NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to local media among some of hockey’s most cherished hardware outside the Ghostbar at the Palms on Apr. 6.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 | midnight
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With the Stanley Cup enjoying a hero’s welcome at a parade in Pittsburgh today, the rest of the NHL’s most-prized hardware heads to Las Vegas this week for the annual NHL Awards show.
The awards show, which is in Las Vegas for the first time ever, will be broadcast live on Versus from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel at 4 p.m. Thursday. Las Vegas has a three-year deal with the NHL to host the show.
Since Las Vegas is not exactly a hockey Mecca, however, here is the skinny on the most cherished awards that will be handed out Thursday night and three finalists for each prize:
The Hart Memorial Trophy - awarded to the NHL's regular season MVP, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin
*Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin
*Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk
The Lester B. Pearson Award - awarded to the NHL's "most outstanding player," as voted for by the National Hockey League Players' Association
*Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin
*Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin
*Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk
The Vezina Trophy - awarded to the best goalie, as voted for by the NHL's general managers
*Columbus Blue Jacket's Steve Mason
*Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom
*Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas
The Calder Memorial Trophy - awarded to the top rookie, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason
*Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan
*Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg
The Jack Adams Award - awarded to the best regular season coach, as voted for by the NHL Broadcasters' Association
*San Jose Sharks' Todd McLellan
*Boston Bruins' Claude Julien
*St. Louis Blues' Andy Murray
The Norris Trophy - awarded to the top defenseman, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Detroit Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom
*Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara
*Washington Capitals' Mike Green
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy - awarded to the NHL's most gentlemanly player, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis
*Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk
*New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise
The Frank J. Selke Trophy - awarded to the top defensive forward, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk
*Philadelphia Flyers' Mike Richards
*Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy - awarded to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey," as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
*Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios
*Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednick
*Nashville Predators forward Steve Sullivan
The Pearl is the Palms premier concert venue, hosting some of the most legendary and popular names in entertainment.
Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected]
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