Its awards time!
Now that all the candidates have been announced, we just have to sit back and wait. The regular season awards went to:
Presidents Trophy (regular season champs): San Jose Sharks
Art Ross Trophy (scoring champion) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Maurice Richard Trophy (top goal scorer): Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
William Jennings Trophy (goaltenders of the club that allowed the fewest goals): Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, Boston Bruins

This year the post-season ceremony is in Las Vegas. How fitting that is after the first two rounds have played out. Maybe some people can gamble their money back after great let downs from San Jose and Washington.

Here’s a quick run down of the awards and the nominees.

Hart Trophy: league MVP
Last year: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Nominated this year: Ovechkin
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Vezina Trophy: top goaltender
Last year: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
This year: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Tim Thomas Boston Bruins

Norris Trophy: top defenseman
Last year: Nick Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
This year: Lidstrom (vying for his seventh Norris)
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Mike Green, Washington Capitals

Calder Trophy: top Rookie
Last year: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
This year: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks

Lady Byng Trophey: League’s most gentlemanly player
Last year: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
This year: Datsyuk (going for his fourth Byng)
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

Franke Selke Trophy: top defensive forward
Last year: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
This year: Datsyuk (attempting for his second Selke)
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers

Jack Adams Award: the League’s best coach
Last year: Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals
This year: Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks
Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
Andy Murray, St. Louis Blues

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey
Last year: Jason Blake, Toronto Maple Leafs
This year: Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings
Richard Zednik, Florida Panthers,
Steve Sullivan, Nashville Predators

Lester B. Pearson: to the NHL’s top player voted by the NHLPA
Last year: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
This year: Ovechkin
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL Foundation Award: commitment and service to charities (The winner will earn $25,000 for the charity of his choice
This year: Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Alex Kovalev, Montreal Canadiens
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets