NHL Awards, Martin Brodeur Day and Ashton Kutcher

by Carlos Figueiredo

There is a lot going on in the world of hockey on this Thursday.

First, today is officially Martin Brodeur Day in New Jersey. I don’t know about anyone else, but every day in New Jersey feels like Martin Brodeur Day to me. But I guess today it was made official. Thanks for everything Marty, and let’s keep the train to the Hockey Hall Of Fame going full speed ahead next season!

Secondly, tonight at 7:30pm on Versus, the NHL Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas. Zach Parise is up for the Lady Byng award for being the league’s most gentlemanly player. The other nominees (and my picks to win in bold) are:

• Hart Trophy – League MVP: Pavel Datsyuk (DET); Evgeni Malkin(PIT);  Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
• Calder Trophy – Rookie of the Year: Steve Mason(CLB); Bobby Ryan (ANA); Kris Versteeg (CHI)
• Lester B. Pearson Award – Most Outstanding Player as Voted on by Players: Pavel Datsyuk (DET); Evgeni Malkin (PIT); Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
• Lady Byng Trophy – Most Gentelmanly Player: Pavel Datsyuk(DET); Zach Parise (NJ); Martin St. Louis (TB)
• Selke Trophy – Best Defensive Forward: Pavel Datsyuk(DET); Ryan Kesler (VAN); Mike Richards (PHI)
• Norris Trophy – Best Defenseman: Nicklas Lidstrom (DET); Zdeno Chara (BOS); Mike Green (WSH)
• Vezina Trophy – Best Goaltender: Steve Mason (CLB); Niklas Backstrom (MIN); Tim Thomas (BOS)
• Jack Adams Award – Coach of the Year: Todd McLellan (SJ); Claude Julien (BOS); Andy Murray (STL)
• Bill Masterton Award – Dedication to the Game: Chris Chelios(DET); Steve Sullivan (NSH); Richard Zednik (FLA)
• NHL Foundation Player Award – Commitment and Service to Charities in their Communities: Dustin Brown (LA); Alexei Kovalev (MON); Rick Nash (CLB) 
• Mark Messier Leadership Award: Zdeno Chara (BOS); Sidney Crosby(PIT); Jarome Iginla (CAL)
• Scotiabank NHL FAN FAV Award: Jarome Iginla (CAL); Steve Mason (CLB); Sidney Crosby (PIT); Roberto Luongo (VAN), Mike Green (WSH); Alex Ovechkin(WSH); Miikka Kiprusoff (CAL); Eric Staal (CAR); Martin Brodeur (NJ); Evgeni Nabokov (SJ)

I would also like to remind anyone reading this to follow not only me, but all of the other great bloggers on the Fanball Sports Network on Twitter. You can find all of their twitter info on their respective blogs.
As of right now (6pm eastern), I am just 2,264,847 followers behind Ashton Kutcher on twitter. Come on people…Ashton Kutcher? Really?

The guy hasn’t done anything relevant in…..I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count. But apparently all he does now is twitter. I may not be as famous, but I guarantee I have something better to say. After all, I’m a hockey fan!!

We are also now just 8 short days away from the NHL Draft, followed 5 days after that by the Free Agent signing period. We are getting into the most important part of the off-season! Let’s hope it brings some new, exciting names to New Jersey. Stay Tuned!!

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Ashton Kutcher, Chris Chelios, Evgeni Malkin, Martin Brodeur, Mike Green, NHL, NHL Awards, Pavel Datsyuk, Rick Nash, Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise