Over halfway through the season

[Yzerman191 37]

I'm curious as to some others' predictions for the individual awards. I think:

Richard: Ovechkin, of course. Best goal scorer in the league by a landslide.

Art Ross: Malkin. This guy is an absolute beast. Both Ovechkin and Crosby could potentially snag it, but I don't think any of the others get enough ice time to catch up. AO has the tendency to catch fire towards the end of the season and go on an absolute tear, so I could still see him catching up if he does. However, if the award goes to a Penguin, I can't see Crosby beating out Malkin for it.

Vezina: Mason, but my guess is as good as yours. Unlike recent years, it doesn't appear that any of the top goalies (statistic-wise) are going to play more than 55 games. Also, both Brodeur and Luongo suffered injuries that nullifies their chances at winning another Vezina. Mason has a phenomenal save percentage, GAA, and win-loss record, but he's only on pace to play about 60 games, at most. Thomas is another guy I could see getting some strong consideration.

Norris: Lidstrom. The fact that he can see the other up-and-coming D-men in his rear-view mirror doesn't negate the fact that he's still ahead of them. Chara and Green will both get consideration, but as long as Lidstrom's play doesn't drop off towards the end of the season, he'll take his 7th Norris, tying him for second overall.

Hart: One of Ovechkin, Malkin, or Crosby has the best chance at taking the Hart. As much as we all wish people would stop underrating Datsyuk (who has slightly less points than AO with much less ice time and much better defensive play), I don't think the sports writers will vote Datsyuk above Crosby or AO.

Pearson: Ovechkin.

Selke: Datsyuk.

Calder: Mason. Rarely does a rookie goaltender come into the league with such a high level of performance.

Lady Byng: Datsyuk.

Jack Adams: Dare I say, Todd McLellan?

So what do you all think?

[IceMunkee 15]

I think Thomas has a good shot at the Vezina

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

Richard: OV

Art Ross: OV

Vezina: Thomas

Norris: Lidstrom

Hart: OV

Pearson: OV

Selke: Datsyuk.

Calder: Mason.

Lady Byng: Datsyuk.

Jack Adams: Julien

[Guest Shoreline]

Richard: Alex Ovechkin (duh)

Ross: Evgeni Malkin

Vezina: Steve Mason

Norris: Mike Green

Hart: Alex Ovechkin

Pearson: Steve Mason

Selke: Pavel Datsyuk

Calder: Kris Versteeg / Steve Mason

Lady Byng: Pavel Datsyuk

Jack Adams: Todd McLellan

[MacK_Attack 108]

Richard: Ovechkin

Art Ross: Malkin

Vezina: Thomas

Norris: Chara

Hart: Ovechkin

Pearson: Ovechkin

Selke: Mike Richards

Calder: Mason

Lady Byng: Datsyuk

Jack Adams: Brent Sutter

Masterton: Steve Sullivan

Norris: Lidstrom. The fact that he can see the other up-and-coming D-men in his rear-view mirror doesn't negate the fact that he's still ahead of them. Chara and Green will both get consideration, but as long as Lidstrom's play doesn't drop off towards the end of the season, he'll take his 7th Norris, tying him for second overall.

Disagree. I think both Chara & Green have been better this year. Whether that has to do with age or his elbow thing, those two have played better throughout the duration of the season.

Edited February 8, 2009 by MacK_Attack

[TheOwl 77]

Mason's play has dropped off quiet a bit, he'll still win the Calder. Malkin or Crosby won't win the MVP if they miss the play-offs.

Green won't win the Norris. The fact he can score doesn't mean he's good defensively. It could be Boyle, Chara or Lidstrom. Thomas will probably get the Vezina, Kipper and Backstrom will probably be runners up.

[Nev 1,085]

McLellan is probly a good call for Jack Adams.

With all the Wings PK problems and high GA numbers, sportswriters are unlikely to vote for Datsyuk to win the Selke, even if he is on course for a career high +/-. I like the call for Richards, his numbers for hits and blocked shots are excellent, plus he plays for a big media-popular team.

Crosby is wayyyy out of the race for the Hart, pretty much every sportswriter I've seen has a 1-2-3 of Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk, but after today I think Dats has probably leapfrogged him - especially if the Pens don't make the playoffs

Dats is on course for career highs in goals, assists, points and +/-, if he keeps this play up and breaks 100 points (and the Wings go on a tear and catch SJ) he could steal it off Ovechkin (memo to Babs, keep him and Hank together!)

[union drone 0]

Norris: Lidstrom. The fact that he can see the other up-and-coming D-men in his rear-view mirror doesn't negate the fact that he's still ahead of them. Chara and Green will both get consideration, but as long as Lidstrom's play doesn't drop off towards the end of the season, he'll take his 7th Norris, tying him for second overall.

So what do you all think?

I think that Lidstrom will be part of the conversation, but unless he is dominant for the final 30 games of the season, the Norris will probably go to someone else.

Players in the conversation (in semi-approximate order of consideration, IMHO):

Chara

Green

Lidstrom

Markov

Wideman

Boyle

Keith

Blake

Vlasic

Rafalski

[Yzerman191 37]

I think Lidstrom still takes it. His play hasn't been bad, he's just been more average than in years previous. However, oftentimes reputations play a huge role in deciding award winners, and Lidstrom's reputation as the best is still widely held. The closeness between Lidstrom and his nearest competition, coupled with his reputation as the best leads me to believe he takes his seventh (also his last) Norris this Summer. If Lidstrom doesn't take it, I can't see Green taking it. The award is, after all, still about defense, which is an aspect of Green's game that is heavily lacking. Chara takes it if Lidstrom doesn't.

That's the same reason why I think Datsyuk won't get much Hart consideration. He's just widely underrated around the league. Malkin, Crosby, and Ovechkin all probably stand a better chance than Datsyuk does, regardless of how they finish in point totals.

[union drone 0]

I think Lidstrom still takes it. His play hasn't been bad, he's just been more average than in years previous. However, oftentimes reputations play a huge role in deciding award winners, and Lidstrom's reputation as the best is still widely held. The closeness between Lidstrom and his nearest competition, coupled with his reputation as the best leads me to believe he takes his seventh (also his last) Norris this Summer. If Lidstrom doesn't take it, I can't see Green taking it. The award is, after all, still about defense, which is an aspect of Green's game that is heavily lacking. Chara takes it if Lidstrom doesn't.

I can't argue at all with your logic. I think that Lidstrom is very likely a finalist, and with a strong finish plus his reputation as a do-it-all D-man, he has a shot at winning.

My thoughts, however, tell me this:

1) Chara has been a monster for a few years now. This is may be his last best chance to get it, especially considering that there is a lot of young up & coming talent on D. He is having as good of a season as anyone. This might push him over the top

2) I agree that Green's defensive game is only average. His game depends on being an offensive juggernaut. If I were voting, my vote would always be for the MOST COMPLETE d-man. Sadly, I don't get to vote. In the 80s and early 90s, the Norris was almost starting to be considered the award for highest scoring d-man (total BS, imo). Nowadays voters seem to have the right idea: the Norris is an MVP for d-men... MVD, if you will. Is Green's offense enough to overcome his unremarkable defense and make him an MVD?

3) despite the above about Green, the sportwriters vote for the Norris. The media buzz during the home-stretch really tells a lot about which way the wind blows. There has been a lot of buzz about Chara and Green, and little more than honorable mention about anyone else... although I was happy that Milbury gave Lids props during the Wings-Pens intemission.

4) There are a lot of guys on D this year having great seasons. With so many guys within striking distance, the possibility of a darkhorse winning it is too large to be ruled out.

just my two cents...