The Los Angeles Kings will have 2 players to represent the team at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. After each season, the NHL hands out the awards to its best performers for that year. The playoffs are not included as the voting was counted after the season and pre-playoffs. The NHL Awards include The Hart, Norris, Calder, etc. You can read more about each award on NHL.com.
But for the Kings, let’s just concentrate on our two nominees, Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick. We talked about all the Vezina nominees previously here on our blog as well as the Messier award for Brown here too. So how about we talk about the probability of our boys actually winning these coveted awards.
Vezina Award - “The Vezina Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs.” Jonathan Quick is one of three nominees this year. Of course we think he should win because he is our goalie and we just won the Stanley Cup. But the voting took place before the playoffs and only cover the season. The truth is still that Quick helped give the Kings a chance to even play in the Stanley Cup final. Without him we would not have made it. Period.
Odds are in Lundqvist’s favor for the Vezina. I think Quick should win it but the voting is by the GM’s and I’d say most east coast ones will vote Lundqvist and the west coast will probably split Quick/Rinne. Plus, Lundqvist has prior history built up and Quick is just starting. When Lundqvist was voted a nominee for the Hart Trophy (MVP of the team) and Quick was not, I thought maybe Quick will get the nod to even it out. But all that was pre-playoffs when everyone thought the Rangers would take it all.
Vezina Prediction – Quick
Mark Messier Leadership Award – “The Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone has been awarded since 2006-07 and is awarded “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” and is picked by Mark Messier. “ Dustin Brown is one of three nominees this year and the same as Quick, we feel he should win because he is ours, but also like Quick, he is so much more. There are many players who are charitable leaders but none hold a candle to Brown. The list of charities as well as exemplifying what a leader of a team should be like, makes him the number one choice.
Odds are in favor of Doan for the Messier award. I definitely think Brown should win this award this year. Like Lundqvist, Doan has the history here. Brown really turned his game around 3/4 the way through the season and in turn, the team reacted and achieved to even get to the playoffs. His leadership is not in question and his charities are numerous and heartfelt.
Messier Award Prediction – Brown
Why did I just pick Los Angeles Kings for the winners of their prospective awards? Because I’m a HOMER!!!
The 2012 NHL Awards will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 and broadcast live at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and CBC. The band, Nickelback, will perform two songs and the show will have lots of celebrities including Ray Liotta, Cheryl Burke, Matthew Perry, Vince Vaughn and lots of others that I never heard of. The awards show is a lot of fun and usually awkward. All in all, pretty funny and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Go Kings Go!
hockeyjockey
June 18, 2012
Quickie should be a slam dunk…In this fanatical fan’s opinion
Hank second.
As for captain Brown…my team fav..if he doesn’t win it will be because Doan has been doing his community service thing longer. I understand giving an accolade to
a person who has senotity in doing good work.
That being said Doan should hang his head in shame for the Bad representation of captaincy while leading his team against the Kings in the playoffs. I always liked playing the Coyotes as I thought the match-up was a good one. They always provided fun games to watch. They are no longer the same team. Perhaps the change started two years back when Williams went down with a broken leg. You can win without resorting to cheap ass play.
GO KINGS GO!!!
WE WON THE CUP!!!
tracykingslover
June 18, 2012
If Doan wins, it will be awkward because the voting was before the playoffs and what he did during the playoffs would not bode well for the Messier award.
Also awkward for Lundqvist if Quick does not win because Quick has been the better goalie before and after the regular season.
The Recipe Seeker
June 18, 2012
How interesting to read about those awards. I am getting ready to write a blog about all of the NHL annual awards. By the time I finish my research, the 2 you mentioned will have been awarded, so I won’t have to look them up. lol. I’ll wait until after the show to post but in the meantime if I can’t watch a game, I can at least watch the show. Does anyone else yearn for a good game of hockey to watch? Wah
tracykingslover
June 18, 2012
NHL.com is replaying the series – I predict we win!
We also taped the game winner and have re-watched, love it!
As for the awards, there are a lot of them and I’m looking forward to watching it. Its usually so goofy. lol. Check out the link I put above to the different awards. Might help with your blog?
hockeyjockey
June 18, 2012
Yes I am replaying and recording game to Video to later be put on DVDssssss
As for the awards.. people hate to tell you as I have watched few times in past.. they
are pretty boring!
Same thing when they do the Eclipe Awards for Thoroughbred racing.. oh well
Yes Tracy exactly what I thought about Doan. His community service is great..but the Leadership not very award worthy during the Playoffs..
GO KINGS GO!!!
WE WON THE CUP!!!