Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 134

32 Issue #134 March 2024
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Over the Boards
By Brad Robertson
ello again. As the calendar
Hturns to March, it’s time to dig
into the final stretch of the NHL
season. There are playoff races in
both conferences and there are also
interesting races towards the NHL
regular season hardware. Let’s look
at the front-runners for the major
regular season awards.
The Maurice Rocket Richard
Trophy goes to the NHL’s leading
goal scorer and what was once a
race seems to be Auston Matthews’
to lose now. Currently he sits with
52 goals and he’s on pace for over
70, something that hasn’t been done
in over 30 years! Sam Reinhart
with 39 goals and Nikita Kucherov,
Zach Hyman, and David Pasternak
who all have 38, are all on pace for
over 50. Goalscoring is certainly up
league wide!
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The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the league’s best goaltender and seen the playoffs in a while. They
to the league’s top scorer. Nikita although there are many worthy are contending for a wild card
Kucherov has a 6-point lead over of consideration, the top 3 are spot. The same can be said for
Nathan MacKinnon. Connor Hellebuyck, Vancouver’s Thatcher Philadelphia and their veteran
McDavid is 11 points back. My Demko, Avalanche Alexandar coach John Tortorella. Torts has
guess is that McDavid catches fire Georgiev, the Rangers’ Igor the Flyers in the wild card hunt,
one more time and takes home the Shesterkin, and Florida’s Sergei even though they are a team that
Art Ross, but Kucherov isn’t going Bobrovsky. Throw in Boston’s wasn’t picked to contend. In the
to be overtaken easily. Jeremy Swayman and Edmonton’s west, Rick Tocchet in Vancouver
Stuart Skinner. For my money has gotten that talented but recently
The Hart Trophy is awarded to
though, it’s tough not to hand the underachieving group to buy in
the Most Valuable Player and the
3 top scorers in the league, along hardware over to Hellebuyck. to a good system and believe in
with Matthews, are probably The Calder Trophy goes to the themselves as they are fighting for
top spot overall in the league. In
the favourites at this point. NHL’s top rookie, and a few have
Consideration will also go to emerged from the pack this season. Winnipeg, long time NHL coach
Rick Bowness has steered the Jets
Pastrnak, Artemi Panarin, and a It isn’t easy finding your way in the
couple of Canucks in Quinn Hughes NHL in your first season as a young in the right direction and has them
and JT Miller. Winnipeg goaltender player, but these players have had also within ear shot of the top of their
Connor Hellebuyck will also get some success. Connor Bedard gets division. I really like what veteran
some votes for his stellar play and the most attention, but there are a John Tortorella has done with this
workload. If Matthews scores 70 pair of Minnesota Wild having great Flyers group. Even though they lost
goals this season, I think he’s the seasons - defenseman Brock Faber their No.1 goalie Carter Hart (on a
winner. If not, then Kucherov, and center Marco Rossi. Columbus leave of absence to deal with legal
MacKinnon, or even Hellebuyck winger Dmitri Voronkov has been a issues stemming from the 2018
could nab it. pleasant surprise as well as Calgary World Junior Canadian Team), the
forward Connor Zary. I am leaning Flyers have been resilient and kept
The Norris Trophy goes the themselves in the wild card race, a
NHL’s top defense man and there towards defenseman Brock Faber. huge accomplishment.
are some standouts this season. He’s gotten 34 points thus far and is
Perennial favourite Cale Makar a +2 on the Minnesota team which The next week will be fun in
from the Colorado Avalanche, is on the outside of the playoff the NHL as the league’s trading
Quinn Hughes, the Islanders’ picture. He gets minutes on both deadline takes place Friday, March
Noah Dobson, steady Tampa Bay power play and penalty kill and 8. There should be a frenzy of
Lightning Victor Hedman and averages a whopping 25 minutes moves as many teams feel they
NYR Adam Fox are all having per game of ice time. have a legitimate shot at a playoff
standout years. I am going with The Jack Adams Trophy is spot. Others on the bottom have
Quinn Hughes to grab his first awarded to the top Coach of the decent assets to unload as part of
Norris Trophy. League, and I see a 4-horse race their rebuilding efforts. Enjoy the
here. Detroit’s Derek Lalonde has trade deadline and mad dash to the
The Vezina Trophy is awarded a young team and Detroit hasn’t finish line.