Hart: Crosby
Pearson: Crosby
Vezina: Brodeur
Norris: Lidstrom
Selke: Brind'Amour
Calder: Malkin
Jack Adams: Vigneault
Lady Byng: Datsyuk
Masterton: Kessel
King Clancy: S. Koivu
Art Ross: Crosby
'Rocket' Richard: Lecavalier
Jennings: Minnesota (Backstrom/Fernandez)
The only award I have a beef with was the Hart. I really thought either of the goalies were more valuable to their teams. Both were weak offensively and both goalies were the backbone to their success in the regular season. I think Brodeur should've won the Pearson given his gaudy numbers as a goalie. He broke Parent's record for most wins plus he had 12 shutouts and he was third in save percentage and goals against. Sid the Kid will get his fair share of hardware in his time but I think he played on a better team overall this year compared to last year and I don't think he deserves as much credit for their success as he's gotten with getting the Hart Trophy. To me, this year was all about Luongo and Brodeur.
Lidstrom for the Norris was up for debate but hard to ignore his +40 rating. It really could've gone to either him or Niedermayer. Niedermayer had the most points among defensemen and he was second to Chara among defensemen in ice time. He had to anchor that defense when Pronger got hurt a couple times during the year.
No arguments on Malkin winning the Calder. He had a late start but he came out like house on fire with scoring 7 goals in his first 6 games as a pro. Stastny was probably the best rookie in the second half of the season but I think he pretty much would've had to surpass Malkin for the top spot in scoring in order to steal this award from him.
Vigneault for the Adams doesn't get much argument from me but I think any guy looks smart when you've got that giant #1 in net for 76 of your 82 games. I don't think there was any doubt he was the best coach of the new hires from this past season. The Canucks made an 18 point improvement but then again, that could be credited to just having an all-world goalie...something they've probably never had in franchise history. I think if there was an executive of the year award, it would be hard to choose anyone other than Dave Nonis for getting Luongo in a trade and hiring Vigneault...both moves changed the fortunes of his team greatly. Burke is probably the best GM overall but Nonis made two brilliant moves to make the Canucks a power in the West.
Kessel's comeback story from testicular cancer was very much worthy of the Masterton Trophy...props to him on winning that. He ended up having a very quiet rookie year...just 29 points in 70 games...but I think he can proud of how battled and beat cancer during the season.
2006-07 NHL Awards
Moderator: Shoalzie