MIDSEASON AWARDS

Martin Brodeur leads the list of who should get midseason honors

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published January 7, 2007

Hart Trophy (MVP):

Martin Brodeur, Devils. Considering New Jersey had, entering Saturday, the second-worst offense in the East with 102 goals, Brodeur has been irreplaceable. He leads all goalies with six shutouts and is near the top of the heap with a .925 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average.

Norris Trophy (defenseman):

Chris Pronger, Ducks. He is out with a broken left foot but entered Saturday still leading all defensemen with 40 points and was second at plus-21.

Calder Trophy (rookie):

Evgeni Malkin, Penguins. Not much of a debate as Pittsburgh's center led all first-year players with 18 goals and 37 points and eight power-play goals. What a shame Pittsburgh, if it loses its team, will not be able to see Malkin and Sidney Crosby become great together.

Selke Trophy (defensive forward):

Chris Drury, Sabres. On the go-go Sabres, Drury is plus-7, kills penalties and wins almost 60 percent of his faceoffs.

Vezina Trophy (goalie):

Brodeur. See above.

Jack Adams Award (coach):

Ted Nolan, Islanders. No coach has ever carried as much baggage or been watched so closely for missteps. Nolan has been professional and has the Islanders, one of the more hopeless organizations entering the season, on the right track.

Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship):

Marty St. Louis, Lightning. Tied for league lead in goals and is top 10 in points with just 10 penalty minutes.

Sour grapes

Ted Nolan recently coached his first game in Buffalo since 1997, when the Sabres won their only division title since 1981. The Sabres organization, the Buffalo News reported, barely recognized the first-year Islanders coach, who had such a bad breakup with the Sabres he basically was blackballed as an NHL coach. "It's sad," Nolan said. "It would have been nice if someone who accomplished something here in the past was acknowledged."

Blast from the past

Remember Alexander Svitov, the Lightning's top pick and the No. 3 overall choice of the 2001 draft? A huge bust, right? Well, he's making a name for himself with the Blue Jackets and beat the snot out of Chicago's Duncan Keith on Dec. 31. Reports out of Columbus say coach Ken Hitchcock believes Svitov can be another Michal Handzus.

They said it

- "I'd better get into a fight." - Marty St. Louis on hearing he is being considered for the Lady Byng

- "To be back with a Canadian team in a market that really knows a lot about hockey is something I'm really looking forward to be a part of." - Senators' Mike Comrie about his trade from the Coyotes

- "I mean, it's ludicrous. We've got the best goalie in the league. It's stupid. It's the last thing on anybody's mind." - Flames defenseman Andrew Ference defending goalie Miikka Kiprusoff after a stretch of seven straight starts in which he allowed at least three goals

Odds and ends

The Senators have handed the Sabres half their eight losses. ... For Christmas, Senators goalie Ray Emery got a 3-foot ball python. ... Bruins rookie Phil Kessel is participating in noncontact practice three weeks after surgery to remove a cancerous testicle. ... The Wild has a collector's edition Monopoly game with faces replacing street names. No surprise coach Jacques Lemaire is Boardwalk. ... The Ducks killed 14 straight five-on-three power plays until the Wild converted on Dec. 31. ... The Blue Jackets have been shut out nine times, four more than last season. ... Panthers captain Olli Jokinen said he started wearing a visor last month after taking a collective 40 stitches in the face the past two seasons.

[Last modified January 7, 2007, 01:45:16]