With the most important trophy in the NHL decided last Friday’s game seven, the hockey world donned their suits for the NHL awards. For the first time, the awards ceremony has left Toronto for the warm weather and legalized brothels of Las Vegas. However, the new location didn’t necessarily mean new faces picking up hardware.

Hart Trophy
Awarded To: The player judged to be most valuable to his team as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Winner: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Was there really any doubt that Ovi would walk away with the big prize on the night? He absolutely ran away with the Richard Trophy chase with 56 goals, ten more than the next closest player. While Datsyuk and Malkin had solid supporting casts to elevate them to superstardom, Ovechkin doesn’t have a player the calibre of Crosby or Zetterberg to take the pressure off. He almost single-handedly carried the Capitals into the playoffs and brought them within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. He also pissed off Don Cherry more times than anyone else this season.

Vezina Trophy
Awarded To: The goaltender judged to be the best at his position as selected by the general managers of all NHL clubs.
Nominees: Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild), Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Winner: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
A lot has been made of the Tim Thomas story over the last two seasons. He’s played in the NCAA, the East Coast league, the AHL, IHL, Sweden, and Finland before landing in the NHL with Boston. Since starting the platoon system with Manny Fernandez, he has risen to be among the elite goaltenders in the NHL. Thomas had an otherworldly year with league-best totals in goals against average and save percentage to lead Boston to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Norris Trophy
Awarded To: The defensive player who demonstrates the best all-around ability as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins), Mike Green (Washington Capitals), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)
Winner: Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)
The 6’9″ Slovakian monster was a beast both offensively and defensively for the Bruins this year. He was arguably their most valuable player this year but Tim Thomas and Marc Savard both make good cases. Chara is more complete a player than Mike Green. While he isn’t as good as Lidstrom, he was a better player this year which earns him the award.

Calder Trophy
Awarded To: The player in his first year of competition in the NHL as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Kris Versteeg (Chicago Blackhawks)
Winner: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets)
For most of the season, Mason was in another league. It wasn’t until a bout of mononucleosis near the end of the season that Mason looked fallible. It was probably that drop in performance late in the going that kept Mason from winning the Vezina Trophy. He was still good enough to trounce Ryan and Versteeg in the running for the Calder.

Lady Byng Trophy
Awarded To: The player judged to have demonstrated sportsmanship and gentlemanly play combined with a high standard of playing ability as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils), Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Winner: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
The Lady Byng is often joked about as the award that no one wants to win. On radio show, we refer to as being for the NHL’s biggest pansy. Interestingly, Datsyuk didn’t even have the least penalty minutes among the nominees. Martin St. Louis had 8 fewer penalty minutes. There is a skill aspect involved in this award which is what put Datsyuk over the top. After all, he was fourth in scoring and nominated for the Hart Trophy.

Selke Trophy
Awarded To: The forward who best excels at the defensive aspects of the game as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers)
Winner: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Richards and Datsyuk were really neck and neck for this award. Both are equally capable of shutting down the most dangerous players on the other team. I think the fact that Datsyuk is a better offensive player and plays for a better team put him over the top. Expect these two to trade award wins for years to come.

Jack Adams Award
Awarded To: The coach judged to have contributed the most to the success of his team as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
Nominees: Claude Julien (Boston Bruins), Todd McLellan (San Jose Sharks), Andy Murray (St. Louis Blues)
Winner: Claude Julien (Boston Bruins)
McLellan was never really in the running for this award. Taking a second place team in 2008 to first in 2009 isn’t much of an accomplishment. The Blues were 4th last in 2008 and made it to 6th in the West under the stewardship of Murray. The Bruins were the surprised of the season. They went from 8th last year to runaway winners of the Eastern Conference in the regular season without making major offseason lineup changes.

Masterson Trophy
Awarded To: The player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Nominees: Chris Chelios (Detroit Red Wings), Steve Sullivan (Nashville Predators), Richard Zednik (Florida Panthers)
Winner: Steve Sullivan (Nashville Predators)
This one surprised me. I thought Zednik, who had his neck sliced open by a skate blade in a horrifying accident last season, was a lock. Sullivan missed a season and a half with a back injury. He came back in January and managed to put up 30 points in 41 games.

Pearson Award
Awarded To: The most outstanding player in the NHL as selected by members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Winner: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Unlike the Hart Trophy, this is the most outstanding player. No player this season has put together as many highlight reel plays as Ovi. If you look up outstanding in the dictionary, don’t be too surprised if you see an ugly looking Russian staring back at you.

NHL First All-Star Team
Goaltender: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Defence: Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)
Defence: Mike Green (Washington Capitals)
Center: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Left Wing: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Right Wing: Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames)

NHL Second All-Star Team
Goaltender: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Defence: Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks)
Defence: Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)
Center: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Left Wing: Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils)
Right Wing: Marian Hossa (Detroit Red Wings)

All-Rookie Team
Goaltender: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Defence: Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
Defence: Luke Schenn (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Forward: Patrik Berglund (St. Louis Blues)
Forward: Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks)
Forward: Kris Versteeg (Chicago Blackhawks)