NHL
2018 NHL Awards Predictions For The 2018 Season
Tonight the 2018 NHL awards are upon us. If this past season has proven anything its that the past does not always repeat itself. Pittsburgh did not “3peat” as predicted by many of their bandwagon fans as they were eliminated in second round of playoffs along with fellow 2017 finalists the Nashville Predators. Despite all that I have to say that this season was the first season in 20 years that did not disappoint. I was happy to see Alexander Ovechkin finally get past 2004 draft rival Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. To overcome powerful opponents in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Las Vegas Golden Knights to Raise the Stanley Cup in his 13th year. After all that is said and done, we now have yet to see more awards given out. Here are my 2018 NHL Awards Predictions.
Vezina Trophy – Connor HelleBuyck of the Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck has brought the Winnipeg Jets to the Western Conference final for the first time in franchise history and the first time under the name of the Winnipeg Jets. The former Winnipeg Jets (1972-1994) who later moved to Phoenix also never made the Western final. His 44 wins beat Tom Borrossos record for most wins in a season by an American born goalie, and Hellebuyck has given the Winnipeg whiteout much to rally behind and fills the hole left in the heart by Winnipeg fans for the near 20 years they were without an NHL team. Can I get a Helle-Yeah?
Frank J. Selke Trophy – Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Couturier will win the Selke. This Philadelphia Flyers forward was on the ice for 142 goals the most out of anyone in the 2017-2018 regular season. He is 3rd in league with a plus 34 rating the best by a flyer since John LeClair. his impressive stats have brought the Philadelphia Flyers to their first playoffs since 2016. Although they were eliminated in the first round by the defending champions and State Rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins we can expect much from Sean Couturier and the Flyers in the future.
Norris Trophty – Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Although he played five fewer games then the other nominees PK Subban and Drew Doughty, his stats are still impressive having the best plus/minus rating and most points setting his personal best in scoring 17 goals. Had he played in 5 more games I am willing to bet that those stats and more would surpass the other guys.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy – Jordan Stall of the Carolina Hurricanes
Jordan Stall went through something that no expecting parent should ever go through, the loss of his unborn daughter. The pain is all too great and its a hole in your heart that never fully heals. Somehow in that tragedy, he was able to overcome and set his second total goal and points total in his six seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also offered words of Comfort to Ottawa Captain Erik Karlsson who went through a similar tragedy in March.
Calder Memorial Trophy – Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders
This one is a no-brainer because he leads all rookies with 85 points and he is the first rookie to do so since Sidney Crosby. No one else this year comes close.
Mark Messier Leadership Award – Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets
Blake Wheeler helped the Winnipeg Jets to their best franchise record with 114 points. Perhaps as impressive as his on-ice leadership is his off-ice leadership as shown by his work with the True North youth foundation that helps under-served youth in Manitoba. He is also an instructor with the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy where he encourages youth to stay a play-based program designed to increase school attendance and high school graduation rates in socially and economically challenged schools in Winnipeg. I lived in Winnipeg from 1986 to 1994, and I can say from personal experience that this is much needed.
Jack Adams Award – Gerard Gallant of the Las Vegas Golden Knights
Gerard Gallant managed to take a team formed by the expansion draft and piece together a Stanley Cup finalist. I think we were all impressed at how the Vegas Golden knights performed for a new team. He was able to establish chemistry within the players, and 11 of them hit career highs under his leadership. I am not sure that many other coaches could have done that. Gerard Gallant was nominated last year for this award but lost to Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals. Imagine that.
Ted Linsday Award – Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers
Dubbed “McJesus” in Edmonton, Connor McDavid will win the Ted Lindsay award. Another no-brainer because between him and the other two candidates, McJesus has the most goals, the most assists, the most hat tricks, the most assists per game and the most points per game. There is no reason the NHLPA should vote for anyone else. Edmonton has not seen a player like this since the days of Gretzky and Messier.
King Clancy Memorial Trophy – Henrik and Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks
The Sedin twins retired this year after 17 years in the NHL. The King Clancy Memorial trophy will be a lovely retirement gift for the two. The Sedins have donated 1.5 million to build a children’s hospital in Vancouver, and the work they continue to do with the Canucks for kids foundation has raised more than 42 Million dollars. Enough said.
General Manager of the year Award – George McPhee of the Las Vegas Golden Knights
McPhee built the Vegas Golden knights from the expansion draft and managed to pick the best that every team let him and to make it to the Stanley cup final their first year as a team is impressive. I do not like the treatment that Marc Methot received from the Vegas management last year myself, and I was happy to see them lose in the final, it was Karma at its finest.
These are predictions so if I’m wrong feel free to come back to me and say “you were Wrong!” that’s fine. My hockey predictions in the past so far have had a 78% accuracy. Let’s see how my 2018 NHL Awards Predictions hold up.
This article was originally written by former TSJ101SPORTS NHL writer Bobby Busch. Due to systems modalities, the article has been assigned to the author tag designation “Former Writers”.
