Thursday, June 22, 2017

2017 NHL Awards roundup

Ten awards were given out Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Check out all the winners and highlights from the ceremony.

Connor McDavid wins Hart Trophy

Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

The 20-year-old center is the third-youngest player in League history to win the Hart. Wayne Gretzky (1980) and Sidney Crosby (2007) each won the award at age 19. The other finalists were Crosby and Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.


Sergei Bobrovsky wins Vezina Trophy

Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender in the NHL at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

Bobrovsky, 28, is the only Russia-born goalie to win the Vezina more than once; he also won with the Blue Jackets in 2013. The other finalists were Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who won it last year.

Johnny Gaudreau wins Lady Byng

Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames won the Lady Byng Trophy at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

The Lady Byng is awarded annually to the player who best combines sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability. The other finalists were Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund and St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko.


Craig Anderson wins Masterton Trophy

Goalie Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators received the Masterton Trophy at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

The award is given to the player who exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The other finalists were Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano and Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan.

John Tortorella wins Jack Adams

John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the Jack Adams Award as best coach in the NHL at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

Tortorella, who turns 59 on Saturday, also won the Jack Adams with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. The other finalists were Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Todd McLellan of the Edmonton Oilers.


David Poile wins General Manager of the Year

David Poile of the Nashville Predators won General Manager of the Year at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

Voting was conducted among general managers, a panel of League executives and print and broadcast media following the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The other finalists were Pierre Dorion of the Ottawa Senators and Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers.

Auston Matthews wins Calder Trophy

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

Matthews, the No. 1 pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, is the 10th player in Toronto history to win the Calder Trophy, first since Brit Selby in 1966. The 19-year-old center is the first United States-born player to win the Calder since defenseman Tyler Myers in 2010 with the Buffalo Sabres.


Brent Burns wins Norris Trophy 

Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday. 

It is the first Norris for Burns, 32, who finished third in voting for the trophy last season. He is the first Sharks player to receive the honor. The other finalists were Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.


Patrice Bergeron wins Selke Trophy

Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins won the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward in the NHL at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Bergeron, 31, who also received the honor in 2012, 2014 and 2015, joins Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Gainey as the only players to win the Selke four times. The other finalists were Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler and Minnesota Wild forward Mikko Koivu.

Connor McDavid wins Ted Lindsay Award

Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the Ted Lindsay Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by members of the NHL Players' Association, at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

McDavid, 20, led the NHL with 100 points (30 goals, 70 assists) this season and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006. They were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round.

Nick Foligno, Travis Hamonic honored

On Tuesday, three awards were presented, with New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic receiving the NHL Foundation Player Award, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno winning the King Clancy Trophy and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Wayne Gretzky to present Hart Trophy at NHL Awards

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Wayne Gretzky will present the Hart Trophy as MVP to Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby or Sergei Bobrovsky to cap the NHL’s awards show.

If McDavid wins, it would be a memorable moment as nine-time winner Gretzky presents the 20-year-old Oilers star with the trophy.

McDavid, Crosby and San Jose’s Brent Burns also are up for the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player as voted by peers. Lindsay and fellow Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier will present.

Burns, Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson and Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman are finalists for the Norris Trophy as best defenseman. Columbus’ Bobrovsky, Washington’s Braden Holtby and Montreal’s Carey Price are finalists for the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender.

The Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion draft also is part of the show.

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For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will not play next season

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will not play next season because of a progressive skin disorder and side effects of medication to treat it.

Hossa, 38, has experienced allergic reactions to his equipment, Sportsnet reported Tuesday.

Hossa said he has been undergoing treatment for the disorder under the supervision of the Blackhawks medical staff for the past few years, but the side effects, and his reaction to them, made it impossible for him to play in what would have been his 20th NHL season in 2017-18.


"While I am disappointed that I will not be able to play, I have to consider the severity of my condition and how the treatments have impacted my life both on and off the ice," Hossa said.

Hossa has 1,134 points (525 goals, 609 assists) in 1,309 games with the Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He ranks 34th in NHL goals, 80th in assists, 54th in points, and 60th in games played. He has 149 points (52 goals, 97 assists) in 205 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

It remains unclear if Hossa, who has four years remaining on his contract, will return following next season.

Erik Haula to sign with Golden Knights: report

Minnesota Wild center Erik Haula is expected to sign a multiyear contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, The Star Tribune reported Wednesday.

Haula, 26, could have become a restricted free agent July 1 and would become the Golden Knights' selection from the Wild in the NHL Expansion Draft. Minnesota reportedly has agreed to trade forward prospect Alex Tuch and a conditional future draft pick to Vegas.

With these reported transactions, Vegas would not select one of Minnesota's top exposed players, including defenseman Matt Dumba and Marco Scandella and center Eric Staal.

Tuch, 21, has two years remaining on his entry-level contract with an average annual value of $925,000, according to CapFriendly.com. He was exempt from the expansion draft.

Staal has a modified no-trade clause but was exposed to the Golden Knights; he has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. Joining him on the Wild's unprotected list were Dumba, who has one year remaining with an average annual value of $2.55 million, and Scandella, who has three years remaining with an average annual value of $4 million.

Golden Knights targeting Alexei Emelin: report

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin is being targeted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft, TSN reported Wednesday.

Emelin, 31, has one year remaining on his contract at $4.1 million, according to CapFriendly.com. He could become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2018.

The Canadiens protected defensemen Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Jordie Benn from the Golden Knights.

Jean-Francois Berube part of deal between Islanders, Golden Knights: report

New York Islanders goaltender Jean-Francois Berube could be selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft, TSN reported Wednesday.

As part of a reported larger deal, Vegas would acquire forward Mikhail Grabovski and the Islanders' first-round pick (No. 15) in the upcoming draft in exchange for selecting Berube.

Berube, 25, played 14 games for the Islanders this season and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. New York carried three goalies -- Berube, Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak -- for much of the season. The Islanders protected Greiss in the expansion draft.

2017-18 NHL season begins Oct. 4; Penguins host Blues

NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League today announced the home openers for all 31 clubs for the 2017-18 regular season. The League's complete 1,271-game schedule will be revealed tomorrow, Thursday, June 22, at 3 p.m. ET on NHL Network during the live, hour-long NHL Tonight: 2017-18 Schedule Release, where host Steve Mears and analysts E.J. Hradekand Stanley Cup champion John MacLeanwill announce the regular-season schedule and provide analysis.

FULL LIST OF HOME OPENERS, 2017-18 SEASON

Anaheim Ducks: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Arizona

Arizona Coyotes: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Vegas

Boston Bruins: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Nashville

Buffalo Sabres: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Montreal

Calgary Flames: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Winnipeg

Carolina Hurricanes: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Minnesota

Chicago Blackhawks: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Pittsburgh

Colorado Avalanche: Wednesday, Oct. 11 vs. Boston

Columbus Blue Jackets: Friday, Oct. 6 vs. NY Islanders

Dallas Stars: Friday, Oct. 6 vs. Vegas

Detroit Red Wings: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Minnesota

Edmonton Oilers: Wednesday, Oct. 4 vs. Calgary

Florida Panthers: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Tampa Bay

Los Angeles Kings: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Philadelphia

Minnesota Wild: Saturday, Oct. 14 vs. Columbus

Montreal Canadiens: Tuesday, Oct. 10 vs. Chicago

Nashville Predators: Tuesday, Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia

New Jersey Devils: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Colorado

New York Islanders: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Buffalo

New York Rangers: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Colorado

Ottawa Senators: Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Washington

Philadelphia Flyers: Saturday, Oct. 14 vs. Washington

Pittsburgh Penguins: Wednesday, Oct. 4 vs. St. Louis

San Jose Sharks: Wednesday, Oct. 4 vs. Philadelphia

St. Louis Blues: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Dallas

Tampa Bay Lightning: Friday, Oct. 6 vs Florida

Toronto Maple Leafs: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. NY Rangers

Vancouver Canucks: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Edmonton

Vegas Golden Knights: Tuesday, Oct. 10 vs. Arizona

Washington Capitals: Saturday, Oct. 7 vs Montreal

Winnipeg Jets: Wednesday, Oct. 4 vs. Toronto