On Friday before the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft announcements as to the trades of both Dougie Hamilton (to the Calgary Flames) and Milan Lucic (to the Los Angeles Kings) had fans bemoaning the state of the Boston Bruins and rending their clothing in despair. With those trades the Bruins acquired additional picks in the first and second rounds of the draft that was about to take place in addition to a couple of additional players in the Lucic trade in the form of goalie Martin Jones and defenseman Colin Miller.
It was suspected that general manager Don Sweeney was hoping to package his three first-round picks together to move up in the draft, but when that didn’t happen he acquired three plays in Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk and Zachary Senyshyn – whose attributes can be seen here in an earlier column.
Overall the team acquired ten prospects from their picks—the most of any team. And fans continued to wonder where the team was headed. Perhaps Sweeney was given a little slack when it was revealed that the six-year contract that Hamilton signed with the Flames on Tuesday was just slightly more than what the Boston Bruins were offering and that there was something more to Hamilton’s not accepting Boston’s “very significant offer” than more money.
Zac Rinaldo
Monday came the announcement that the organization had acquired forward Zac Rinaldo—a player known for playing a little too close to the edge sometimes—from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the Bruins’ third round pick in the 2017 Draft. Many considered this to be a steep price for this particular player.
“We pushed the pick out to 2017 and felt he was a player that, you know, we wanted a little more energy, I talked about playing with a little more energy in our lineup, and it’s ready-made in that regard,” Sweeney told media in a pre-free agency conference call. “He’s a player that’s still young and he plays with a tremendous amount of courage. We need to get him to make sure he finds that line because he’s crossed over it a few times. But he’s got a tremendous enthusiasm for the game, and speaking with him yesterday, was very, very excited about being a member of the Boston Bruins and doing whatever he could to help us win.”
During the conference call, Sweeney brought up an important point about how he and his staff are looking at the transactions and how the media and the fans are evaluating the trades.
“You guys are evaluating the prices paid and such, and the rest of us are evaluating the conversations we’re having and what those prices are going to be,” he said. “So when you find a deal that you feel helps your hockey club, that’s what you’re trying to do.”
Free agency is stirring up the waters around the league and many teams were making announcements throughout the afternoon before free agency opens: the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks trading Brandon Saad, and prospects Michael Paliotta and Alex Broadhurts to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp and a 2016 fourth-round pick, for instance.
Also announced during Tuesday’s conference call was the qualifying of Ryan Spooner, Brett Connolly and Martin Jones—all three restricted free agents–and that defenseman Matt Bartkowski is headed to free agency. Through their social media outlets, though it was already well known, they confirmed that Adam McQuaid had been signed to a four-year contract worth $11 million.
Bruins sign defenseman Adam McQuaid to a four-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season. Read: http://t.co/3WgljyNSlV ^BB
No sooner had the conference call finished, and Bruins watchers thought there would be a breather until Wednesday, when it was announced that the Bruins had traded the just recently acquired and qualified Martin Jones to the San Jose Sharks. The 25-year old goaltender was traded in exchange for a first round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and forward Sean Kuraly.
Sean Kuraly
Kuraly, 22, served as assistant captain of the Miami University (Ohio), who earned 19-10=29 totals and 38 penalty minutes, playing in all 40 games for the RedHawks. In his career at Miami, he missed just two games of the 120 NCAA contests—missed for a good reason, as he was competing with Team USA in the 2013 World Junior Championship when they won gold—where he posted 37-33=70 totals. There are currently two other Miami University players in the Bruins organization: Reilly Smith and Austin Czarnik, with whom Kuraly was a teammate from 2021-15.
The Dublin, Ohio native was selected by the Sharks in the fifth round (133rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Two certainties have come out of all of this. Sweeney assured the media that Tuukka Rask was “absolutely” not on the market. The second was Max Talbot assuring fans that the rumors of his requesting a trade were false.
The Philadelphia Flyers and General Manager Ron Hextall just keep making moves this offseason. The most recent was a trade that sent forward Zac Rinaldo to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2017 third round draft pick.
The Flyers acquired a little more cap relief in the deal, while the Bruins acquired some of the physical style of play they lost when Milan Lucic was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Rinaldo is no Lucic, by a long shot, but he brings a physical edge to the game. In 58 games played last season, Rinaldo had one goal and five assists for six points and had a team high 102 penalty minutes. The forward is only 5’11”, 185 pounds, but he isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. In the 58 games last season, he had 216 hits while only averaging 8;55 of ice time per game.
In just over four seasons with the Flyers, Rinaldo played in 223 games, scored eight goals, had 16 assists and tallied 24 total points. He also racked up 572 penalty minutes. He isn’t afraid to drop the gloves to come to the aid of a teammate or try to spark his team. He can be over aggressive when going for a hit, which has led to suspensions over the course of his career. Rinaldo is a fourth line player which the Boston Bruins have often referred to as their Energy Line, though Rinald’s energy can be costly at times.
The 25-year-old is prone to taking bad penalties at critical moments of a game or taking a penalty that can change the momentum of a game in favor of the opponent. Rinaldo has also been suspended for more games (14) than he has goals scored (8) in his career. He needs to learn to keep his emotions in check in order to stay in the lineup and not become a healthy scratch on a consistent basis. He also gets called for some penalties that other players may not get called for because of his reputation around the league. He can also get under opponents skin and get them off of their game.
The Flyers made the move to gain a little more salary cap flexibility since Rinaldo’s extension (two years, $1.7 million) was set to kick in this season. The Flyers only save about $850,000 in cap space, but they need every penny because they have players to re-sign, and need to sign a backup goalie. Hextall has done a good job of clearing cap space and getting ride of bad contracts, but he still has some work that needs to be done.
On Monday, June 29, Brian MacLellan, senior vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals announced that they had re-signed center Jay Beagle to a three-year, $5.25 million contract.
“We are pleased to re-sign Jay to a new three-year contract,” MacLellan said. “Jay is a hard-working player who plays multiple positions and is an excellent face-off man and penalty killer. Jay has improved steadily since joining our organization and has always brought his game to a different level in the playoffs.”
Jay Beagle
Beagle finished the regular season having played 62 games (tying a career high) in which he earned a career high 10 goals (2 of which were game winners) and 10 assists for 20 points. The center had an impressive 56.5% in face-off wins in the regular season. During the Capitals game at San Jose on February 11, he recorded a career-high three points (2 goals and 1 assist), and he recorded three of his four career multi-point games in this last season.
During the Capitals playoff run, Beagle earned five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 14 games in addition to scoring his first career playoff game-winning goal in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Rangers. His face-off win percentage in the postseason ranked first at 63.8%.
Beagle is an example of why those players who didn’t get drafted this past weekend shouldn’t give up on their dream to play in the NHL. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent on March 26, 2008. The Calgary, Alberta native spent two years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Calgary Royals and then spent two years attending the University of Alaska-Anchorage before joining the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) and then the Hershey Bears (AHL – and Washington Capitals affiliate).
While with the Hershey Bears, Beagle won back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2009 and 2010, tallying a total of 95 points (47 goals, 48 assists) in 211 career AHL games. The season he suited up with the Idaho Steelheads, he won the Kelly Cup.
The last full week of June was a busy one for Steve Yzerman, General Manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yzerman was the 2014-15 winner of the NHL General Manager of the Year Award, presented during the 2015 NHL Awards last Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada. The voting for this award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL Executives, print and broadcast media at the conclusion of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I think again it’s recognition not so much of me, but of our organization. A lot of people go into putting a team together – through the draft, through any trades and free agency, the people that you hire. I’m proud of what we have accomplished today, but obviously our ultimate goal is winning the Stanley Cup,” a humbled Steve Yzerman said, post – NHL General Manager of the Year Award win.
Yzerman has most notably been credited with rebuilding a roster that returned to the final four with just two player holdovers (Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman) from the 2011 squad, his first season in charge. The team has been bolstered with key acquisitions through the draft, via free agency and trades. The Lightning set franchise records with 50 wins and 108 points during the regular season and led the League with 262 goals and 32 home wins.
GM of the Year Award Trophy
“The expectation is to win. As an NHL team you are competing with 29 other teams for the same group of players. You’re competing at the amateur draft. You’re competing on July 1. You’re competing at the trade deadline. You’re all competing for the same players and you’ve got limited resources to do it. So, it’s really difficult, but it’s a great challenge and really exciting.”
Yzerman also credited the American Hockey League, namely Tampa Bay Lightning’s affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for contributing to the success of player development. “For us we are trying to run a really good program in Syracuse. We have a really great partner in Howard Dolgon (President of the Syracuse Crunch). We are trying to give our young guys down there every opportunity to become NHL players. We have a tremendous (head) coach in Rob Zettler, good strength coaches – we work hard on our schedule, and our locker room and our gym facility.”
“The players come in–19-, 20-year-olds come in, kids come over from Europe and they are surprised as they get in, the majority of these players are one step away from the NHL, it’s hard for them. For a lot of the younger guys, playing down there for 1-2-3 years–I look at one of our first round picks, Slater Koekkoek from 2012, finished his first full year getting a ton of ice time. Where he started to where he finished, he is playing 20+ minutes a game, in all situations. His goal is to play in the NHL and he is going to do everything that he can. He is in a great league and in a great environment to develop and to let his play develop.”
Yzerman at the NHL Awards (photo credit: A. Gallagher)
Being a General Manager of an NHL team combines having a clear philosophy, working hard at scouting and player development and a little bit of luck. Lightning didn’t strike in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, hosted by the Florida Panthers and held at BB&T Center. Put on the clock for the 28th pick, a trade was made with the New York Islanders for two picks in later rounds. Over chants of “let’s go Lightning”, the Lightning finally took to the stage in the second round with the 33rd overall pick of Mitchell Stevens, a center who last played for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. The rest of Tampa Bay Lightning’s draft choices played out as follows:
Second Round – No. 44 – Matt Spencer – D – Peterborough Petes of the OHL
Third Round – No. 64 – Dennis Yan – LW – Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL
Third Round – No. 72 – Anthony Cirelli – C – Oshawa Generals of the OHL
Fourth Round – No. 118 – Jonne Tammela – RW – KalPa of Liiga (Finland)
Fourth Round – No. 120 – Mathieu Joseph – RW – Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL
Fifth Round – No. 150 – Ryan Zuhlsdorf – D – Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL
Sixth Round – No. 153 – Kristian Oldham – G – Omaha Lancers of the USHL
Sixth Round – No. 180 – Bokondji Imama – LW – Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL
Overall Yzerman is happy with the outcome of the draft, “time will tell if they develop into NHL’ers, but today we walk out optimistic.” Although none of this year’s picks are eligible for the American Hockey League due to age for the upcoming season, the Lightning head into development camp that starts this week with six new forwards, two new defensemen and a new goalie.
Last week I rolled into Las Vegas, Nevada with a swift shake of the dice and the task of co-covering the 2015 NHL Awards with fellow The Pink Puck contributor, Allison Gallagher. This stop was just the first in my week of hockey related travels that also would include the 2015 NHL Draft, so in this case, packing to coordinate ensembles was imperative for cross country travels.
I was unable to attend the nominee media availability, however I was able to get into town with enough time to meet up with Allison (who did cover it) and attend the post General Managers meeting where various topics were discussed, such as 3-on-3 overtime and the “Coaches Challenge” for video review. I was also able to take in the NHL trophy display. The trophies were on display in the main lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino where fans could get a closer look at the inspiring display of hockey’s most prized trophies. Straight off the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup win, the most recognizable and revered trophy in all of professional sports – the Stanley Cup – also made it’s appearance.
Media Day fashion
With temperatures reaching near 110 degrees farenheit on the Las Vegas strip, I kept it simple, yet professional, with a silk sheath dress from Anthropologie (in-house brand Maeve) which incidentally, has also been seen on an episode last season of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Since the pattern on the dress was the primary focus, I kept the rest of my look simple. For footwear I chose tan, leather sandals from Talbots and in my work bag I carried my wicker clutch purse from Kate Spade. For jewelry I went with my gold Nixon watch, a vintage gold bangle and a woven gold link and orange silk bracelet from BCBG Max Azria. My gold chain necklace was also from Anthropologie and I finished the look with a staple – simple diamond stud earrings from a local jewelry store.
Red Carpet fashion (photo credit: A. Gallagher)
The following afternoon was the actual Awards show, were we were granted Red Carpet arrival access coverage. HECHO en Vegas Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, was transformed into a step and repeat for the NHL Awards nominees, NHL legends and celebrity presenters to walk the red carpet and greet their fans and the media.
Following the red carpet, we went right into the media room to greet the winners during the 2015 NHL Awards Show. The two-hour primetime awards show, broadcasted live at 7pm ET, paid a special salute to the best regular-season players and performances. It was hosted by comedian Rob Riggle and included a full concert from the rock band Daughtry, post show. “Superlative achievements deserve to be recognized in a world-class setting,” NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman said. “Las Vegas certainly knows how to shine a spotlight on outstanding performances.”
Award Show fashion
My NHL Awards Show Red Carpet look again showcased a light gray, sheer accordion, style midi-dress from Anthropologie (in-house brand Bordeaux). I kept with the neutral color theme and added a statement necklace of pearls, crystals and gold chains that was a gift and a vintage crystal wrap bracelet. For earrings I kept it simple with stacked pearl stud earrings. I completed the look with black and light gray silk sandals from Anthropologie and a white vintage beaded clutch.
Nashville, née Smashville, ended the 2015 Draft with a final total of 2 goalies (as per the Preds’ usual Goalie Requirements, both are over 6 feet tall) four centermen and one defenseman.
55th overall – Iakov Trenin
– he plays for Gatineau in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and is a 6-2, 194 pound center from Chelyabinsk, Russia (same hometown as the Caps’ forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov & Sergei Gonchar).
– following stats are thanks to NHL.com: Trenin averaged a point per game and ranked second in rookie scoring in the QMJHL Playoffs, collecting 11 points (3-8—11) to help Gatineau upset No. 3-ranked Armada before falling in the second round to eventual League champion Rimouski. He placed third among QMJHL rookies in assists (49) and fifth in points (67) in 58 regular season games in 2014-15.
– in 2013-14, Trenin recorded 14 points (7-7—14) in 22 games to help Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk finish third overall in Russia’s junior league. He added one assist in four playoff games as the club reached the semifinals.
85th overall – Thomas Novak
– he is a 6-0, 179 pound center from St. Paul, Minnesota who plays for Waterloo of the USHL. He had 14 goals, 48 points in 46 games last season. According to Adam Vingan, Novak has committed to the University of Minnesota for next year. And his twitter is: @paraloschicos15
100th overall – Anthony Richard
– he is a 5-10, 163 pound center from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec who plays for Val-D’or of the QMJHL. Richard was tied for 10th in the QMJHL last season for scoring, and for those who miss Jordin Tootoo, he already has a hockeyfights page.
145th overall – Karel Vejmelka
– the 6-3, 202 pound left-handed goaltender from Trebic, Czech Republic played for Czech Junior (for Trebic of Czech Republic-2 and Pardubice of Czech Republic in 2014-15). He was 4-3-0 for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech league this year with over 500 min and a save percentage near .930. Vejmelka is the third Czech goalie drafted by the Preds (Miroslav Hanuljak in 2003 & Marek Mazanec in 2012), which does not include the Predators most famous & fan-friendly Czech goalie, Tomas Vokoun (originally drafted by the Canadiens in 1994). Trebic (or Třebíč) is also the hometowns of former Bruin/Blue Vladimir Sobotka (now playing in Siberia for Avangard Omsk in the KHL), New Jersey Devils’ Patrik Elias and former Nashville Predator Martin Erat.
115th overall – Alexandre Carrier
– the 5-11, 168 pound defenseman from Quebec, played in the QMJHL for Gatineau. He’s only 18 and had 55 points in 68 games last year and is one of the highest scoring defensemen from this league.
175th overall – Tyler Moy – is a 6-1, 194 pound centerman from San Diego currently playing for Harvard University and one of the more interesting prospects for the Preds. During his freshman year at Harvard, he played with fellow Predators prospect Jimmy Vesey (picked 66th in 2012) and has been interviewed by The Harvard Crimson (the nation’s oldest continuously published daily college newspaper) many times, including a feature on how not only is he a hockey player but a (very good) artist as well. And according to their article interviewing him after he was drafted by the Predators, he said that while he grew up a Detroit Red Wings fan (one of the Preds biggest rivals for a variety of reasons), he also rooted for the Preds as a young child because of how “cool” the Predators logo is. You can find him on twitter @tymoy2.
205th overall – Evan Smith
– is a 6-6, 174 pound goalie from Parker, Colorado who plays for the Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League (NAHL — the first player drafted from that league by the Preds). In 19 games this season, including four of those in the WHL, Smith compiled a 12-1-2 record, with a 1.73 goals-against-average and 0.923 save percentage. His twitter is @evansmith60 and it’s completely plausible that with his height (again, the Predators love their tall goalies), when he gets a little bit bigger, he could easily be the Predators sleeper pick from this years draft.
The Predators prospect development camp will be held July 6-11 in Nashville.
In other Predators news since the end of the season; they have re-signed veteran center Mike Fisher for two-years at $8.8 million and greatly enjoyed how some people took to the news on his Instagram. And Rich Clune, who spent most of this season in Milwaukee playing for the Preds AHL team, was placed on unconditional waivers for the purposes of being bought out. He posted on his twitter (which he tends to delete every now & then, so I am saving for posterities sake):
Thank you Nashville.
June 28, 2015, 2:46 PM
I’m very grateful for my years playing for the Nashville Predators. I want to thank David Poile and the rest of the staff for everything. Most important my teammates and the fans mean the world to me. Thank you. Nothing changes, I plan on playing in the NHL next season and will continue my rigorous training regimen out in Los Angeles this off season. (emoji peace fingers)
There is a lot of excitement around the New Jersey Devils #6 overall pick, Pavel Zacha. But the biggest move for new GM Ray Shero at this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft was the trade he made right at the end of the first round, adding former Anaheim Duck and New Jersey native Kyle Palmieri in exchange for one of the Devils’ 2nd round picks (41 overall) and a 2016 pick.
Everyone knew the Devils needed to add a top 6 forward but with a weak UFA market, and a history of overpaying forwards who were past their prime (see: Ryane Clowe, Michael Ryder, Martin Havlat, etc.), no one knew where this forward would come from. It also seemed the most prevalent trade rumors were for prospects such as the Oilers‘ Leon Draisaitl. While adding a top level talent like Draisaitl would be nice – and may still be on the horizon, the Devils really needed an established NHL player.
Palmieri, who was born in New York, but raised in Montvale, NJ, returns to his home state to potentially be a top line forward. He’s certainly not a dynamic player like his former teammates Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf, but on a team full of role players, adding a piece like Palmieri will be a welcome addition. His 29 points (in only 57 games) would have been 6th on the 2014-2015 Devils roster, behind players including Steve Bernier and Scott Gomez who were both informed over the weekend they will not be re-signed. He also would’ve been 4th in goals with 14. This is a great reminder of just how inept the Devils offense was last season.
The Devils still need a lot of help on offense, but adding a 24-year-old with a knack for scoring is a good step. There is some concern that he’ll already be an RFA after next season, but assuming he has a solid year, you would hope the Devils won’t make the same mistake they made with Zach Parise and get Palmieri signed long-term. And this time, there aren’t any big named Russians to distract ownership from locking up their young talent.
Ray Shero still has work ahead of him with the pending free agency period beginning July 1, but between the deal for Palmieri and his work in the draft, the beginning of the post-Lou era, is looking cautiously optimistic.
A few days before the draft, Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record reported that GM Ray Shero and Scouting Director David Conte were adamant that the Devils would take the best player available at #6 at this year’s NHL Entry Draft. As I watched Noah Hanifin get passed over at #3, and then #4 during Friday’s first round, I began to get nervous. A team that is loaded with young defensemen, has a couple more in the pipeline and has a serious need for scoring and offensive prospects could not seriously consider taking a defenseman, right? Forgive me for the lack of trust, but the Devils have not proven much with their drafting in the last 10 years so even with Ray Shero in the mix, I was very thankful when the Carolina Hurricanes took the Boston College star at #5.
The Devils then took Czech center Pavel Zacha out of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. First thing I noticed, he’s 6’3 and 215 pounds! Of their seven 1st round draft picks in the last 10 years, the Devils have taken five forwards, only one of whom comes close to matching those credentials (Stefan Matteau was listed at 6’1, 210 lbs on draft day). And of the current Devils roster, Zacha will come in as the second biggest forward, behind only Dainius Zubrus (6’5″, 225 lbs.) This is a welcome sight for a Devils fan who has watched the likes of Mattias Tedenby, Stephen Gionta, and Jacob Josefson get muscled off the puck too many times. I understand the “Tyler Johnson/Johnny Gaudreau Movement” is in full effect, but the Devils crop of small forwards never had the combination of speed and skill to overcome their diminuative frames – always riddled by injuries and ineffectiveness.
So needless to say, I really like the pick. He’s got some developing to do, but with his size and skating ability (and lack of quality currently under contract in New Jersey), I would not be afraid to pencil him into the Devils opening day roster. The news that Scott Gomez won’t be re-signed and the preference to have Adam Henrique and fellow Czech Patrik Elias play on the wing, Zacha could help fill in the middle with Travis Zajac, Josefson and most likely Gionta rounding out the center position. Shero, 1 for 1. (PS, how awesome was the story that Zacha met and had his photo taken with Elias when Elias brought the Stanley Cup back to the Czech Republic following the 2003 victory? Has to be a good omen.)
The second round pick of goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (OHL – Barrie) is a little confusing. Again, for a team with such a lack of offensive prospects, and the ‘miss’ rate of drafting goalies, it didn’t seem like a great fit even if Blackwood is labeled as a ‘can’t miss’. Cory Schneider is only 29 so you have to hope he has at least another 5-7 years of quality goaltending in front of him, leaving Blackwood to work in the AHL. Plus, there is another Brodeur in the wings – isn’t he destined to be the future?!?! (kidding). Either way, the need was clearly at forward so unless Blackwood turns out to actually be the next Brodeur, I’m not giving Shero a lot of credit here. 1 for 2.
Third round selection Blake Speers (F, OHL – Sault Ste. Marie) can fall into my earlier complaints about small forwards. But he’s labeled as a prolific scorer and he was taken in the third round which makes it a risk worth taking. Unfortunately for him, Devils fans are still waiting for fellow small scorer Reid Boucher to score in the NHL, so will Speers face the same issue? Half credit for at least waiting until the third round to go small, 1.5 for 3.
Already a win for waiting until the fourth round to go defense. Colton White (OHL – Sault Ste. Marie) isn’t a top end prospect but a good late round pick up. The Devils clearly have a knack for developing young d-men in Albany so there is hope for him. He also has a good name legacy in the form of Devils D-man Colin White (which would be so much better if an actual Colin White hadn’t been taken in the 1st round). 2.5 for 4.
Finally, the Devils took forward Brett Seney in the 6th round (NCAA – Merrimack College). Another small forward, but Seney will have plenty of time to develop and build muscle at the NCAA level. 3.5 for 5.
All in all, I think Shero had a solid draft. Especially when you consider the addition of Kyle Palmieri from the Ducks (see my separate review of the trade here). He’s exactly what the Devils needed and were not going to find in this year’s weak UFA market. And for what Shero gave up, I think it’s a great move.
It’s going to take a while for Shero and this development staff to fix the hole this organization has prospect wise, but this draft seems to have a been a solid start. Assuming Zacha makes the team and contributes this season, the Devils should be optimistic that rest of these picks can develop and join Zacha, Henrique, Josefson and the young defenseman in a couple of years.
The NHL Awards is the time to honor the league’s most deserving players for all of their hard work during the regular season. The 2015 season gave many new and even unlikely faces a chance to shine their way into the hearts of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association that get a chance to vote.
Selke winner two years in a row
Patrice Bergeron, one of the most underrated elite centers in the game has won his second Frank J. Selke Trophy in a row, “in recognition of the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game”. Though the Boston Bruins season was disappointing, Bergeron still was a light in the darkness.
Bergeron beat out the likes of Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Toews for this sought after offensive recognition.
“It’s definitely, you look at the names that have won it three times, it’s pretty special to be now part of it and humbling at the same time,” Bergeron said. “Winning the awards or not, I wouldn’t change the way I play the game.”
Dubnyk wins Masterton after storybook season
Though all three candidates were very deserving, as someone who personally was there for the beginning part of Devan Dubnyk’s season, I couldn’t see the Masterton award going to someone more deserving.
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is for the player who, “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” Devan did all of this and more in his start with the Arizona Coyotes this season in the shadows of a struggling Mike Smith, until he found his success with the Minnesota Wild. Dubnyk is an exceptional goalie, and an even better man.
“When you’re in Hamilton and you’re back on the bus and rotating three guys, it’s tough to see past that I guess. You try to but when you’re in it, it’s real tough to see past it,” said Dubnyk. “I think the best thing is to get a break from the season and get that chance in the summer to reflect on everything that had happened and why it happened and like I said up there, you realize how lucky you are to have these people in your life. They’re there for you no matter what happens or what you’re doing, if you’re playing hockey or playing good or bad at whatever you’re doing. It’s not going to change. When you realize that you can take the pressure off and go play and I’m fortunate enough to have people around me like that.”
Burns wins NHL Foundation Player Award
Brent Burns is an incredible guy. This was a suspicion of mine, up until seeing it in person post NHL Foundation Player Award win when he talked passionately about everything (animals, charity, the military, etc.) to the media for more than 20 minutes.
The NHL Foundation Player Award presents $25,000 to the winners charity of choice.
According to the NHL website:
Burns has selected two beneficiaries: Defending the Blue Line, affording children of military members the opportunity to participate in the game of hockey by providing hockey equipment, game tickets and unique experiences with professional athletes, and Folds of Honor, which provides educational scholarships for family members of injured and/or deceased military men and women.
Burns said when he retires, he doesn’t know whether he’ll be a zoo keeper or in the military between his passion for both. Burns even shared his love for goaltending saying, “I’ve always wanted to play goalie, but my flexibility is embarrassing.”
Messier Leadership Award
Jonathan Toews took home this year’s Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone, which is awarded to a player “in recognition of his commitment and service to charities in his community.”
According to the NHL:
The award recognizes an individual as a superior leader in hockey and as a contributing member of society. It honors an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and dedication to community activities and charitable causes.
“It all started with Jonathan coming in there, taking over the leadership role, and good things have followed ever since,” Messier said about choosing Jonathan. “It’s been working towards this moment for a long time in my opinion, and I couldn’t be happier with our choice. And certainly more than worthy of the nomination and the award today.”
Toews gave his input saying, “It’s hard for me to believe and it’s almost something you feel bashful or I guess embarrassed is the wrong word. It’s something you don’t feel worthy of. It’s an incredible honor.”
Hartley wins Jack Adams
The Calgary Flames had an exciting season, to say the least. One of the biggest contributing factor to their incredible season was their head coach, Bob Hartley. It is no surprise that Hartley took home the Jack Adams Award as “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” because he helped show what this truly means.
Hartley helped define the team’s name of the “comeback kids”, and it is hard to imagine that they would’ve made it as far as they did without his help.
“”You cannot coach and think that it’s about you; it’s about the team,”said Hartley to the media post win.
Yzerman gets GM of the Year
The Tampa Bay Lightning had a fantastic season, that’s for sure. Making it all the way to the finals, only to loose to the Chicago Blackhawks. You could say that this accomplishment was in part due to the clubs general manager. Steve Yzerman took home the award for the GM of the Year, and it is for a reason.
Yzerman helped the team rebuild, and in his first season with the team in 2011, was able to acquire star center Steven Stamkos. The Lightning set franchise records this season with 50 wins and 108 points during the regular season.
Per the NHL:
Voting for this award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media at the conclusion of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The NHL Awards is the time to honor the league’s most deserving players for all of their hard work during the regular season. The 2015 season gave many new and even unlikely faces a chance to shine their way into the hearts of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association that get a chance to vote.
Taking home the hardware
This year, many players surprised the masses with nominations in categories that one might not expect, but were definitely deserving of. Carey Price, who dominated with four awards, was one of those surprising picks. The 27 year old net-minder for the Montreal Canadiens racked up the the Hart Trophy for the NHL’s most valuable player, the Vezina Trophy for the League’s best goaltender, and the Ted Lindsay Award which is voted upon by the players for being the most outstanding player. He also shares the William M. Jennings Trophy with Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford for allowing the fewest goals in the regular season at only 189.
“I’m very humbled,” Price said about winning the Ted Lindsay. “Especially the players, no offense to everybody else, but I’m very humbled by that because I compete against these guys. We go to war out there, and for them to vote for me is really special.”
Price is the first goaltender to ever win all four awards. He is also the first goaltender to win the Hart since the 2001-02 season when Montreal goalie Jose Theodore won and the first to win the Ted Lindsay Award since the 1997-98 season when Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres won.
“I don’t really know what to say. It’s been an amazing experience. This whole season has been just amazing,” said Price on the season. “To whoever didn’t vote for me, I guess I’ll try harder next year.”
Hudler first Czech player to win Lady Byng
Not only did Jiri Hudler give the best acceptance speech of all time (sans shoes), but he had a pretty dang awesome season. Hudler played a pivotal role in the Calgary Flames success this season with the help of the teams young additions. On Wednesday, June 24th, 2015, Jiri Hudler became the first Czech player in the NHL to win the Lady Byng. The Lady Byng is awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
“I know I’m the first Czech player to win it and that is all I care about,” Hudler told the media after his victory.
The hilarious 31-year-old centerman tried his hand at comedy unintentionally when he waltzed on stage shoeless to which he announced once he arrived on the stage, simply saying, “I have no shoes on, sorry.” So why didn’t Hudler have shoes? Simple. He said that they were “too stiff” after just buying them when he got to Vegas.
He cracked jokes about Johnny Hockey, and even spouted off fact after fact to the media afterwards, but the one thing that struck the most people was when he mentioned his infant daughter.
“Most of all, Jan. 7 was the best day of my life. My daughter was born, Anna Josefine,” he said in his speech. “You know what, sports awards are awesome, but life is life and I love my daughter.”
Karlsson collects second career Norris
Erik Karlsson is not all brooding good looks and man buns, he also has some excellent defensive skills that he has showcased with the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson led all defenseman in points 21 goals and 45 assists.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is for the defenseman that demonstrates “the greatest all-around ability in the position.” Karlsson also won the award in 2012, and proved to the league’s writers that he was more deserving than P.K. Subban and Drew Doughty this season.
Ekblad wins rookie of the year
The rookies in the 2015 season were outstanding. There isn’t one of them that was more deserving than the other, but ultimately, someone has to win. That chosen winner though, just so happened to be Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers. The 19-year-old d-man narrowly beat out his competition of Mark Stone and Johnny Gaudreau.
The 2014 no. 1 overall pick showed that his potential was not all talk by showing off with an impressive rookie season. That being said, him being chosen as the Calder Trophy recipient could’ve gone any way, but he was certainly deserving.
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