NHL to air hockey awards in new format this season

The National Hockey League has decided to throw a curveball at everyone (terrible mixing of sports there, I realize. Forgiveness, please) and change how it awards its end-of-season awards.

Beginning this year, the NHL will conduct two televised specials that will present the awards. In the past, the league has done award shows similar to the Emmys or ESPY awards. 

The new shows will air during the Stanley Cup Finals. 

The awards will be presented in collaboration with NBC Sports Group, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL Network. The National Hockey League Players's Association signed off on this move.

The first will air on the eve of Game 2 of the Finals and be held on the NHL Network. During it, the winners of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Frank J. Selke Trophy, Jack Adams Award, King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, NHL Foundation Player award and NHL General Manager of the Year Award will be revealed.

The second event will air leading into Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals and be on both NBC and CBC. That special will announce the winners of the Calder Memorial Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Vezina Trophy. 

The award nominees  are:

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Perseverance and dedication to hockey)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild

Adam McQuaid, Boston Bruins

 

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top rookie)

Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens

Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers

Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks

 

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (Top defensive forward)

Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks 

 

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (Most valuable player to his team) 

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

John Tavares, New York Islanders 

 

JACK ADAMS AWARD (Top head coach)

Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks

Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators

Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks 

 

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top defenseman)

Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens

Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

 

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (Best sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability)

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Matt Moulson, New York Islanders

Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning 

 

MARK MESSIER NHL LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED BY BRIDGESTONE

Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators

Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

 

NHL GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Marc Bergevin, Montreal Canadiens

Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks

Ray Shero, Pittsburgh Penguins

 

TED LINDSAY AWARD (Most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHLPA)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning 

 

VEZINA TROPHY (Top goaltender)

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks