Norris and Calder Thoughts

When the NHL playoffs begin, so too do the gradual announcements of the nominees for the various annual individual awards. Starting with the Calder Trophy for the league's outstanding rookie and the Norris Trophy for the outstanding defenseman, I'll be taking a look at the nominees, picking a winner and offering up names of players who could have been there instead.

The Calder Trophy

The three nominees for the Calder Trophy are Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks, Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets and Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ryan led all rookies in scoring this season with 31 goals and 57 total points in just 64 games. Versteeg placed second with 22 goals and 53 points in 78 games. Mason is the youngest of the group, leading the NHL in shut outs with 10 at just 20 years old. Versteeg and Ryan are both 22 and have played in the AHL previously.

Steve Mason is the primary reason the Columbus Blue Jackets were finally able to make the playoffs this season for the first time in franchise history, though they were swept out by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings.

Bobby Ryan was a great piece in helping the Anaheim Ducks sneak into the playoffs and is leading the Ducks with 4 goals, all while holding a 3-2 series advantage over the league's best regular season team, the San Jose Sharks.

Versteeg was a nice addition to a very young, very good Chicago Blackhawks squad. He hasn't had the impact that Ryan and Mason have. I would have preferred to see Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty nominated in his place. Doughty stepped right into the Kings' line up and established himself as a top line d-man almost immediately. I would have also taken Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne over Versteeg.

Who Will Win: Steve Mason

Who Should Win: Steve Mason

The Norris Trophy

The three players nominated for The Norris Trophy this season are Detroit Red Wings captain and the guy this trophy will probably get re-named after, Niklas Lidstrom, Boston Bruins monster Zdeno Chara and the offensively explosive Mike Green of the Washington Capitals.

Green played just 68 games this season but managed to accumulate 31 goals and 73 points, the most in both categories for a defenseman. He also set a record for an NHL defenseman with goals in 8 straight games. He isn't as defensive minded as Lidstrom or Chara, but his offense more than makes up for it.

Nik Lidstrom has won the Norris 6 out of the past 7 years and is only two shy of Bobby Orr's record of eight awards. He placed third in defenseman scoring with 59 points and is one of the best and most consistent captains in the NHL. You could easily make a case for Lidstrom to win his seventh Norris.

Chara has been nominated for the Norris twice previously, but has never won. The 6'9" 251 pound monster has the hardest shot in the NHL and finished the season with 50 points. He is a fearsome competitor and has a very strong defensive game. He has more of an impact on his team than either Lidstrom or Green.

It's hard to argue with the nominees here, but Dan Boyle of the San Jose Sharks and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators also deserve a mention for their outstanding play this season.

Who Will Win: Mike Green

Who Should Win: Zdeno Chara

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