NHL Awards: Looking Forward To 2015-16 Season
Jun 24, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jir Hudler talks to media after winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy during the 2015 NHL Awards at MGM Grand. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been nearly one month since the 2015 NHL Awards presentation in Las Vegas and over two weeks since the start of free agency. It’s that time on the calendar when hockey takes a back seat to baseball’s second half and, soon, football training camps.
Not for me. I’ve still thought about the 2015 NHL Awards and how nice it was to see some fresh faces winning awards. Jiri Hudler winning the Lady Bing was cool as was Carey Price winning almost everything else, much deserved after the season he had. I know I thought Alex Ovechkin would beat him for league MVP. The goaltender in me is elated I was wrong.
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I know it’s only July but I’m already excited for the 2015-16 season. Plenty of players on new teams, a few questions with some coming back from big injuries, and the smell of the fresh ice at the rink. Is it October yet?
Looking back got me looking forward as well. Can Price repeat the season he had last year and sweep the major NHL awards again? Will we get any first time winners in 2016? And when will the Norris Trophy actually go to the best defenseman, not the player putting up the most points?
I’m looking at five of the major NHL awards (Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder and Jack Adams) and who I believe will win them in 2015-16. I’ll also touch on other players that could be nominated and, in one case, who I think should win the award instead.
Let’s give out some NHL awards!
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Calder Memorial Trophy
Jack Eichel – Buffalo Sabres
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Jack Eichel puts on a team cap after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The competition for the Calder Trophy will get hyped as a two player race between Eichel and Connor McDavid. There is zero chance either doesn’t start in the NHL and both come in with expectations not seen in decades.
It will help both players that their teams are expected to make major steps forward this season. The Edmonton Oilers added Cam Talbot in-goal and Andrej Sekera to boost the defense. Both players, along with the development of Oscar Klefbom and addition of Griffin Reinhart, make the Oilers better on defense now and in the future.
Offensively McDavid wil slide into a scary top six forward group. Being surrounded by Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakopov, along with his own skill and vision, McDavid will step in and be expected to contribute right away. I believe he will do that and finish second for the Calder Trophy.
Jack Eichel is in much the same place as McDavid. A terrible team last year with significant upgrades throughout the lineup, Eichel will also find himself with impressive line mates, possibly including Tyler Ennis and Evander Kane.
For me this comes down to where they play. McDavid needs to adjust to a more physical Western Conference game compared to Eichel in the East. Both players will have their growing pains and may find a game or two in the press box as part of the learning process.
Both players will also show signs of fatigue as the season goes on. It’s part of being a rookie and adjusting to training, travel, practice and game routines. The grind of Western Conference play will be a factor here and, I believe, give Eichel the slightest of edges.
I believe Eichel finishes the season stronger than McDavid and voters remember that, honoring him with the Calder Memorial Trophy at the 2016 NHL Awards ceremony. The voting here should be incredibly close and if McDavid wins it’s not as if Eichel is being robbed. Both will deserve the honor but there can be only one. There are plenty of NHL awards in both players future. Hopefully for both fan bases that includes the Stanley Cup.
As a third nominee there are several quality rookies to choose from. I’m looking at Max Domi for opposite reasons to consider McDavid and Eichel. Arizona is not faced with the pressures of winning right away and needs more goal scoring punch. Domi could and should make the team this year and play big minutes without much pressure. He can learn and grow in the league and should be a force as the season goes on.
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Vezina Trophy
Braden Holtby – Washington Capitals
May 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) reacts against the New York Rangers during overtime in-game seven of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 2 – 1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Holtby found his groove at a perfect time heading into restricted free agency. He’s getting a good raise for next year at least, depending on if he goes to arbitration or not. The extra cash will add pressure I think he can hold up to.
Holtby compared well to every goaltender in the league not named Carey Price. He should again be among the wins leaders considering all the goal support he’s getting. Entering his peak years, Holtby should be ready for another standout season.
Combine that with Price coming back to Earth a bit and the Vezina will shape up to be one of the more competitive NHL awards next season. Pekka Rinne will be in the mix as well as Corey Crawford, Henrik Lundqvist and Price, just to name a few. It’s likely with more goaltenders posting similar stats, first place votes will be split evenly, while second and third place votes could default to the goaltender winning the most games or posting the best save percentage.
The best thing the Capitals can do for Holtby next season is find another defenseman (and pay him). With over $11 million to the cap and only six defensemen signed, Washington could be the landing spot for Cody Franson or Christian Ehrhoff. More help on the blue line will boost the Capitals, placing them among the élite team in the Eastern Conference with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.
Holtby is a long-shot compared to Price, Lundqvist and Rinne. I expect the Rangers to slide a bit with changes they’ve made up front and Rinne seems to miss just enough games with injuries to cost him votes. In a season where I believe voting will be very close for the Vezina, Braden Holtby will leave the 2016 NHL awards ceremony with the Vezina Trophy.
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Jack Adams Trophy
Todd McLellan – Edmonton Oilers
Apr 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan looks on during the second period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Take a look at last years voting and winner at the NHL awards ceremony, Bob Hartley in Calgary. The Flames weren’t expected to be as good as they were, they weren’t expected to make the playoffs and fewer still thought they’d win a round.
The Flames were also resilient and exciting to watch last year, never out of any game they trailed. This year the Edmonton Oilers look most likely to fit that mold. The top two lines will be among the scariest in the league playing in front of an improving defense.
McLellan had several successful regular seasons in San José and his first in Edmonton, and this NHL awards opportunity, will rest on the pads of Cam Talbot. If he is as advertised coming over from the Rangers, Edmonton could find themselves in a playoff race after the All-Star break. If he isn’t, McLellan has no shot at the NHL awards ceremony after the season.
McLellan has paid his coaching dues and is experienced coaching younger, developing talent. The Oilers are certainly that, making this a match made in what has been hockey purgatory. Not anymore. After a few seasons of inexperienced coaches in the NHL, McLellan’s experience will change the locker room right away.
McLellan brings the Oilers coaching staff credibility and signals the franchise is ready to get out of the basement and compete for the playoffs again. While I don’t expect Edmonton to make the playoffs this year, McLellan won’t have them anywhere near the top of the lottery. Unless, of course, they win it again. Wouldn’t that be new?!?!
The Oilers will be far more competitive because of the talent upgrades they’ve made this offseason. McLellan will bring that talent together and push a proud franchise back towards the playoffs. He will be rewarded in Las Vegas at the 2016 NHL Awards ceremony with the Jack Adams trophy as coach of the year. Honorable mention to Dave Cameron in Ottawa and Dan Bylsma in Buffalo, in that order.
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Norris Trophy
Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators
Jun 24, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Erik Karlsson talks to media after winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy during the 2015 NHL Awards at MGM Grand. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
What I’m about to say is not a reflection of Erik Karlsson. I think he is a wonderfully gifted offensive defensemen and clearly thought of as one of the best in the game as shown by his two Norris Trophies.
All the NHL awards in the league won’t make up for the fact the Norris Trophy no longer goes to the best defenseman. It goes to the defenseman with the most points in the league, at least if you go by last years NHL awards voting. Karlsson led all NHL defensemen with 66 points, six clear of P.K. Subban and Brent Burns.
Karlsson has solid possession numbers if you want to dig deeper, but nobody will confuse him for Drew Doughty in his own zone. Few defenseman meet that standard, but Karlsson is good enough to boast two Norris Trophies and when this season is over, I believe he will have a third when the NHL awards are handed out.
Karlsson is a marvel to watch with the puck. Tremendous vision and with the puck on his stick there isn’t much he can’t do. A strong skater, capable of making the first pass or carrying the play through the neutral zone. But he can be a defensive concern without the puck, and the Norris Trophy is about being the best defenseman. To me, that’s not the player that puts up the most points.
I believe other nominees at the NHL awards ceremony will be Doughty, a candidate year in and year out without the points Karlsson scores, and Roman Josi whom will have an opportunity to build on his 55-point season in Nashville with Shea Weber, whom should be fully recovered from his knee injury. Weber is also a worthy nominee every year that somehow manages to avoid winning at the NHL awards ceremony.
Unfortunately for Weber and the rest of the league, they won’t be winning again. Expect Karlsson to pass the 70-point mark and win the Norris Trophy for a third time. If he is higher than 70 points, there will be talk of other NHL awards (Hart Trophy?) as well.
Next: 2016 NHL Awards - Hart Trophy
Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
Jun 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
As frustrating as the Norris Trophy is, nothing confounds me more about NHL awards conversations more than Jonathan Toews not having a Hart Memorial Trophy. At least he has a Selke Trophy to his credit, but the Hart needs to happen this year.
Toews finished tenth (TENTH?!?!) in the voting in 2014-15, a result that seems almost criminal. Many earlier years saw the Hart go to a player at or near the top in NHL scoring. Last season Price dominated Alex Ovechkin and the entire league to take the honor. As refreshing as that is, I don’t expect a goaltender in the top three in voting next year.
Toews finished tied for 23rd in the league in scoring which is solid. But he did it on the power play, even strength and short-handed, which also means he’s killing penalties. He is among the best in the league in all situations and arguably the coolest under pressure in the league. Three Stanley Cup rings stand as proof of that.
What he led the Blackhawks to last year was the most impressive. When Patrick Kane was lost with a collarbone injury and the Blackhawks were thought vulnerable and possibly could miss the playoffs, Toews would not let that happen. Kane had surgery on February 25th when the Blackhawks had 77 points and sat fourth in the conference.
When the season ended the Blackhawks were still fourth in the conference after losing their best offensive weapon. I know Chicago is deep but take Sidney Crosby off the Penguins or Ovechkin off the Capitals, these teams like most would struggle short term regardless of how deep they are. The Blackhawks didn’t. Jonathan Toews wouldn’t allow it.
I’d go as far to say if it were Toews that were injured and not Kane, the Blackhawks don’t have home ice in the first round. Considering they finished seven points ahead of ninth place Los Angeles, maybe they don’t get a shot at the playoffs. I believe Toews makes that big of a difference on the Blackhawks.
Toews won’t lead the league in offense and that hurts him for this award. But the Hart Trophy is meant for the player most valuable to his team. I believe Toews is that player and should be honored at the 2016 NHL Awards ceremony as the Hart Memorial Trophy winner. He is the most complete player in the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks wouldn’t be competitive year after year, with the roster changes they’ve had to make, without Jonathan Toews.
Next: More Changes Coming For Chicago Blackhawks
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