Stamkos will Ascend to the Top of the NHL Mountain
Keep smiling Stammer, the Hart Trophy might be in your future./Lisa Gansky
Who can challenge Carillon favourites, the Anaheim Ducks?
Author: brady lang – multimedia editor
After a long, tiring summer, were back to the season every Canadian missed.
The NHL is back.
The preseason is fully in swing and these weeks are every hockey fans dream, projecting the rest of the season. Last week, we had Carillon contributor Harrison Brooks breaking down who he thought would be the standings going forward into the season, this week I’ve been tasked with projecting awards including the projected winner of Lord Stanley’s Mug.
Without further adieu, here we go:
Hart Trophy (League MVP): Steven Stamkos, TB
After a tough year that had Stamkos sidelined with a broken leg, the league’s best sniper will take his first Hart Trophy this season. He has all the skills to blow this league away like he has the past three years and assuming Stamkos stays healthy, the Hart’s his.
Lady Byng Trophy (Most Gentlemanly Player): Jon Toews, CHI
Toews is the most gentlemanly player and the most sportsmanlike. He’s hard working and the best captain in the league.
Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender): Frederik Andersen, ANA
Andersen was stellar in the 28 games he played last year and the playoffs and is poised for a monster season. Andersen went 20-5 with a save percentage of .923. This may be out of left field, but if he starts for Anaheim, this year will be special for the Ducks and Andersen.
Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman): Drew Doughty. LA
Doughty is a beast and by far the best defenseman in the NHL. Doughty will have a monster season and take the Norris trophy with ease. The best D-man on the best defensive team means a Norris trophy for Doughty.
Calder Trophy (Top Rookie): John Gaudreau, CGY
Gaudreau is the most NHL-ready prospect out there on a young team. Pair him with a guy like Sean Monahan and Gaudreau leads the rookies in points with a breeze. Honourable mention- Jonathon Drouin, TB
Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Player): Jon Toews, CHI
Toews again, eh? Insert Toews praise here.
Jack Adams Trophy (Top Coach): Todd Richards, CBJ
Columbus is going to shock the hell out of a bunch of people this year. They’ve changed a lot from their past woes and will be heading to the postseason. Richards takes the win by default.
Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player): Evgeni Malkin, PIT
I predict a strong decline in Crosby’s game this year, so Malkin will be the one stepping up and making this year special for the Russian. Malkin will win the Art Ross trophy.
Messier Award (Greatest Leader): Jon Toews, CHI
See above. You get the story.
Art Ross (Most Points): Evgeni Malkin, PIT
Richard Trophy (Most Goals): Steven Stamkos, TB
Jennings Award (Best Save Percentage): John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, ANA
West Champion: Anaheim Ducks
East Champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup: Anaheim Ducks
I’ll finish this with the Stanley Cup Champion. In seven games, Anaheim will win their second Stanley Cup. In the most exciting Stanley Cup in recent history, Ryan Getzlaf will raise the cup over his head. Teemu Selanne will be mad at his decision to retire and will let out a collective grown back home in Finland. Perry, Getzlaf, Kesler and company are just too good. They will be the champions.
First of all, where do you get off. Where do you come up with these facts? How do you know that the best player in the world will randomly have an off year. You can’t go come walking in with all these huge assumptions and state them so matter of factly. Toews for Lady Byng is a joke. The lady Byng is for soft forwards who get two penalty minutes a year like Ryan O’Reilly. Also, Teemu Selanne can’t collectively groan. It has to be a “collection” of people to “collectively” groan. Anaheim Ducks fans can collectively groan, the country of Finland can collectively groan, Teemu Selanne cannot collectively groan. You’re a writer man.