For the second time in as many years, I watched barely any hockey. But that won’t stop me from deciding who was good! I can’t decide whether I am doing this as some kind of self-parody, or just because, really, I want to know who was good, so that I can do better on Sporcle quizzes. (Though I must note that I have been doing rather well with that addiction lately. I played a few games on Sunday for the first time in months. Months!!!)

• Automatic Awards
• Voted On Awards
• Team MVPS

Automatic Awards

The Rocket Richard

Alex Ovechkin: 50G, 21A for 71P, +21 in 79 games

(As an aside: Ovechkin is one step closer to ending the debate as to whether or not he’s the greatest pure goal scorer in the history of the NHL.)

The Oates

Erik Karlsson: 16G, 66A for 82P, -2 in 82 games

The Art Ross

Patrick Kane: 46G, 60A for 106P, +17 in 82 games

The Orr

Brent Burns: 27G, 28A for 75P, -5 in 82 games

The Bourque

Karlsson

The Coffey

Karlsson

The Plus Minus

Tyler Toffoli: 31G, 27A for 58P, +35 in 82 games

The Jennings

Frederick Anderson: 22-9-7 in 43 games, .919SV%, 2.30GAA

John Gibson: 21-13-4 in 30 games, .920 SV%, 2.07 GAA

The Crozier

Brian Elliott: 23-8-6 in 41 games .930 SV%, 2.07 GAA

Voted On Awards

The Gretzky

Patrick Kane, without a doubt. This season, Kane was:

• 2nd in Goals
• 3rd in Assists
• 1st in Points
• 1st in Goals Created
• 2nd in Even Strength Goals
• 2nd in Power Play Goals
• 2nd in Game Winning Goals
• 5th in Shots on Goal
• 19th in Shooting Percentage (but the only one in the Top 5 in Shots to be in the Top 20 in Shooting Percentage – is it skill or luck!?!?!?!)
• 2nd in GPG
• 3rd in APG
• 1st in PPG
• 1st in GCPG
• Tied for 2nd in Hat Tricks
• 1st in Point Shares
• 1st in Offensive Point Shares

Hart (Best Player on Best Team Version)

The Caps were clearly the best team in the league this year – and one of the best regular season teams in NHL history – so it’s Ovechkin, as I strongly believe the Hart should be skaters only. Niskanen would seem to be a reasonable choice however Ovechkin contributed more than double Niskanen’s points, though playing far less than Niskanen.

Hart (Most Valuable Skater Interpretation)

Here are the league leaders in Point Shares (skaters only):

• If we subtract Kane’s 15 PS from the Blackhawks, they are still a playoff team (7th)
• If we subtract Burns’ nearly 13 PS from the Sharks, they are still a playoff team (8th)
• If we subtract Jamie Benn’s 12 PS from the Stars, they are still a playoff team (6th)
• If we subtract Ovechkin’s nearly 12 PS from the Capitals, they are not only still a playoff team but are still in 1st in the East
• Karlsson’s team did not make the playoffs
• If we subtract Doughty’s nearly 12 PS from the Kings, they are still a playoff team (7th)
• If we subtract Sidney Crosby’s nearly 12 PS from the Penguins, they are no longer a playoff team, so it’s Crosby.

Norris

By my silly Weighted Point Shares Per Game concept, the winner is Drew Doughty: 14G, 37A for 51P, +24 in 82 games; 28:01 ATOI for the 3rd best defensive team in the league.

The Selke

I have abdicated on picking a Selke winner until I immerse myself in possession stats to a greater degree. And I haven’t done that yet.

The Vezina

Given that Holtby tied Brodeur’s wins record, it feels like this is his to lose, but I would prefer that he would be a strong candidate for a MVG award (see below) if it existed.

Let’s look at the various candidates (minimum 2100 minutes played, 33 goalies):

• Ben Bishop: 35W (4th), 21L (20th), 4O, 6 SO (2nd) in 61 games (9th), 1672 SA (12th), .926 SV% (2nd), 2.06 GAA (1st), 3585 minutes (9th), 12.2 GPS (2nd)
• Corey Crawford: 35W (4th), 18L (14th), 5SO, 7 SO (1st) in 58 games (11th), 1718 SA (10th), .924 SV% (4th), 2.37 GAA (17th), 3323 minutes (13th), 12 GPS (5th)
• Brian Elliott: 23W (19th), 8L (1st), 6O, 4 SO (8th) in 41 games (26th), 1113 SA (29th), .930 SV% (1st), 2.07 GAA (2nd), 2261 minutes (29th), 8.6 GPS (19th)
• Braden Holtby: 48W (1st), 9L (2nd), 7O, 3 SO (18th) in 66 games (3rd), 1802 SA (6th), .922 SV% (6th), 2.20 GAA (5th), 3841 minutes (4th), 12.1 GPS (3rd)
• Henrik Lundqvist: 35W (4th), 21L (20th), 7O in 65 games (5th), 1944 SA (1st), .920 SV% (11th), 2.48 GAA (19th), 3772 minutes (6th), 12.6 GPS (1st)
• Jonathan Quick: 40W (2nd), 23L (25th), 5O, 5 SO (5th) in 68 games (1st), 1820 SA (5th), .918 SV% (16th), 2.22 GAA (6th), 4034 minutes (1st), 11.5 GPS (7th)

Elliott just didn’t play enough whereas Bishop is the only goalie to have both a plus 925 save percentage and to have faced at least 1500 shots. I think Lundqvist and Holtby have reasonable cases too, but I think Bishop deserves it.

The Hasek

I think Lundqvist wins this hands down: you take his close to 13 GPS off of the Rangers and they are not a playoff team.

The Calder

There’s just one candidate, Artemi Panarin: 30G, 47A for 77P (21 points more than Eichel)

The Jack Adams

Gerard Gallant, I think. I mean, the Panthers tallied 103 points!

Team MVPs

Washington Capitals (2nd in GF, 2nd in GA)

• Braden Holtby, G: 48W, 9L, 7O, 3SO in 66 games, .922 SV%, 2.20 GAA; 12.1 PS
• Evgeny Kuznetsov, C: 20G, 57A for 77P, +27 in 82 games; 17:25 ATOI; 9.6 PS
• Matt Niskanen, D: 5G, 27A for 32P, +10 in 82 games; 24:40 ATOI; 6.6 PS
• Alex Ovechkin, LW: 50G, 21A for 71P, +21 in 79 games; 20:19 ATOI; 11.7 PS

Well, it’s Ovechkin, Niskanen or Holtby. My choice is Ovechkin (see above) but I think you could make an argument for all three of them.

Pittsburgh Penguins (3rd in GF, 6th in GA)

• Sidney Crosby, C: 36G, 49A for 85P, +19 in 80 games; 20:28 ATOI; 11.5 PS
• Marc-Andre Fleury, G: 35W, 17L, 6O, 5SO, .921 SV%, 2.29 GAA; 11 PS
• Kris Letang, D: 16G, 51A for 67P, +9 in 71 games; 26:57 ATOI; 11.3 PS

Well it’s Crosby or Letang and, given that the Pens are a better offensive team than defensive team, I give it to Crosby.

Dallas Stars (1st in GF, 19th in GA)

• Jaime Benn, LW: 41G, 48A for 89P, +7 in 82 games; 20:01 ATOI; 12.1 PS
• John Klingberg, D: 10G, 48A for 58P, +22 in 76 games; 22:41 ATOI; 10.2 PS

Jaime Benn, of course.

Florida Panthers (6th in GF, 6th in GA)

• Brian Campbell, D: 6G, 25A for 31P, +31 in 82 games; 22:17 ATOI; 7.8 PS
• Aleksander Barkov, C: 28G, 31A for 59P, +18 in 66 games; 19:26 ATOI; 8.4 PS
• Jaromir Jagr, RW: 27G, 39A for 66P, +23 in 79 games; 17:05 ATOI; 9.2 PS
• Jussi Jokinen, LW: 18G, 42A for 60P, +25 in 81 games; 18:17 ATPO; 7.3 PS
• Roberto Luongo, G: 35G, 19L, 6O, 4SO in 62 games, .922 SV%, 2.35 GAA; 12.1 PS

It’s Luongo or Jagr. You can take your pick.

San Jose Sharks (4th in GF, 11th in GA)

• Brent Burns, D: 27G, 48A for 75P, -5 in 82 games; 25:52 ATOI; 12.9 PS
• Martin Jones, G: 37W, 23L, 4O, 6SO in 65 games; .918 SV%, 2.27 GAA; 10.8 PS
• Joe Pavelski, C: 38G, 40A for 78P, +25 in 82 games; 19:49 ATOI; 11.5 PS
• Joe Thornton, C: 19G, 63A for 82P, +25 in 82 games; 18:22 ATOI; 10 PS

It’s Burns or Pavelski and Burns played nearly 500 more minutes than Pavelski.

Chicago Blackhawks (9th in GF, 10th in GA)

• Corey Crawford, G: 35W, 18L, 5O, 7SO in 58 games, .924 SV%, 2.37 GAA; 12 PS
• Patrick Kane, RW: 46G, 60A for 106P, +17  in 82 games; 20:25 ATOI; 15 PS
• Duncan Keith, D: 9G, 35A for 44P, +13 in 67 games; 25:14 ATOI; 8.4 PS
• Brent Seabrook, D: 14G, 35A for 49P, +6 in 81 games; 22:49 ATOI; 9.2 PS

Kane, obviously.

Los Angeles King (14th in GF, 3rd in GA)

• Drew Doughty, D: 14G, 37A for 51P, +24 in 82 games; 28:01 ATOI; 11.6 PS
• Anze Kopitar, C: 25G, 49A for 74P, +34 in 81 games; 20:52 ATOI; 9.7 PS
• Jonathan Quick, G: 40W, 23L, 5O, 5SO in 68 games; .918 SV%, 2.22 GAA; 11.5 PS
• Tyler Toffoli, C: 31G, 27A for 58P, +35 in 82 games; 17:19 ATOI; 9.1 PS

Doughty or Quick, and I kind of want to give it to Doughty, especially given that he should win the Norris.

Tampa Bay Lightning (13th in GF, 4th in GA)

• Ben Bishop, G: 35W, 21L, 4O, 6SO in 61 games, .926 SV%, 2.06 GAA; 12.2 PS
• Victor Hedman, D: 10G, 37A for 47P, +21 in 78 games; 23:04 ATOI; 10.1 PS
• Nikolai Kucherov, RW: 30G, 36A for 66P, + 9 in 77 games; 18:13 ATOI; 9.2 PS
• Steven Stamkos, C: 36G, 28A for 64P, +3 in 77 games; 19:45 ATOI; 9.2 PS

Bishop or Hedman. Probably Bishop.

St. Louis Blues (15th in GF, 4th in GA)

• Alex Pietrangelo, D: 7G, 30A for 37P, +10 in 73 games; 26:18 ATOI, 7.9 PS
• Paul Stastny, C: 10G, 39A for 49P, +3 in 64 games; 19:09 ATOI; 4.9 PS
• Vladimir Tarasenko, RW: 40G, 34A for 74P, +7 in 80 games; 18:38 ATOI; 10.8 PS

Tarasenko easily leads the team in Point Shares but the team is not a great offensive team. However he has so many more points than anyone else, and with two goalies…but you could make a case for Pietrangelo.

Anaheim Ducks (18th in GF, 1st in GA)

• Ryan Getzlaf, C: 13G, 50A for 63P, +14 in 79 games; 19:30 ATOI; 7 PS
• Hampus Lindholm, D: 10G, 18A for 28P, +7 in 80 games; 22:00 ATOI; 7.3 PS
• Corey Perry, RW: 34G, 28A for 62P, +2 in 82 games; 17:42 ATOI; 8.9 PS

With two goalies, the obvious choice is no longer obvious. Lindholm maybe?

New York Rangers (7th in GF, 14th in GA)

• Derick Brassard, C: 27G, 31A for 58P, +12 in 80 games; 17:53 ATOI; 7.5 PS
• Henrik Lundqvist, G: 35W, 21L for 7O, 4SO in 65 games; .920 SV%, 2.48 GAA; 12.6 PS
• Ryan McDonagh, D: 9G, 25A for 34P, +26 in 73 games; 22:21 ATOI; 7.8 PS
• Keith Yandle: 5G, 42A for 47P, -4 in 82 games; 19:58 ATOI; 6.3 PS
• Mats Zuccarello, RW: 26G, 35A for 61P, +2 in 81 games; 18:29 ATOI; 7.2 PS

An offensive team with an extremely balanced attack (five 20 goal scorers) so I guess it’s the goalie, Lundqvist.

New York Islanders (10th in GF, 13th in GA)

• Travis Hamonic, D: 5G, 16A for 21P, -5 in 72 games; 23:49 ATOI; 4 PS
• Nick Leddy, D: 5G, 35A for 40P, -9 in 81 games; 22:37 ATOI; 5.9 PS
• Kyle Okposo, 22G, 42A for 64P, -4 in 79 games; 18:12 ATOI; 7.2 PS
• John Tavares, C: 33G, 37A for 70P, +6 in 78 games; 19:00 ATOI; 9.3 PS

Tavares, no question.

Nashville Predators (12th in GF, 12th in GA)

• Filip Forsberg, LW: 33G, 31A for 64P, +1 in 82 games; 19:03 ATOI; 8.5 PS
• Roman Josi, D: 14G, 47A for 61P, -3 in 81 games; 25: 29 ATOI; 10.4 PS
• Pekka Rinne, G: 34W, 31L, 10O, 4SO in 66 games; .908 SV%, 2.48 GAA; 8.8 PS
• Shea Weber, D: 20G, 31A for 51P, -7 in 78 games; 25:23 ATOI; 9.5 PS

Josi, fairly hands down.

Minnesota Wild (19th in GF, 8th in GA)

• Devan Dubnyk, G: 32W, 26L, 6O, 5SO, .918 SV%, 2.33 GAA; 11.5 PS
• MikkoKoivu, C: 17G, 39A for 56P, +6 in 82 games; 19:56 ATOI; 6 PS
• Zach Parise, LW: 25G, 28A for 53P, -3 in 70 games; 19:18 ATOI; 6.6 PS
• Ryan Suter, D: 8G, 43A for 51P, +6 in 82 games; 28:36 ATOI; 10 PS

It’s Dubnyk or Suter, for sure. Take your pick.

Boston Bruins (5th in GF, 19th in GA)

• Patrice Bergeron, C: 32G, 36A for 68P, +12 in 80 games; 19:50 ATOI; 9 PS
• Zdeno Chara, D: 9G, 28A for 37P, +12 in 80 games; 24:06 ATOI; 7.3 PS
• David Krejci, C: 17G, 46A for 63P, +4 in 72 games; 20:18 ATOI; 6.6 PS
• Brad Marchand, LW: 37G, 24A for 61P, +21 in 77 games; 18:36 ATOI; 9.4 PS
• Tuukka Rask, G: 31W, 22L, 8O, 4SO, .915 SV%, 2.56 GAA; 11.1 PS

A strong offensive team with a balanced attack (four players with 60 points), do we give it to the goalie? I don’t think so, but I don’t know…

Philadelphia Flyers (22nd in GF, 15th in GA)

• Claude Giroux, C: 22G, 45A for 67P, -8 in 78 games; 20:33 ATOI; 6.9 PS
• Steve Mason, G: 23W, 19L, 10O, 4SO, 9.18 SV%, 2.51 GAA; 10 PS
• Wayne Simmonds, RW: 32G, 28A for 60P, -7 in 81 games; 17:14 ATOI; 7.6 PS

Steve Mason.

Ottawa Senators (7th in GF, 28th in GA)

• Craig Anderson, G: 31W, 23L, O5, 4SO, .916 SV%, 2.78 GAA; 11.6 PS
• Mike Hoffman, 29G, 30A for 59P, +1 in 78 games; 17:33 ATOI; 7.6 PS
• Erik Karlsson, D: 16G, 66A for 82P, -2 in 82 games; 28:58 ATOI; 11.7 PS

Erik Karlsson was far and away the best offensive player on this team so…

Detroit Red Wings (23rd in GF, 17th in GA)

• Danny DeKeyser, D: 8G, 12A for 20P, +2 in 78 games; 21:48 ATOI
• Dylan Larkin, 23G, 22A for 45P, +11 in 80 games; 16:33 ATOI; 6 PS
• Petr Mrazek, G: 27W, 16L, 6O, 4SO in .921 SV%, 2.33 GAA; 9.5 PS
• Henrik Zetterberg, LW/C: 13, 37A for 50P, -15 in 82 games; 19:25 ATOI; 3.9 PS

With no real offensive stars, it has to be the goalie, Mrazek.

Montreal Canadiens (16th in GF, 21st in GA)

• Mike Condon, G: 21W, 25L, 6O, .903 SV%, 2.71 GAA; 6.6 PS
• Alex Galchennyuk, C: 30G, 26A for 56P, -8 in 82 games; 16:16 ATOI; 7 PS
• Andrei Markov, D: 5G, 39A for 44P, -6 in 82 games; 23:50 ATOI; 6.7 PS
• Max Pacioretty, LW: 30G, 34A for 66P, -10 in 82 games; 18:32 ATOI; 7.5 PS
• P.K. Subban, D: 6g, 45A for 51P, +4 in 68 games; 26:22 ATOI; 8.3 PS

Subban, probably, despite not playing a full season.

Buffalo Sabres (26th in GF, 16th in GA)

• Jack Eichel, C: 24G, 32A for 56P, -16 in 81 games; 19:07 ATOI; 6.3 PS
• Ryan O’Reilly, C: 21G, 39A for 60P, -16 in 71 games; 21:44 ATOI; 6.4 PS
• Rasmus Ristolainen, D: 9G, 32A for 41P, -21 in 82 games; 25:17 ATOI; 6.7 PS

The goalie! Imagine them without a goalie!

Colorado Avalanche (19th in GF, 23rd in GA)

• Francois Beauchemin, D: 8G, 26A for 34P, -7 in 82 games; 25:05 ATOI; 6 PS
• Matt Duchene, C: 30g, 29A for 59P, -8 in 76 games; 18:35 ATOI; 7.2 PS
• Carl Soderberg, D: 12G, 39A for 51P, -7 in 82 games; 18:01 ATOI; 4.3 PS
• Semyon Varlamov. G: 27W, 25L, 3O, 2SO, .914SV%, 2.81 GAA, 9.9 PS

The goalie! But I only say that because there isn’t a clear offensive star on the team.

Winnipeg Jets (21st in GF, 22nd in GA)

• Dustin Byfuglien, D: 19G, 34A for 53P, +4 in 81 games; 25:12 ATOI; 9.7 PS
• Mark Scheifele, C: 29G, 32A for 61P, +16 in 71 games; 18:33 ATOI; 8.6 PS
• Blake Wheeler, RW: 26G, 52A for 78P, +8 in 82 games; 19:47 ATOI; 9.4 PS

Byfuglien or Wheeler. Take your pick.

New Jersey Devils (30th in GF, 8th in GA)

• Andy Greene, D: 4G, 9A for 13P, +7 in 82 games;  22:57 ATOI; 5.7 PS
• Adam Henrique, C: 30G, 20A for 50P, +10 in 82 games; 19:50 ATOI; 7.6 PS
• Adam Larsson, D: 3G, 15A for 18P, +15 in 82 games; 22:31 ATOI; 6.7 PS
• Kyle Palmieri, RW: 30G, 27A for 57P, +3 in 82 games; 17:48 ATOI; 8.2 PS
• Corey Schneider, G: 27W, 23L, O6, 4SO in 58 games; .924 SV%, 2.15 GAA; 11.1 PS
• Travis Zajac, C: 14G, 28A for 42P, +3 in 74 games; 19:51 ATOI; 4.7 PS

The goalie! Definitely the goalie.

Carolina Hurricanes (27th in GF, 18th in GA)

• Justin Faulk, D: 16G, 21A for 37P, -22 in 64 games; 24:03 ATOI; 6.4 PS
• Ron Hainsey, D: 5g, 14A for 19P, -13 in 81 games; 22:19 ATOI; 4.3 PS
• Jeff Skinner, LW: 28G, 23A for 51P, -1 in 82 games; 16:17 ATOI; 7 PS
• Jordan Staal, C: 20G, 28A for 48P, +6 in 82 games; 18:18 ATOI; 5.8 PS

Cam Ward!

Calgary Flames (11 in GF, 30th in GA)

• T.J. Brodie, D: 6G, 39A for 45P, +4 in 70 games; 25:15 ATOI; 6.9 PS
• John Gaudreau, LW: 30G, 48A for 78P, +4 in 79 games; 19:56 ATOI: 9.2 PS
• Mark Giordano, D: 21G, 35A for 56P, -5 in 82 games; 24:47 ATOI; 9.2 PS

Gaudreau or maybe Giordano (maybe!)

Columbus Blue Jackets (17th in GF, 29th in GA)

• Cam Atkinson, C: 27g, 26A for 53P, -8 in 81 games; 17:48 ATOI; 6.2 PS
• Jack Johnson, D: 6G, 8A for 14P, -16 in 60 games; 24:11 ATOI; 2 PS
• Ryan Murray, D: 4G, 21A for 25P, -10 in 82 games; 22:51 ATOI; 3.8 PS
• Brandon Saad, LW: 31G, 22A for 53P, +1 in 78 games; 17:13 ATOI; 7.2 PS
• David Savard, D: 4G, 21A for 25P, -7 in 65 games; 23:10; 3.8 PS
• Alexander Wennberg, C: 8G, 32A for 40P, -1 in 69 games; 15:52 ATOI; 4.3 PS

Saad or Atkinson

Arizona Coyotes (24th in GF, 25th in GA)

• Shane Doan, RW: 28G, 19A for 47P, +4 in 72 games; 17:36 ATOI; 6.5 PS
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D: 21G, 34A for 55P, -6 in 75 games; 24:26 ATOI; 9.5 PS

Ekman-Larsson, the best offensive player on the team.

Edmonton Oilers (25th in GF, 25th in GA)

• Taylor Hall, LW: 26G, 39A for 65P, -4 in 82 games; 19:12 ATOI; 7.6 PS
• Andrej Sekera, D: 6G, 24A for 30P, -15 in 81 games; 21:50 ATOI; 4.7 PS
• Cam Talbot, G: 21W, 27L, 5O, 3SO, .917SV%, 2.55 GAA; 10.1 PS

I have no idea. Hall or Talbot I guess.

Toronto Maple Leafs (27th in GF, 27th in GA)

• Nazem Kadri, C: 17G, 28A for 45P, -15 in 76 games; 18:16 ATOI; 4 PS
• P.A. Parenteau, RW: 20G, 21A for 41P, 0 in 77 ganes; 16:16 ATOI; 4.8 PS
• Morgan Rielly, D: 9G, 27A for 36P, -17 in 82 games; 23:14 ATOI; 5.6 PS

Morgan Rielly, probably.

Vancouver Canucks (29th in GF, 24th in GA)

• Alexander Edler, D: 6G, 14A for 20P, -8 in 52 games; 24:27 ATOI; 3.8 PS
• Ryan Miller, G: 17W, 24L, 9O, 1SO, .916 SV%, 2.7 GAA: 9.9 PS
• Daniel Sedin, LW: 28G, 33A for 61P, +7 in 82 games; 18:20 ATOI; 8 PS
• Herik Sedin, C: 11G, 44A for 55P, 0 in 74 games; 18:23 ATOI; 5.4 PS

Uh, Ryan Miller?