Malkin
Who should win: Evgeni Malkin
Why that guy? Formerly the Lester B. Pearson Award, the Teddy is to the NHL Awards what the Viewers’ Choice Award is to the MTV Awards: a popularity contest. And though he won’t earn any votes from the Philadelphia Flyers, Malkin should still win this in addition to his Hart and Art Ross trophies and gold medal. (Stamkos, remember, is only 22; the hardware will come, trust us.) Too many guys have failed trying to strip him of the puck to not check off his name. Fun Malkin 2012 fact: Other than Wayne Gretzky (1981-82), he’s the only player to lead both the NHL and IIHF World Hockey Championship in scoring in the same season.

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… and the No-Surprise Awards

Maurice Richard Trophy: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos wins the award for most goals scored in the regular season (60). Watch all 60 of those goals here.

Art Ross Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third repeat Art Ross winner, takes the award for most points scored (109).

William M. Jennings Trophy: Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak capture the second William Jennings in St. Louis Blues history by combining for a league-best 165 goals against during the regular season.