Dallas Stars Awards From The Staff At Blackout Dallas
By Tom Dorsa
The staff at Blackout Dallas has taken a page from the NHL’s book and awarded several Dallas Stars players with redone accolades based on that of the real world.
During the previous two calender weeks, the National Hockey League has released the three nominees for each of its prestigious end-of-season awards. There were zero total Dallas Stars players nominated by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
This, of course, comes as no surprise, given the horrendous 2016-17 NHL season for players, coaches, general managers in the Metroplex. So, how do we compensate our favorite hockey personalities?
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Well, Blackout Dallas and its staff have compiled a nifty voting process of assembling nominees and arranging them based on highest amount of votes. Each of our contributors chipped in their votes, and the winners are listed below.
Staff writers Micaela Hamid, Allison Scott, Tom Dorsa, Katelin Brekken, and editor Josh Clark teamed up over the course of the last two weeks and compiled their ballots. Let’s take a look.
FRANK J. SELKE MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the player who “best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”
1. Radek Faksa
2. Antoine Roussel
3. Devin Shore
Radek Faksa received four out of five first-place votes, as the all-around Czech center exemplified defensive prowess we truly haven’t seen since three-time Selke Trophy winner, Jere Lehtinen. Antoine Roussel, who received Scott’s first-place vote, came in second, followed by Devin Shore, who edged out Cody Eakin based on third-place votes.
FRANK CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the player who is “most proficient in his or her first year of competition in the NHL.”
1. Devin Shore
2. Esa Lindell
3. Remi Elie
Esa Lindell and Devin Shore were the top-two in all five, however Shore came out on top with three first-place tallies. Remi Elie, in a strong, 18-game showing, rounded out the top-three.
JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the “defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.”
1. John Klingberg
2. Esa Lindell
3. Dan Hamhuis
Swedish defenseman John Klingberg, who finished with 13 goals and 36 assists, handily won the Norris Trophy with four of our voters’ first-place votes. Esa Lindell, for whom Hamid casted her top vote, came in second, followed by Dan Hamhuis.
GEORGES VEZINA MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to “the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position.”
1. Kari Lehtonen
2. Antti Niemi
3. Landon Bow
One of the few good memories of a mostly horrific season for Stars fans was Kari Lehtonen, who walked away with all five first-place Vezina Trophy votes. Antti Niemi, Lehtonen’s partner in crime, came in second, with Texas Stars surprise Landon Bow (who earned an NHL contract with stellar play down the line) running third.
LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
1. Devin Shore
2. Tyler Seguin
3. Jason Spezza
Devin Shore, who combined his 14 goals and 20 assists with just 14 penalty minutes, walked out with his second award and third nomination with three first-place votes, in addition to a third-place marker. Number-one center Tyler Seguin finished second, receiving Dorsa’s first-place vote, with Jason Spezza taking third.
BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”
1. Patrick Sharp
2. Radek Faksa
3. Patrick Eaves
Patrick Sharp was the Dallas Stars’ real-life nomination for the Masterton award, and therefore was awarded ours due to his four first-place votes. Sharp underwent hip surgery, that effectively ended his season and perhaps his career, despite trying his hardest to fit into the lineup with each passing game.
Patrick Eaves netted a first-place vote from Hamid, however Faksa gained three second-place votes to finish as the runner-up.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE FOUNDATION PLAYER AWARD
Awarded to “the player who best applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance, and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community.”
1. Tyler Seguin
2. Jamie Benn
3. Kari Lehtonen
All five first place votes went to Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin, who donated $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of McKinney, Texas in order to construct a ball hockey arena. Jamie Benn and Kari Lehtonen, who routinely visit children’s hospitals and do meet and greets with community fans, finished second and third.
JACK ADAMS AWARD
Awarded to the coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.”
1. Lindy Ruff
2. Kelly Forbes
3. Derek Laxdal
Haha, hahahahahahaha, haha, oh crapapples. Lindy Ruff, no longer an employee of the Dallas Stars, tallied three first-place votes to win the Jack Adams award. Second-place went to video coach Kelly Forbes, for whom Clark and Hamid used their first-place votes on, with Texas Stars head coach Derek Laxdal coming in third.
MARK MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD
Awarded to the player “who exemplifies great leadership qualitites to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”
1. Jamie Benn
2. Patrick Eaves
3. Tyler Seguin
As the captain of the Dallas Stars, amid a miserable year, Jamie Benn accrued each of the five first-place votes to win the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Patrick Eaves, who received two second-place votes, overcame Tyler Seguin, the recipient of just one such vote, to finish second.
DAVID AND CECIL HART MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the “player judged most valuable to his team.”
1. Jamie Benn
2. Patrick Eaves
3. Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn and Patrick Eaves both received two first-place votes, and two second-place votes, making this a stalemate until considering Dorsa’s ballot, which gave Benn the advantage. Tyler Seguin, also finishing first on Dorsa’s ballot and third on Brekken’s, came in third.
TED LINDSEY AWARD
Awarded to “the National Hockey League’s most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association.”
1. Adam Cracknell
2. Adam Cracknell
3. Adam Cracknell
Don’t blame us, blame Tyler Seguin at exit day in Dallas. Since we don’t have a definitive way for players to vote, we’ll go off of this. Adam Cracknell had a career high 10 goals and six assists, while being a plus-Corsi player nearly all season.
Maybe this is all just us being sad and wanting to feel better about such a miserable season, but thanks for reading. If all goes according to plan, the Dallas Stars will return to prominence and have a player or two nominated for NHL Awards, such as Jamie Benn’s previous nominations for the Ted Lindsey and Hart Trophies.
Next: Dallas Stars Should Turn To Joonas Korpisalo For Goaltending Fix
Stay tuned to Blackout Dallas for upcoming NHL Draft features, analysis on remaining Stanley Cup Playoffs action, and editorials on the life of a Stars fan.