LA Kings Finally Win Big At The 2016 NHL Awards
- Updated: June 23, 2016
After years of snubs or being the bridesmaid and never the bride, LA Kings’ superstars Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar were big winners at the 2016 NHL Awards last night.
Winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the best defensemen, who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest ALL-ROUND ability in the position, for the first time in his career, (this was his third time being nominated), this makes Doughty the second LA Kings’ player in franchise history to win the prestigious prize, (Rob Blake won in 1998).
Playing all 82 games this past regular season, “Dewy” best exemplified the criteria for this award, as Doughty was a force and strong presence in both the offensive and defensive zones and during regular 5 on 5 play, the power-play and penalty kill. Though he had less overall scoring points than his fellow nominees, Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson and San Jose’s Brent Burns, Doughty was the only nominee to be on the positive side of the plus/minus stat with a plus 24, (in other words, he can actually play defense too!)
NHL.com had this to say about Doughty ;
“Doughty had 51 points, tied for ninth among defensemen. But he led defensemen in 5-on-5 shot-attempts percentage at 58.89, while averaging 28:01 of ice time and drawing tough matchups. The Kings had 537 more shot attempts than they allowed with him on the ice at 5-on-5. In other words, they had the puck a lot more than their opponents did.”
Karlsson had a phenomenal offensive season with a point per game performance, which saw him finish with 82 points, (which broke the Ottawa franchise record for a defensemen) and a total averaged ice-time of 28:58 but is (wisely) never or rarely used by his team in a proper defensive situation, such as the penalty kill, because playing defense isn’t his strongest attribute. He finished the year at a minus -2 and his Senators didn’t make the playoffs. Burns scored 27 goals and 75 points but was a minus -7. It was his first ever nomination.
(If you take a closer look at the Norris Trophy votes, you’ll see near the bottom that Jake Muzzin also received a vote! GKG!)
Anze Kopitar won both the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the player that demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game, (breaking Boston’s Patrice Bergeron‘s Kung Fu like grip on the award), and the Lady Byng trophy for the player to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” It was Kopitar’s and the Kings’ first ever Selke Trophy win, while “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky last won the Lady Byng for the Kings way back in 1994.
Kopitar was in Slovenia with his family (but without Bailey this time), so therefore he couldn’t make the award show but the LA Kings’ President of Business Operations, Hall of Famer and LA Kings’ legend Luc Robitaille was on hand to accept the Selke trophy on his behalf, (which is really cool but funny at the same time because Robitaille wasn’t known for ever being a defensive forward and props to him for making light of that in his speech. Class act all the way).
NHL.com had this to say about Captain Kopitar ;
“Kopitar, the runner-up for the award in each of the past two seasons, led all NHL forwards in total ice time (1,690:12) and averaged 20:52 per game, including 2:09 shorthanded. He was fifth in the League in faceoffs taken (1,776) and ranked seventh in faceoff wins (950) with a 53.5 percent success rate. Kopitar, who was named captain of the Kings on Thursday, had 74 points (25 goals, 49 assists) and was plus-34 in 81 games, which ranked second* in the League.”
*The leader for plus/minus in the league this season was non other than Tyler Toffoli with a plus -35! GKG!)
On a negative note, Kings’ goalie (and Jedi Master) Jonathan Quick, (and Tampa’s Ben Bishop) lost out to Washington’s Braden Holtby for the Vezina Trophy for Goaltender of the Year. (No controversy here as Holtby did indeed deserve to win it). This was “Quickie’s” second ever nomination for the Vezina.
Though “Quickie” lost, I am still very proud of him for getting some well deserved recognition from the league, especially after breaking the Kings’ franchise record of most wins in a season, (he pretty much broke his own record), with 40. (I’m sure Quick’s Conn Smythe and William Jennings trophies, plus his two Stanley Cup rings made him feel a lot better after he got back home).
https://youtu.be/dMQg724ekEs
The other winners of the awards were ;
Chicago’s Patrick Kane with the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player, (which made him the first ever American born player to become the league’s MVP), the Art Ross Trophy for Most Points during the season, (which also made him the first ever American born player to win that award and accomplish that achievement) and the Ted Lindsay Award for Most Outstanding Player, as voted by his peers, (also a first for an American. USA! USA!).
Chicago’s Artemi Panarin pulled a Sergei Makarov and won the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year, (even though technically he was not a rookie since he played 5 plus seasons in the KHL as a professional).
Pittsburgh’s GM Jim Rutherford well deservedly won the Executive of the Year award. He retooled that Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguin’s team by adding important key assets such as Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino, (aka the HBK Line) that helped lead that team to go on and win the Cup for the fourth time in franchise history.
Florida’s ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr won the Bill Masterton Trophy for the player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport of hockey. (There’s still no word on whether Jagr is some type of vampire, warlock or immortal. Stay tuned!)
Nashville’s Captain Shea Weber won the Mark Messier Leadership Award, (which had a funny moment because Messier hand picks the winner every year and for some reason he still had to read the winner’s name off of the teleprompter, even though he already knew who was winning! Oh Moose you silly tough bastard. Also this is the same award that Dustin Brown had won for the Kings back in 2014. Just saying).
Vancouver’s Captain Henrik Sedin won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community, (like for not helping to burn down the city of Vancouver back in 2011).
Calgary’s Captain Mark Giordano won the NHL Foundation Award for the player that applies the core values of hockey with commitment, perseverance and teamwork, to enrich the lives of people in his community.” I was shocked by Giordano winning because I thought Montreal Canadian’s superstar P.K. Subban had this one in the bag after donating $10 million, (yes, $10 million!) to a children’s hospital in Montreal. Strange but c’est la vie.
And Washington’s head coach Barry Trotz won the Jack Adams Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year.
Despite Jonathan Quick not winning the Vezina Trophy, (I still say he was robbed back in 2012, Yeah You Heard Me Henrik Lundqvist!), the Los Angeles Kings had a successful night at the 2016 NHL Awards and we here at CaliSports News are extremely proud of all three of our Kings! With Doughty and Kopitar winning their long over due awards and with Quick being nominated, it is ABOUT TIME the eastern time zone voters stayed up late at night to watch the Kings’ and the West Coast teams play some great hockey and finally realize that is was time to finally show them some love.
Congratulations to all the winners!
GO KINGS GO!!!
(Now wouldn’t it be funny if Luc decided to pull off a “Owen Hart at the Slammy Awards” move by keeping the Best Defensive Forward Trophy for himself instead of giving it to Kopitar?!?!?!
Just watch the video below and pretend it’s the legendary Luc Robitaille instead of the late great Owen Hart and you’ll see what I mean. It would be hilarious!).
*Just an FYI. This awards show contained two Batmans in it! Michael Keaton (Batman’s 89, Batman Returns) and the show’s host Will Arnett (Lego Batman). Your move Christian Bale and Ben Affleck!
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!
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