Sturm wins Art Ross, Hart Trophy
Following Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Saints and the Miami Tropics, the league announced the winners for the major RSHA awards.
Hart Trophy
It was a breakthrough season for Minnesota's Marco Sturm. The homegrown winger, selected 12th overall in the 1997 RSHA Entry Draft by the Lights, has improved his offensive output every season of his career.
This season, it all came together as the German superstar scored 47 goals and 102 points. For his efforts, he won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's scoring champion and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player as the Northern Lights won the President's Trophy once again. His 47 goals ranked second in the league (behind teammate Mariusz Czerkawski), and he led the league in power-play goals and game-winning goals as well.
Evgeni Nabokov, who did not go home empty handed, placed second in the voting, and Denver's Patrick Marleau - who had a breakthrough season of his own - finished third.
1. Marco Sturm - 124pts (9-4-0-2-0)
2. Evgeni Nabokov - 89pts (4-4-3-1-3)
3. Patrick Marleau - 78pts (2-4-4-3-1)
4. Pavel Datsyuk - 50pts (0-1-5-5-3)
5. Mariusz Czerkawski - 45pts (0-2-3-4-4)
6. Eric Lindros - 2 pts (0-0-0-0-2)
T7. Felix Potvin - 1pt (0-0-0-0-1)
T7. Mike Sillinger - 1pt (0-0-0-0-1)
Norris Trophy
Wade Redden became the fifth defenseman in league history to win multiple Norris Trophies, and the New York defender did it at the age of 26. Redden notched 8 goals and 63 points (which led defensemen), and his all around solid season in the Big Apple won over the voters.
A pair of Denver Pilots finished second and third, as Roman Hamrlik's massive plus/minus and solid offensive season edged out Zdeno Chara's more physical style for second and third.
1. Wade Redden - 59pts (10-3-0)
2. Roman Hamrlik - 36pts (2-8-2)
3. Zdeno Chara - 18pts (3-0-3)
4. Rob Blake - 18pts (0-3-9)
5. Nicklas Lidstrom - 4pts (0-1-1)
Vezina Trophy
While he may have fallen short of becoming RSHA's first goaltender to win the MVP since Mike Vernon, Evgeni Nabokov was the unanimous Vezina Trophy winner. Nabby picked up all 15 first place votes after leading the league in GAA (2.63), Save % (.906), and SO (6).
1. Evgeni Nabokov - 75pts (15-0-0)
2. Miikka Kiprusoff - 30pts (0-8-6)
3. JS Giguere - 28pts (0-7-7)
T4. Felix Potvin - 1pt (0-0-1)
T4. Tommy Salo - 1pt (0-0-1)
Calder Trophy
Martin Havlat was the runaway winner of the Calder Trophy this year. The Hunters winger potted 27 goals and averaged a point per game and +23 rating in Edmonton, and was a big reason his team was a surprise contender this season. He outdueled former #2 overall pick Ilya Kovalchuk and teammate Mike Smith for the honours.
1. Martin Havlat - 71 pts (13-2-0)
2. Ilya Kovalchuk - 39 pts (0-12-3)
3. Mike Smith - 19 pts (2-1-6)
4. Marian Gaborik - 3 pts (0-0-3)
5. Niklas Hagman - 2 pts (0-0-2)
6. Randy Jones - 1 pt (0-0-1)