Players

Ovechkin, Holtby, Trotz and MacLellan Nominated for Awards

Braden Holtby (Caps Outsider)

The Caps family celebrated a multitude of milestones and awards during the 2015-16 season.  The organization could feasibly add several more prestigious NHL awards to their collection in the near future.

Alex Ovechkin is a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The Messier Award, presented by Bridgestone, recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport, and as a contributing member of society. The annual award is given to a player selected by Messier to honor an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes. First awarded during the 2006-7 season, the award is named for Canadian NHL Hall of Fame player and six-time Stanley Cup recipient, Mark Messier.

Braden Holtby is up for two awards: the Vezina Trophy and the Ted Lindsey Award. First, the Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL goaltender that is the best at the position. At the end of each season, the thirty NHL general managers vote to determine the winner. First awarded in the 1926-1927 season, it is named in honor of Georges Vezina, goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens from 1910 until 1925, who died in 1926 of tuberculosis.  The Ted Lindsay Award (formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award) is another annual award given to the league’s most outstanding player during the regular season.  This award is judged by members of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association.

Coach Barry Trotz is a finalist for the league’s Coach of the Year Award.  The Jack Adams Award, named for in honor of Hall of Fame player Jack Adams who was the also the coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, is given annually to a coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success.  It is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association.

Brian MacLellan, Caps senior vice president and general manager, is up for the GM of the Year Award.  First given in 2010, the award is voted on by a 40 member panel that includes all 30 NHL general managers, 5 NHL executives, and 5 media members.

The NHL Awards will be held on June 22 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It will begin at 9:00 pm and will be televised on NBCSN. This year, the annual event will be hosted by actor (and amateur hockey player) Will Arnett.  Let’s wish all of our Caps nominees good luck.  They certainly deserve the recognition.

Let’s Go Caps!

Barbara Banks

Barbara Ann Banks is a freelance writer out of Rockville, MD.

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