True, the traditional NHL awards — MVP, best goaltender, top defenceman — will be handed out on Wednesday in prime time. But what viewers aren’t aware of are the other NHL awards, the ones not quite prestigious enough for television.
Fortunately, Sportsnet.ca was there on Tuesday, at a low-key, brown-tie affair held at Circus Circus, to report on the NHL awards unfit for prime time and the Hockey Hall of Fame. So without further ado, here are your winners….
Skill of the Year: Shot blocking
As if it was a new technique, blocking shots supplanted stretch passes and sweet dangles as hockey’s most commentary-worthy play.
Most Slighted by the Nominee Committee: Mike Smith
After being passed over by many a GM, Smith — the main reason the Coyotes qualified for the post-season and then won two rounds — is probably used to acknowledgment falling short of his skills. He wasn’t invited to the All-Star Game; he should be a Vezina nominee at the very least. (Runner-up: Claude Giroux)
Cutest Use of the Stanley Cup: Dustin Brown’s sons
The L.A. Kings captain’s boys were last seen blowing chocolate milk bubbles out of the trophy while dressed in matching Spider-Man costumes. Ahhh…
Least Sought-After Player: The Puck-Stalling Defenceman
Unlike his more coveted cousin, the Puck-Moving Defenceman, the Puck-Stalling Defenceman — a specialist at tail-manning the puck, getting pucks in shallow and killing penalty kills — received no love this season.
George Parros Mustache Memorial Award: Adam Henrique
The New Jersey Devils rookie bucked convention in trimming his playoff beard — but maintaining the ‘stache — in the Cup final, seeing immediate dividends as he scored the Game 4 winner, a beauty it must be noted, to stave off elimination.
Uncharacteristic Spazz-Out of the Year: Daniel Alfredsson
(Sponsored by Too Much Red Bull) Normally the poster boy for poise, the Senators captain threw a water-bottle-stomping fit after being benched in Ottawa’s first-round playoff series versus the Rangers.
The Bobby Orr Going-Out-on-Top Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom
The Red Wings classy leader leaves the game after a rich, award-filled career at a time when he’s perfectly capable of quarterbacking a 20th consecutive playoff team.
The 45th Annual Make-The-Leafs-Look-Bad Plaque: Florida Panthers
By ending their 12-year-long playoff drought, the Southeast squad has now made the Leafs the NHL team with both the longest active Stanley Cup drought and playoff drought. (Runner-up: The Leafs)
Dressing-Room Drama Major of the Year: Alexander Radulov
Tough to decide what’s been more challenging for the Nashville Predators club: getting Radulov over to North America, dealing with his extracurricular activities during the team’s most promising playoff run, or trying to salvage something in losing his talent for 2012-13. (Runner-up: Rick Nash)
Overshadowed Injury of the Year: Kris Letang
With so much scrutiny on Sidney Crosby’s day-to-day health, the recurring symptoms of the Pittsburgh Penguins young offensive defenceman somehow managed to fly under the radar. This is a 25-year-old dynamic NHL stud whose season was seriously plagued by headaches.
Best Player on a Soft Team Award: John Tavares
(Presented by multiple winner Rick Nash) If the New York Islanders forward with duvet hands wore a different jersey, he’d be hogging headlines.
Alexei Kovalev Underachiever of the Year (a.k.a. “The Kovy”): Tampa Bay Lightning
How does a team so close to glory last spring — a lineup stacked with Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos — fail to make the post-season despite playing in a relatively weak division?
Twitter account of the Year: @LAKings
Narrowly beating runner-up @Harsty19 in a poll based on retweets, the Kings’ tweeter(s) managed to temper their promo with humour and insight and useful stats and even some mild controversy. Not afraid to call out their fellow California media on their fumbled representation of the new champs.
Scariest Moment of Year: Chris Pronger gets hit in the eye
When a veteran so resilient, so tough, races off the ice holding his face, it’s almost impossible not to feel a jolt of empathic panic. Luckily for Pronger, his eye healed, but now the Philadelphia Flyers defenceman is suffering from lingering concussion symptoms.
The Bertuzzi Controversial Hit of the Season: Raffi Torres
(Runner-up: Duncan Keith) Presented by last year’s winner, Zdeno Chara, Torres, a no-show for the ceremony, won for his last-straw late check on Chicago’s Marian Hossa. The repeat offender earned a 25-game suspension and made casual viewers question whether the game has gotten out of control.
Nostalgic Hockey Anthem of the Year: “Good Ol’ Hockey Game,” by Stompin’ Tom Connors
Connors’ 23-peat victory of this award is getting a bit ridiculous at this point. Word from the voting committee is that runner-up 2 Unlimited’s “Get Ready for This” actually gave Stompin’ Tom a run for his money.
Hockey Mom of the Year: Tami Holtby
(Runner-up: James Reimer’s mom) Washington Capitals rookie netminder Braden Holtby’s mother waited until the playoffs to usurp this prize from the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie’s mom, who spilled the beans that her son had suffered a concussion, much to the dismay of the Leafs’ top brass. Ms. Tami’s expressive reactions to her son’s every save were front and centre early during the playoffs; her past as a country singer sealed the deal.
Most Re-watchable Replay of the Year: Craig Smith missing the empty net
The Nashville rookie’s attempt to roof an open-net breakaway shot this -season is worth book-marking for whenever you want to feel good about your chances of making the cut.