TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Trophy Watch

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

At the season's half-way point, enough hockey has been played to begin to distinguish the favorites for the various postseason awards. And here they are:

Hart Trophy (MVP)

Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay: He clearly has been the best player in the league, but the Lightning's struggles could hamper his candidacy for his first MVP award.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary: If the Flames stay hot in the second half, he could surpass Lecavalier as the favorite.

Dany Heatley, Ottawa: The top scorer on the best team in the Eastern Conference is having another banner year.

2007 winner: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh.

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)

Patrick Kane, Chicago: Leads all rookies in points at nearly one per game.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago: Hard yet to distinguish between him and his fellow accomplished rookie teammate, but Kane gets the slight nod now.

Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta: Leads rookie defensemen in points, and he's not bad defensively, either.

2007 winner: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh.

Art Ross Trophy (Points leader)

Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay: The players behind him have changed from week to week, but he's maintained his lead.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta: Hard to envision him keeping up the points pace, no matter how many goals he scores.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary: As Iginla goes, so go the Flames. And he's going well right now.

2007 winner: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh.

Norris Trophy (Top defenseman)

Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit: Until this guy retires, this award is going be a foregone conclusion.

Brian Rafalski, Detroit: The move from New Jersey has been good for the diminutive scorer.

Sergei Zubov, Dallas: Already sitting at 30-plus assists.

2007 winner: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit.

Vezina Trophy (Top goalie)

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver: He started slowly, but that was a mirage. He's still the best in the league.

Evgeni Nobokov, San Jose: Those on the East Coast don't see him much, which is OK with the teams on the East Coast.

Chris Osgood, Detroit: He shares the duty with Dominik Hasek, but Osgood's numbers are too good to ignore.

2007 winner: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey.

Selke Trophy (Top defensive forward)

Jarome Iginla, Calgary: His commitment to defense has helped his offensive production.

Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa: Leads by example, an example of hard-nosed play and opportunism on the penalty kill unit.

Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina: As always, his savvy, size and strength make him a formidable opponent.

2007 winner: Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina.

Lady Byng Trophy (Gentlemanly conduct)

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit: The two-time winner of this award is a logical choice to win it again.

Jason Pominville, Buffalo: Plays hard, produces, but doesn't get penalized (four minutes in 38 games).

Per Johan Axelsson, Boston: Even though his ice time has increased, he came into the weekend with only four penalty minutes.

2007 winner: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit.

Jennings Trophy (Fewest goals allowed, team)

Detroit (Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood): Much of this has to do with the defense in front of them.

Vancouver (Roberto Luongo): The league's best netminder has re-established himself as a force.

San Jose (Evgeni Nabokov): The defense does a lot of the work, but he's solid when it gets to him.

2007 winners: Niklas Backstrom/Manny Fernandez, Minnesota.

Adams Award (Coach of the Year)

Brent Sutter, New Jersey: Making the most of his first chance in the NHL by keeping an even keel through alarmingly slow start.

Dave Tippett, Dallas: Even through a GM change, the Stars continue to over-achieve and threaten the West powers.

Ken Hitchcock, Columbus: He's changed the mentality in a perennially losing organization.

2007 winner: Alain Vigneault, Vancouver.

Rocket Richard Trophy (Most goals)

Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta: The Thrashers' sniper doesn't have much scoring help around him, but he doesn't seem to need it this year.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary: Coach Mike Keenan came along just in time to enjoy Iginla at the peak of his prime.

Alex Ovechkin, Washington: After a slow start, the third-year Russian star again is among the league's leaders in goals.

2007 winner: Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT