11/05/24
April 21, 2004
NHL Award Nominees Named.: The NHL has announced the finalists for this years awards. I don't think they missed anyone, but it interesting to note that not a single Maple Leaf made the list.
Raycroft's a lock
posted by garfield at 04:42 PM on April 21, 2004
Ron Wilson ought to win, this year was a complete and unexpected turnaround for the Sharks after not even making the playoffs last year. Camcanuck, no love for my boy Martin B?
posted by billsaysthis at 04:45 PM on April 21, 2004
LeafFilter. I say Brodeur wins the Vezina. Who cares about a goalie who plays for the sad-sack Panthers? Ron Wilson should, and will win. The Sharks were supposed to be rebuilding this year...boy, that was quick. I'd love Chara to win the Norris but I think they'll give it to Niedermayer solely for playing so well sans Stevens.
posted by Succa at 04:49 PM on April 21, 2004
St. Louis had a hell of a good season, and he's going to win the Hart because he's got the American press on his side, but if I had a vote, I'd give it to Iginla. As far as no Leafs being nominated, who would you have chosen, camcanuck? I mean, I'm as big a Leaf fan as anyone here and I don't know who I'd have thrown in. Does Belfour replace Luongo or Kiprusoff? Maybe you could make a case, but I like all three of those guys. (They all deserve it. Ah, give it to Luongo. He was the only guy on the Panthers to -- hell, to even show up all year.) McCabe is a top-ten defenseman, but not top-three. Who else. Roberts for the Selke? I can't see it. I like the nominations, actually. It's an unusually solid voting year.
posted by chicobangs at 05:05 PM on April 21, 2004
Although I gotta say, Alfredsson for the Lady Byng is a joke. I can't let his taunting jags slide.
posted by chicobangs at 05:08 PM on April 21, 2004
Luongo deserves serious consideration for the Vezina. He saw a LOT of pucks flying at him this year. Imagine what the Panthers season would have been like if Luongo hadn't played spectacularly? However, Brodeur has a legit chance of repeating. For the Hart, probably St. Louis. Possibly Iginila. Not Brodeur (sorry, Marty.) Norris: Niedermayer. Chara proved that he's not just a freakishly tall hockey player, but a damn good freakishly tall hockey player. However, Niedermayer was consistently the best player on the Devils, put in a lot of minutes and stepped up big time to lead by example without Stevens. Adams: Wilson. Who expected San Jose to make the playoffs? with the second seed? Calder: Raycroft.
posted by andrewraff at 05:16 PM on April 21, 2004
succa, thanks for the Sharks/Devils love buddy!
posted by billsaysthis at 07:22 PM on April 21, 2004
I think it goes down: Vezina: Brodeur - he's due, Florida sucked and Luongo will have his day in the near future, and Kipprosoff just didnt play enough. Hart: St. Louis - a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. Adams: Tortorella - No one saw the Lightning coming THAT quickly. Calder: Raycroft - man if this ain't the era of the goaltender. Norris: Neidermeyer - another, sorta like Brodeur, guy who's due some recognition in a weak D year and of course the Stevens situation helps. Pronger has his and Chara looks like he'll get more than a few chances. Selke: This one I think is close - but it goes to Draper in a close battle. McCauley probably will be (unfairly) penalized for playing in San Jose where the Eastern Conference guys don't see him a lot, and Madden didn't fill the net like Draper. C'mon - it hasn't actually gone to the best defense forward since Guy Carbanneau. I agree that the Leafs didn't really have a guy who matched up with any of these guys, though Belfour and McCabe would be in there if the lists were expanded to 5 guys.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:23 AM on April 22, 2004
Hey, I never said I wanted Brodeur to win....Kipper! Kipper!
posted by Succa at 09:15 AM on April 22, 2004
Billsaysthis: Martin B should get the Vezina if it was a lifetime achievment award, but both Kip and Luongo played better this year. Kipper played better than Luongo, but simply didn't play enough games in my mind. As far as the Toronto comment goes I was just making an observation really. I figured I had to say something to rein in this Leafs love fest after they won the first round (Philly in 6 by the way). I did think that Belfor would get the nod offer Kipper though.
posted by camcanuck at 09:27 AM on April 22, 2004
Vezina - Belfour was the fastest to 30 wins, doing it in 40-some-odd games played. Brodeur showed that his previous 4 years of dominance was in part due to Stevens. Luongo was hands down the best goalie all year long. He practically played another third of a season judging by his save total. Head and shoulders above the rest. Hart - St.louis. Next. Adams - Sutter. He got the Flames into the playoffs and past the first round on a shoestring budget and multiple injuries to key players in the highly competitive NW division. Norris - Neidermayer. Overall, he's a better player than Stevens, just not as physical, and got to show us this year. Selke - Holik. He shuts em down, and this year he even racked up quite a few points. I don't know, the winner of this one is always a surprise to me.
posted by garfield at 09:39 AM on April 22, 2004
Garf - Brodeur led the league in wins, shutouts and the Devils won the Jennings again and was easily the best player in the L before the All-star break. I think we're just so used to it that it makes flashy Luongo seem way better than Brodeur during the highlights but I can never see this going to a guy who's team didn't finish even close to the playoffs. That shouldn't happen in my opinion.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:10 PM on April 22, 2004
Weeds, the wins are products of starting more games than almost every other goalie(save turco and i think Luongo), the shut outs mostly happened with Stevens on the ice(i think, but I'm not 100%), and the Jennings is largely a product of the team system. I get the losing team argument, I just don't buy it for an Individual award. Vezina is supposed to go the best goal-tender, not the best goaltender with good d that clears the puck well, keeps the number of shots down, etc. I also consider SV% as the best indicator of a goalie's skill, and among the leaders in that category this year, Luongo stopped quite a few more pucks, maintaining the impeccable average through many more chances of failure. Brodeur will probably win though. I just think its a purely individual award.
posted by garfield at 01:50 PM on April 22, 2004
A couple thoughts on who might win what... Hart Winner: Martin St. Louis - Won the scoring race, lots of press. Should Win: Jarome Iginla - No better all around player in the NHL. Gets very little press Vezina Winner: Robert Luongo - Played well on a poor team and played a lot. Should Win: Robert Luongo Jack Adams Winner: John Tortorella - Might not win if St. Louis gets the Hart Should Win: Ron Wilson - Has less to work with than Totorella