NHL Awards: Editor In Leaf End Of Season Picks

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Jun 24, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman poses for photographers on the red carpet of the 2014 NHL Awards ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Just as we did for mid-season, we’ve polled our staff for award picks using the PHWA format for the NHL Awards.

The mid-season awards that we handed out look much different from the awards we’re about to give out today. There is only one repeat award winner from the mid-season rankings until now.

You’ll be happy to know there’s no homerism in the picks as no Toronto Maple Leaf received a single vote for any of the awards. I know, you’re all shocked.

Next: Lady Byng Trophy

Apr 18, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) works out prior to game two of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Lady Byng Trophy

Pavel Datsyuk took home the Lady Byng award from the Editor In Leaf staff, scooping up three first place votes en route to the win.

Datsyuk had 65 points in 63 games and found his way to the penalty box for only eight minutes during the season. It’s the lowest penalty minute total for Datsyuk’s career in seasons in which he’s played at least 50 games.

Matt Moulson was the only other player to receive a first place vote.

Mid-Season Winner: Patrick Kane

Next: Frank J. Selke Award

Frank J. Selke Trophy

Pavel Datsyuk takes his second award of the year winning the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward. Again, 65 points in 63 games and one of the smartest, most responsible, players in the National Hockey League.

Datsyuk received on first place vote but won the award on his depth votes. Max Pacioretty, Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron all received first place votes as well.

Mid-Season Winner: Patrice Bergeron

Next: GM of the Year Award

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman announces Anthony Deangelo (not pictured) as the number nineteen overall pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

GM of the Year Award

Steve Yzerman finished first in a tight race for the top GM in the National Hockey League.

Yzerman has built a strong foundation of talent with the Tampa Bay Lightning that is paying tremendous dividends for the organization. Smart pickups in the off-season and consistently impressive drafting have the Lightning looking to be a constant in the NHL playoffs for years to come.

Kevin Chevyldayoff, Tim Murray and Bob Murray received first place votes.

Mid-Season Winner: Garth Snow/David Poile

Next: Jack Adams Award

Feb 22, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette watches play from the bench during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Adams Award

Peter Laviolette wins the Jack Adams Award from Editor In Leaf – and is the only repeat winner in comparison to the mid-season awards.

Laviolette turned a horrendous Nashville Predator team on dime and cruised into the playoffs as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Craig Berube was just fired.

Paul Maurice (WPG), Alain Vingeault (NYR) and Bob Hartley (CGY) received first place votes in addition to Laviolette.

Mid-Season Winner: Peter Laviolette

Next: Calder Memorial Trophy

Apr 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates his goal with Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Calder Memorial Trophy

Mark Stone snuck in and took the Calder Trophy – edging Aaron Ekblad and Filip Forsberg by a single point.

Stone finished tied with Johnny Gaudreau for the rookie scoring lead with 64 points in 80 games. Stone had two more goals then Gaudreau to finish ahead in the tie-breaker.

Stone was the driving force behind the Ottawa Senators miraculous run to a playoff berth.

Filip Forsberg (2) and Aaron Ekblad (1) received first place votes in addition to Mark Stone.

Mid-Season Winner: Filip Forsberg

Next: Vezina Trophy

Apr 17, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save against Ottawa Senators during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Vezina Trophy

Carey Price took home the Vezina in a landslide, capturing all four first place votes for a clean sweep.

Price had 44 wins, a 1.96 goals against average and a .933 save percentage in one of the most impressive seasons by a goaltender in NHL history.

It pains me to award a Montreal Canadiens player anything but Carey Price is truly the best goaltender on the planet.

Mid-Season Winner: Pekka Rinne

Next: Norris Trophy

Apr 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) carries the puck during the shootout against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Ottawa 3-2 in an overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Norris Trophy

Erik Karlsson earned two first-place votes to take home the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenceman.

Karlsson finished with 21 goals and 45 assists to league the league’s defenders in points while playing all 82 of the Ottawa Senators games.

Karlsson returned to form once Mark Methot came back into the lineup and was a major factor in the Senators amazing run to the playoffs.

P.K. Subban and Mark Giordano received the addition first place votes for the Norris Trophy.

Mid-Season Winner: Mark Giordano

Next: Hart Trophy

Feb 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during the second period against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Hart Trophy

Carey Price takes a clean sweep of his second award, winning the Hart Trophy on the back of four first place votes.

Price is the major reason the Montreal Canadiens had the season they had. Without Price the Montreal Canadiens are battling for a playoff spot instead of the President’s Trophy.

Price was lights-out all season long and continues to cement himself as one of the great goaltenders of this generation.

Mid-Season Winner: Pekka Rinne

That concludes our awards for the end of the season. We’ll revisit these when the actual NHL Awards are handed out in June to see how close we came to picking the winners compared to who the PHWA chooses.

Thanks for reading along.

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