The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Montreal Canadiens in game five of their playoff series last night.
This piece was written ahead of time, so hopefully this morning finds you elated and excited after the first Toronto Maple Leafs playoff series victory in 17 years.
Either way, after the first round is over the NHL is going to announce the finalists for their end of season awards. Most awards are voted on by the PHWA before the playoffs begin, but after the regular season. Some awards are voted on by the GMs and the Ted Lindsay is of course voted on by the players.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews led the NHL in goal scoring, so he will win the Rocket Richard Trophy, while Connor McDavid will receive the Art Ross for leading league in total points.
Which Toronto Maple Leafs Might Be Nominated?
Though no member of the Leafs is likely to take home a major award (other than the Rocket) there is a chance several members could me nominated.
Auston Matthews will for sure be nominated for the Hart Trophy and Mitch Marner should at least get some votes and finish in the top five or six. Obviously Connor McDavid will win this though.
The Norris should go to Adam Fox, and he, Cale Makar and Dougie Hamilton should receive nominations if there is any justice in the NHL. Though Muzzin, Rielly and Brodie all posted elite results this year, none of them will be or deserve to be nominated.
Sheldon Keefe kept his team in the President’s Trophy conversation until the last game of the year and he did it without his starting goalie for half the season, and barely any power-play success. The Leafs coach has an outside shot at the win, but should definitely be dominated.
Mitch Marner should be nominated for the Selke, and who knows, he might even win it. I’m sure there are better statistical candidates, but how many of them scored at a 100 points pace?
The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have any rookies of note, but Matthews might get the Lady Byng at least. Anyways, this is shaping up to be a much more Toronto Maple Leafs-heavy version of the awards that usual, even if no big wins for the boys in blue are likely.
There is one trophy that people care about above all, and the Leafs still have a pretty good chance to win that one, so I don’t think we should begrudge Mr. McDavid his Hart Trophy, even if Auston’s season was Hart Worthy in most other years.