VANCOUVER -- The Stanley Cup was handed to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.
Tonight, the rest of the league's hardware will be handed out at the annual NHL Awards.
Here's a look at the nominees:
CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding rookie): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames. This one was a race to the finish line between Ovechkin and Crosby. While Crosby had a 100-point season, Ovechkin should be a lock for the award. He is a hard-nosed player at both ends of the ice, was surrounded by very little talent in Washington and is strong on the puck. Crosby would have taken this in all the pre-season predictions, but the award is going to Ovechkin.
FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (outstanding defensive forward): Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes; Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators; Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars: It's almost like Lehtinen is here every year, but he won't be a winner this time. Fisher, a newcomer to the nominations, had a great season, but this will be Brind'Amour's year. He was excellent at both ends of the ice and his leadership brought the 'Canes a Cup.
HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (most valuable player to his team): Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers; Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames; Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks: This is the toughest to pick. Jagr was the odds-on favourite all season, but there was a late push -- especially in Canada -- for Thornton. Dealt by the Bruins to the Sharks, Thornton was solid with Boston and spectacular with San Jose. Jagr took the Rangers to the playoffs, but the nod goes to Thornton by an eyelash.
JACK ADAMS AWARD (outstanding coach): Peter Laviolette, Carolina Hurricanes; Tom Renney, New York Rangers; Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres: Another difficult choice. The easy pick is Laviolette because the Hurricanes just won the Cup, but this voting was done before the playoffs. Renney helped the Rangers make massive steps, but Ruff took the Sabres a long way. Watch for Renney to prevail.
JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding defenceman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Mighty Ducks; Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars: There shouldn't be any debate here: It has to be Lidstrom. Niedermayer and Zubov both had fine seasons, but Lidstrom remains the top defenceman in the game.
LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (sportsmanlike and gentlemanly conduct): Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings; Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks; Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning: Who wants it? Give it to Richards just because he's been here before.
LESTER B. PEARSON (most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHLPA): Jagr, Rangers; Ovechkin, Capitals; Thornton, Sharks: Don't be surprised if the players choose Ovechkin.
VEZINA TROPHY (outstanding goaltender): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames; Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers. Kiprusoff's an MVP candidate and deserves this award.
