2014-15 NHL Predictions: Awards and Trophies

The NHL season is starting today and like all hockey fans, we couldn't be more excited. Here are FSM's predictions for a year of hockey that is sure to impress.

Stanley Cup Champions: Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks were a very solid team this past season, and have finished first in their division the past two years. Offseason moves were made that strengthened their team, adding Clayton Stoner, Ryan Kesler and Dany Heatley will bolster both their offense and defence. Playing a division stacked with talent will provide a tough regular season, and if the promising young goaltending tandem of Frederik Anderson and John Gibson holds up against the likes of LA and San Jose consistently, they will have the drive to make it through the playoffs and capture their second Stanley Cup in the past 10 years.

President's Trophy: Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins won the President's Trophy last year, and we believe they will again this year, as it was for good reason. The Eastern Conference teams are simply not as strong as the Western Conference teams, and with Boston being consistently one of the top teams in the conference they will not have too much trouble attaining the best regular season record in the league. Playing against weaker teams more often, but still producing like they have, and having Tuukka Rask hold it down in goal, will be the recipe for success to finish the season with the best record.

Hart Memorial Trophy: Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin finished in fourth in scoring last season, and is playing on a Dallas team that is consistently getting better and better. Working with Jamie Benn on the first line, he has the potential to do just as well this coming season, if not better. Seguin will play a major part in the Stars' offensive production and will be a front funner for the league's Most Valuable Player.

Lady Byng Trophy: Martin St. Louis

The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded to the player in the league that most exemplifies sportsmanlike qualities combined with good playing ability. Martin St. Louis has won the Lady Byng twice already in recent years, and in his first full season with the New York Rangers, he will lead the team with his play, heart and sportsmanship.

Vezina Trophy: Carey Price

Carey Price had a spectacular season last year, and after winning the Olympic gold medal with the Canadian National team, all he did was get better. With Montreal not necessarily having the strongest defensive corps in the league, Price will have the opportunity to show how dominant of a goaltender he can be. If Montreal does as well this season as they did last, it'll have a lot to do with Carey Price. He will be a top candidate to take home the Vezina.

Calder Memorial Trophy: Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin was drafted third overall in the 2013 NHL Draft to Tampa Bay Lightning. While playing for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, he had two stellar seasons, one ending with a Memorial Cup win he shared with last year's Calder Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Frk of the Detroit Red Wings. Playing with the likes of Steven Stamkos on the Lightning this year, as well as being a dynamic goal scorer is a great combination that has a high possibility in leading to back-to-back Halifax Moosehead alumni Calder Trophies.

Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby won last year's Art Ross, and is a favourite to repeat. Playing alongside Chris Kunitz, who consistently compliments him and helps him set up scoring plays and in the weaker conference Eastern Conference will most certainly play well with his amazing talent and could very well result in him coming out of top of the scoring race, yet again.

Norris Trophy: Erik Karlsson

On an Ottawa Senators team that is seemingly on the decline, Erik Karlsson is a glimpse of hope. He has one Norris under his belt, and is in line to get another. A healthy Karlsson is something every team that plays Ottawa this season should be very prepared for. He has been one of, if not the best defensemen in the league in past few years and could have an outstanding season like the one he had in 2011.

Ted Lindsay Trophy: Jonathan Toews

The Chicago Blackhawks have been, consistently, one of the strongest teams in the very talented Western Conference. This being made possible by the likes of Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and especially Jonathan Toews. Toews leads the team with his hardworking, two-way style of play and still manages to stand out as a top point getter on an already stacked roster. We think the Professional Hockey Writers' Association will take notice of this, and choose him as their league MVP.

Jack Adams Award: Bruce Boudreau

Bruce Boudreau has already won a Jack Adams with his work coaching the Washington Capitals, and we believe he will get another this season as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. If he can rally his team to the top of the Pacific Division for the third season in a row, and lead them to a Stanley Cup Championship as we have predicted above, he will need to be taken into close consideration to win coach of the year.

Frank J. Selke Trophy: T.J. Oshie

The Frank J. Selke is awarded to the forward who demonstrates the best ability to play the defensive side of hockey. Oshie, of the St. Louis Blues, is the perfect candidate. He is an extremely hard worker and a consistent hockey player to say the least, he stands out on the St. Louis roster for all the right reasons, and for that will be a top choice to take home the Selke.

Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos won his first Rocket Richard in the 2011-12 season, and after having a very strong return to the NHL after a broken leg sidelined him for a good portion of the season, he is primed and ready to go. Playing with the dynamic Tampa Bay offense, he will surely score many goals, and has a very good chance of leading the league again.

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Contract Controversy Part 2: Marc Methot

For Sens fans, this was nothing short of a great week. After questions surrounding Bobby Ryan's future as a Senator and a captain not yet being named, fans were rewarded with answers on Thursday. An early morning press conference broke the news that Bobby Ryan had decided to sign with the Senators (a seven year deal worth $50.75 million) and that Erik Karlsson had been named the new team captain. 

Hockey fans and reporters alike took to social media immediately to voice their opinions about the exciting news for the Ottawa Senators. Getting geared up for the regular season, these were two big decisions that Ottawa needed to make. There is, however, one big question that has yet to be answered for the Senators. What about Marc Methot?

The Ottawa native has been very popular since he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1 of 2012 in exchange for Nick Foligno. He has, for the most part, been the defensive partner to Erik Karlsson, playing more of a physical side to the game which has given the pair quite a spark. Famous for his sneaky hip checks, Methot has become a go to defenseman for the Senators, which is why, as the season draws closer, fans are getting more and more worried.

On Thursday, the Senators reportedly offered Methot a four year deal worth $4.6 million per year that was declined by the defenseman. On Insider Trading (TSN), Bob Mckenzie reported that Methot is looking for a five year deal averaging $5 million per year. So, the question still remains as to whether Methot will resign as an Ottawa Senator, and if they are willing to pay Methot what he is asking for.

In a preseason interview, Bryan Murray was asked about Methot and the situation regarding the eight NHL ready defensemen in the roster,

“Yeah, we have eight defencemen – eight NHL defencemen we think are good players (and are) ready to play. We can’t keep carrying eight all year. There’s no doubt about that. We do have other needs, there’s no question, so if there’s a fit somewhere, definitely. (A trade) is something I have to look at.” - Bryan Murray. TSN.ca. Published: Sept. 15, 2014.

As a top market defenceman at the ripe age of twenty-nine, Methot could very well be on the trading block as the Senators are looking to build on their offence. With the value that Methot has brought to the Senators, they could definitely get a worthwhile return if they decided to trade him, which Bryan Murray has admitted is a very realistic option.

“We just don’t think we’re in the ballpark now right now of where Marc wants to be and there’s a possibility that (a trade) can happen.” - Bryan Murray. TSN.ca. Published: Sept. 15, 2014.

Although Methot has done a great job at keeping quiet about the situation, it doesn't mean it's been going smoothly. As time continues to run out and the beginning of the 2014-2015 season draws closer, the Sens have an urgent decision to make. They may have settled some of the controversy last week, but with the uncertainty of Methot's contract, it still leaves some big questions that are dying to be answered.

Hold on tight Sens fans, you might not be seeing Methot for too much longer.

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Why Another NHL Expansion is a Bad Idea

Two lockouts in a span of eight seasons. Is it still fair to say the NHL’s main priority is to produce good hockey for fans across North America? 

Year after year, the signs that that both players and owners alike are in it more for the money than for the love of the game becomes more and more apparent. When it reaches the point that players are willing to sit out a season of hockey due to money specific arguments with the owners, obviously, there is a problem. So let’s think for a minute: adding teams to our league is surely not going to increase the quality of hockey in it, so what benefits does a possible expansion actually bring?

For any suit-wearing lackey of Gary Bettman who actually generates revenue from the league, the scenario of a possible expansion is music to their ears. More teams equal more tickets sold, which equal more revenue, which equals more happy owners. And it seems like a great idea for players as well.

By adding teams, a lot of players that would had never have gotten the chance to play in the NHL would then be able to reach the big league and have their dreams come true. It will even give fans in places that don’t have an NHL team a great opportunity to experience the best hockey in the world first hand. So with all these upsides, how could it be such a bad thing? Simply put, by adding team after team, very soon we may not be able to call it the best hockey in the world.

Even by adding just two new teams to the league, (only half of the teams that were in the running), that is at the very least 44 more players to enter the league. Players that would’ve been playing in the minors, and may not be skilled enough to compete in the NHL, will now be a regular on the roster. There are already enough fourth-liners whose sole job it is to play a couple minutes a night specifically to get into a fight; we don’t need any more. Prospects that have great potential could be underdeveloped and rushed into their NHL roster due to the newly open spots.

It would also take several years for the expansion teams to be able to compete in the league due to their lack of talent, and that’s not a team the NHL can say fans will want to watch. By bringing in more players, the quality of hockey will drop, and once it is done, it will be very hard to undo. The advantage of simply moving teams opposed to adding new teams to the league is that the number of teams in the league stays the same, and so does the quality of hockey. Once a new franchise is added, they won’t be able to take it away if there is a problem.

By adding these teams, the NHL could say more fans will be able to watch pro hockey, however one has to notice the location of where they’re being added. There were talks of bringing back a team to Quebec City, creating a rival Francophone team for the Montreal Canadiens. But what’s hard to understand is why Quebec City would be given a second chance. If they didn’t have enough fan support last time, why is it going to be different now?

Speaking of Canadian teams, talks have also been started about the potential for a second team in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto is undoubtedly one of the largest hockey cities in North America, however to think BOTH teams would be able to bring in 20,000 fans per game is absurd. 

Moving over to talk about the United States, it’s been reported that Las Vegas is a candidate for an expansion team as well. Las Vegas is a tourist city, therefore it would not be able to maintain a permanent NHL team. Vegas is built on different people coming in and out of the city, so it’s extremely unlikely they would ever have a loyal fan base, and the team would likely need to be relocated before 2020 hits. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, except for an NHL team.

Seattle is potentially the only team that would ever be able to keep an NHL franchise, as they would be able to rival the Vancouver Canucks and likely bring in a large amount of fans. However it’s all about getting past the first couple years after the expansion draft, and history shows teams have a tough time doing it. Columbus and Minnesota, the last two expansion teams, have only qualified for the playoffs a combined 7 times in a combined 26 seasons since entering the league.

In theory, if 44 hundred point scorers could come out of junior hockey the year the expansion teams come into the league, and the expansion teams were able to select every single one of them, there is a chance at the new teams doing well. However that’s about as likely as pigs falling from the sky and Charlie Sheen becoming sober. With the interest of NHL fans in mind, an expansion seems just about useless. The owners benefit and the fans suffer. Sounds just like a Bettman kind of plan.

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