Tim Sassone’s NHL predictions
Stanley Cup favorites
1. Pittsburgh
2. Blackhawks
3. Washington
4. San Jose
5. Vancouver
Stanley Cup Finals
Pittsburgh over Blackhawks
Hart Trophy (MVP)
1. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
2. Alex Ovechkin, Washington
3. Henrik Sedin, Vancouver
Norris Trophy
(Top defenseman)
1. Shea Weber, Nashville
2. Zdeno Chara, Boston
3. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit
Calder Trophy (Top rookie)
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton
2. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado
3. Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia
Adams Trophy (Top coach)
1. Todd McLellan, San Jose
2. Barry Trotz, Nashville
3. Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh
Art Ross Trophy (Top scorer)
1. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
2. Henrik Sedin, Vancouver
3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington
Richard Trophy
(Top goal scorer)
1. Steven Stamkoa, Tampa Bay
2. Alex Ovechkin, Washington
3. Corey Perry, Anaheim
Selke Trophy
(Defensive forward)
1. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks
2. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
3. Ryan Kesler, Vancouver
Vezina Trophy (Top goalie)
1. Pekka Rinne, Nashville
2. Ryan Miller, Buffalo
3. Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers
First coach fired
Ron Wilson, Toronto
Comeback player
David Perron, St. Louis
Breakout season
James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia
Most annoying player
Sean Avery, N.Y. Rangers
Dirtiest player
Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh
Most likely to be traded
Ales Hemsky, Edmonton
Famous faces in new places
1. Jaromir Jagr, Philadelphia
2. Mike Richards, Los Angeles
3. Jeff Carter, Columbus
4. Dany Heatley, Minnesota
5. Martin Havlat, San Jose
Where ex-Hawks have landed
1. Brian Campbell, Florida
2. Kris Versteeg, Florida
3. Cam Barker, Edmonton
4. Troy Brouwer, Washington
5. Tomas Kopecky, Florida
6. Jake Dowell, Dallas
Top 10 unrestricted free agents for 2012
1. Ryan Suter, Nashville
2. Zach Parise, New Jersey
3. Shane Doan, Phoenix
4. Pekka Rinne, Nashville
5. Alex Semin, Washington
6. Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh
7. Ales Hemsky, Edmonton
8. Dustin Penner, Los Angeles
9. Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina
10. Braydon Coburn, Philadelphia