(Last) Week In Review: Awards and the Draft

Even though these events were last week, free agency is tomorrow and damn if I fall this behind.

Awards

Hart Trophy
Winner: Evgeni Malkin
Finalist: Henrik Lundqvist, Steven Stamkos
Analysis: Not much surprise here. The only thing I don't like is the "player has to make playoffs" arguemnet that went against Stamkos. Hockey isn't like Basketball were one player can carry a team.

Vezina Trophy
Winner: Henrik Lundqvist
Finalist: Jonathan Quick, Pekka Rinne
Analysis: Again, no surprise as Lundqvist wins. He was also nominated for the Hart so there was a good chance he wasn't going to f***ing lose it.

Calder Trophy
Winner: Gabriel Landeskog
Finalist: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique
Analysis: While this was suppose to be the Year of the RNH (and it basically was), Landeskog was a better all around play, which definitely gave him a few extra votes. If voting was done after the players then it would be interesting to see how many extra Henrique would have gotten.

James Norris Trophy
Winner: Erik Karlsson
Finalist: Zdeno Chara, Shea Weber
Analysis:After the offensive season Karlsson had, it would be hard not to see him awarded the Norris.

Bill Masterton Trophy
Winner: Max Pacioretty
Finalist: Daniel Alfredsson, Joffrey Lupul
Analysis: After the Chara incident, Max Pacioretty was the right choice for this award. Not knocking Lupul, as what he went through was scary, I just think his nomination should have been last year (when he came back).

Ted Lindsay Award
Winner: Evgeni Malkin
Finalist: Henrik Lundqvist, Steven Stamkos
Analysis: Usually the Hart winner also gets this award too. No surprises here.

Jack Adams Award
Winner: Ken Hitchcock
Finalist: Paul MacLean, John Tortorella
Analysis: I can't believe that this is Hitch's first Jack Adams. He definitelty deserves it though. Also, credit to MacLean for taking the Sens from projected cellar-dwellers to a game within the second round of the playoffs.

Frank J. Selke Trophy
Winner: Patrice Bergeron
Finalist: Pavel Datsyuk, David Backes
Analysis: Datsyuk didn't win? Then this isn't a real award then. Joking, joking. Bergeron deserves this trophy.

GM of the Year Award
Winner: Dave Armstrong
Finalist: Dale Tallon, David Poile
Analysis: St. Louis did have a good year, but this award should have gone to Tallon. The amount of turnover in Florida (and to make the playoffs) was remarkable.

Lady Byng Trophy
Winner: Brian Campbell
Finalist: Jordan Eberle, Matt Moulson
Analysis: I think it's awesome that a defensemane finally won this award for the first time since 1954. Congrats Campbell.

Draft

Because I don't have all day to disect each selection, here is the first round recapped with thoughts on that and the second day (rounds 2-7)

1. Nail Yakupov (Edmonton)
2. Ryan Murray (Columbus)
3. Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal)
4. Griffin Reinhart (New York I)
5. Morgan Rielly (Toronto)
6. Hampus Lundholm (Anaheim)
7. Mathew Dumba (Minnesota)
8. Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh)
9. Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg)
10. Slater Koekkoek (Tampa Bay)
11. Filip Forsberg (Washington)
12. Mikhail Grigorenko (Buffalo)
13. Radek Faksa (Dallas)
14. Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo)
15.Cody Ceci (Ottawa)
16. Tom Wilson (Washington)
17. Tomas Hertl (San Jose)
18. Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago)
19. Andrei Vasilevski (Tampa Bay)
20. Scott Laughton (Philadelphia)
21. Mark Jankowski (Calgary)
22. Olli Maatta (Pittsburgh)
23. Mike Matheson (Florida)
24. Malcolm Subban (Boston)
25. Jordan Schmaltz (St. Louis)
26. Brendan Gaunce (Vancouver)
27. Henrik Samuelsson (Phoenix)
28. Brady Skjei (New York R)
29. Stefan Matteau (New Jersey)
30. Tanner Pearson (Los Angeles)

First Round Thoughts

• Edmonton did the sensible thing and took the #1 ranked guy. Even though everyone was scared s***-less about him going to the KHL (more on that later).
• Columbus with a great pick in Murray, should be the cornerstone defenseman the Blue Jackets need for years to come.
• I was skeptical of the Habs picking Galchenyuk (espically with the knee injury that kept him out almost all season), but the more I hear about him the more I'm easing off the skepticism...for now. 
• Burke picking a Canadian is amazing. Burke calling him the #1 prospect of the draft is unbelievable.
• The number of defensemen taken in the top 10 was a record. The number of defenseman taken in the first round was remarkable.
• How far both Filip Forsberg and Olli Maatta fell isn't right, these two should have been drafted top 10.
• Speaking of top 10 talent, Grigorenko fell off in the rankings. Wonder how much that has to do with the rumours that he was 20. 
• The Flames trading down didn't make much sense. The fact that they drafted a guy who they could have got in the second round is (again) unbelievable. Fester is really "Going For It" (It = not playoffs/rebuild).
• The Bruins are bastards for picking P.K.'s little brother.
• The Devils are...well...devils for picking "Matteau, Matteau, Matteau" junior.

Other Draft Thoughts

• The Habs with two interesting picks in the later rounds. First off was Dalton Thrower (a great name for hockey) in the second round, then Tim Bozon (son of Philippe Bozon - a French-born [as in France, not Quebec] player) in the third round.
• I get it's easy to make Brian Burke-American player jokes, but for him to only pick one U.S.-born player in this draft is surprising.
• Martin Frk (who plays for the Halifax Mooseheads) got drafted in the second round by the Red Wings. He'll likely be sent back this year, meaning for Frk-ken jokes for me.
• Minnesota picking Louis Nanne was a no-brainer. Why wouldn't they?
• Only one player from my home province (Nova Scotia) was picked. Brandon Whitney, 191st overall (7th round) to the Blackhawks.
• The only time the ""KHL Factor" should be considered during the draft is if the player is already playing (re: under contract) over there. If a Russian is playing over in North America, then there should be no worry about him going back (for a few years).

2012 Stanley Cup Playoff Review - (6) New Jersey Devils vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Series Summary

In the beginning it seemed like the series would be a close one. The first two games in New Jersey basically went the same way (Kings score first, Devils eventually tie it up on a deflection, Kings win in overtime). Game 3 is when it seemed like the series was over, as the Kings just dominated the Devils, beating them to take a 3-0 series lead. While everyone expected a sweep, New Jersey had other plans. After trading goals in Game 4, Henrique put one over the arm of Quick, which was all the Devils needed to avoid the sweep. The Devils comeback continued in Game 5. Parise opened the scoring for the Devils when Quick misplayed the puck, then Williams tied it up in the second period. Voynov scored his second for the Devils this series Salvador scored the game winning goal for the Devils. Game 6 was thought to be a close, tense game...then Rob Scuderi turned his back and Steve Bernier leveled him against the board, got a 5 minute major, ejected, and the Kings scored 3 times during the powerplay to end the series. The Devils were completely deflated after that and only mustered one goal after being down 4-0. The Los Angeles Kings won the game 6-1 and were crowned the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions.

Games

Los Angeles Kings 2 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 1

Los Angeles Kings 2 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 1

New Jersey Devils 0
Los Angeles Kings 4

New Jersey Devils 3
Los Angeles Kings 1

Los Angeles Kings 1
New Jersey Devils 2

New Jersey Devils 1
Los Angeles Kings 6

Three Thoughts About The Series

• Doing...uh..."research" about Taylor Stevens. Found out she's only a year older than me.
• I listened to WTMW for one period. It wasn't that bad. Then again, I was subjected to the atrocious commentary (the actual play-by-play) during the World Championships. So there's that.
• After the Bernier hit, I think there is something to be said about introducing a penalty to the victim of those hits. If you turn your back as a last-second tactic, you kind of deserve more than just any pain that comes from it. Funny enough, adding a penalty for that kind of behaviour would deter players from doing that and make the game safer (and smarter).  

Pictures Of The Series

There were too many good pictures to chose from, here are my top 3

After his interview, Rex told Elliotte Friedman to get him a GOD DAMN SNACK!

Kudos to the Kings Mascot for this taunt.

Peter Deboer: The Most Focused Man In The World

Plays Of The Series

Kopitar with the goal of the series:

And Scuderi with the (smartest/dumbest) play of the series:

Prediction Results

MDK: 7-8

BEK: 8-7

Game Six

I got two things to say:

1. Congrats to the Norfolk Admirals for winning the AHL Calder Cup
2. Whoever is doing the Deboar iso-cam tonight is gonna be the envy of a lot of guys.

Tonight's Prediction

New Jersey Devils 1
Los Angeles Kings 3

The Kings end it tonight. As much as it would be awesome to see a Game 7 and potential history, I think the last two games were wake-up calls for LA and they should be in charge for most of this game with the home crowd behind them.

Saturday Night Hockey

Not much time + Not feeling good = Mailed-in post

And the Habs hiring Therrien for a second time doesn't help.

This Week's Congratulations

Congrats to Canada on winning the Inline Hockey World Championship

Congrats to Evgeni Malkin on winning the Kharlamov Trophy (awarded to the best Russian player)

Congrats to Wayne Gretzky, who helped the Kings almost win the Cup in 1993 even though he didn't get there until 1998.

And speaking of 1993, congrats to the Marlies for having a "Refs Screwed Us" moment like there parent club in a crucial playoff series.

Tonight's Prediction

Los Angeles Kings 0
New Jersey Devils 2

I think New Jersey takes their new-found momentum and continues with it. The Kings undefeated road record is in jeopardy tonight.

Lineup Notables

Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils

Los Angeles: Scott Parse (hip) is out. Jonathan Quick starts.
New Jersey: No injuries to report. Martin Brodeur starts.

Tim Thomas' Year Off

Over the weekend Tim Thomas announced he was going to take a year off.
My original thought was that it might be th smart move for him. Get out of the spotlight after all the attention he's been in since missing the White House meeting and, with his ambition for wanting to play in the Olympoic in 2014, maybe join the U.S. team for the Deutcheland Cup and World Championship (just to keep in good standings with Hockey USA). The only downside I thought of at the time was that being 38 and having a year off would hinder his abilities as a goaltender.

Then ideas started coming out about how he wanted out of Boston and that was his way of saying "Trade me or I walk" and it made more sense. A fresh start woul  be good for Thomas, but this is a pretty selfish way of wanting a trade. He basically handcuffs the Bruins with a $5,000,000 and a diminishing asset for every game he sits out.

As much as I like to see the Bruins suffer, this is just plain stupid.

For a second view on this, here is our dad:

There is now a 100% guarantee that a season ending lock out will occur in the NHL…

TIM THOMAS!!!!

This selfish P.O.S. just put the owners in a position which they (justifiably) will want to prevent in the future. It is also a position that no player (especially lead by Fehr) will concede.

Players will have be held accountable for living up to the contract they signed. They won’t. So get ready for 27 teams requiring handouts from Toronto, Montreal & New York in a couple years when the lockout finally ends.

Future headline… TIM THOMAS singled handedly destroys the economy of the NHL!

(He will them have something in common with Obama.)

Tonight's Prediction

New Jersey 1
Los Angeles 2 (OT)

While it seems almost a lock for the Kings to win tonight with how the series is going, this game might be different. Out of the 3 times in these playoffs the Kings have had a 3-0 series lead, they are 1-2 in game fours. While it wouldn't be shocking to see the Kings end the playoffs tonight, it's equally not as shocking to see the Devils go one more game. Either way, I'm hoping for overtime.

Lidstrom Retires

Lidstrom Retires

The hockey world was saddened on Thursday when Nicklas Lidstrom officially retired. He is definitely a top 5 defenseman of all-time and his accomplishments back it up: 4-time Stanley Cup winner, Conn Smythe, Olympic gold medal, member of the Triple Gold Club, 7 Norris Trophies, 10-time First Team All-Star, and multiple All-Star Games (even being one of the first captains for the All-Star draft). Red Wings GM Ken Holland said it best that Lidstrom was a "no-maintenance" player, and its true, Lidstrom was never on a Patrick Kane-like binge and the one "recent controversy" (Crosby handshake) he was involved in he was the good guy. It will be a long time before the NHL ever gets a defenseman to the caliber of Lidstrom.

Tonight's Prediction

New Jersey 2
Los Angeles 3 (OT)

It would be nuts if this series went into a third straight overtime, but I'm predicting it. Nothing changes though as the Kings will once again be victorious. The Devils might struggle to make a series out of it.

Saturday Night Hockey: Game 2

Don't have much time between now and Game 2, so I'll touch on Lidstrom's retirement and Thomas' year off (among other things) on Monday before Game 3. For now, just the essentials.

Prediction

Los Angeles 4
New Jersey 1

Since the teams used Game 1 to feel each other up (or is it out?), the Kings will likely be the ones who start off dominating the series.

Lineup Notables

Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils

Los Angeles: Simon Gagne (concussion) and Scott Parse (hip) are out. Jonathan Quick starts tonight.
New Jersey: Henrik Tallinder (leg) is out. Martin Brodeur will start.

2012 Stanley Cup Review - (1) New York Rangers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Series Summary

This series was...weird? The first couple of games the Devils set the tone for most part, but ended up with the series as 2-2 (with Game 3 going almost exactly like Game 1, down to the goal scorers). When the Rangers finally woke up and started setting the pace, they lost (maybe it was because the Devils started aiming for their heads). Throughout the series, two things were clear:

1. The Rangers were T-I-R-E-D
2. Torts' press conferences were golden.

The Rangers will now have to deal with an offseason of disappointment (really? Conference Finals is pretty damn good), and the Devils move on the Stanley Cup Final.

Games

New Jersey Devils 0
New York Rangers 3

New Jersey Devils 3
New York Rangers 2

New York Rangers 3
New Jersey Devils 0

New York Rangers 1
New Jersey Devils 4

New Jersey Devils 5
New York Rangers 3

New York Rangers 2
New Jersey Devils 3 (OT)

Three Thoughts On The Series

• The fact that games 3-7 was scheduled on the same days as when they faced off in 1994 is eerie.
• The comments by JP Parise was probably the biggest "Shut up Dad" moment.
• I would talk about the Rangers, but I'm going to keep it in the room.

Picture Of The Series

Here is a picture of Brodeur's scorpion save. Despite being over 40, the dude still has it.

Play Of The Series

This powerplay goal by the Devils in Game 6 was a thing of beauty.

2012 Stanley Cup Review - (3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Series Summary

The first two games was royal domination for the Kings, as the Coyotes nearly lost it (their cool) when near the end of Game 2 they took a ton of penalties, with Hanzal, Doan, and Morris taking penalties that could have been suspendable (with Hanzal being the only one missing a game) and Smith diving (then again what else is new). The Coyotes lost Game 3, but it was more promising as they were able to play the way they wanted and not let the Kings dominate. The Kings finally lost (for the second time in the playoffs) when they got shutout. Game 5 was a goal-for-goal affair between the two teams. In overtime, Michal Rozsival collided with Dustin Brown and had to be helped off the ice with a knee injury. On the ensuing faceoff, the Kings stormed into the Coyotes zone and ended the game when Dustin Penner buried a rebound right in front of the net. The Kings move on to the Final while the Coyotes head north...just kidding, they're getting there ownership sorted out.

Games

Los Angeles Kings 4
Phoenix Coyotes 2

Los Angeles Kings 4
Phoenix Coyotes 0

Phoenix Coyotes 1
Los Angeles Kings 2

Phoenix Coyotes 2
Los Angeles King 0

Los Angeles Kings 4 (OT)
Phoenix Coyotes 3

Three Thoughts On The Series

• Got to hand it to the Kings, they just didn't let the Coyotes have nothing in the first two games.
• I get that he has a reputation for going down easy, but when Mike Smith nearly amputated his leg, it was a dumb penalty called against him (Brown that is, Smith deserved an ejection).
• I don't know if there was fines on their comments, but that was some blatant ref attacking by Doan, Yandle, and Smith after Game 5.

Picture Of The Series

With all the confusion over what Kings team the LA Media should be caring about, the Kings (hockey) came out with a handy infographic.

Play Of The Series

That was one weird handshake line wasn't it?