I made this thread over on the HFBoards about the Rangers seasons awards, figured I would share my responses with you all. Check out the thread for everyone elses choices, and feel free to chime in with some choices of your own.
Rookie of the year:
Dan Girardi. This was an out of left field player for me. I never thought his style of play in the AHL would translate well to the NHL. Boy was I wrong. This kid personifies poise, its amazing he plays so composed as such a young player. Very impressed with his game.Play of the year:
To me the play of the year is likely going to be different than most of your choices. It was when Sean Avery shoved Marty Brodeur to the ice. To me that was the moment when the Rangers stopped being a bunch of pansies and started showing some pride, some grit, some attitude. To me, thats when they became Rangers.Game of the year:
Rangers@Stars. Henrik turns in the performance of a lifetime. The Dallas announcers said towards the end of the game that Henrik should have been arrested for larceny. They were right.Best Defenseman:
Rozsival. My vote would have gone for Tyutin had he not been hurt and come back…rustier that i would have hoped for. But Rozsival really opened my eyes this year. While I still contend that he is a #2 or 3 defenseman in this league, he really held his own as a #1.Best Forward:
Jaromir Jagr…like you were expecting anything else. The saying goes, as god Jaromir, so go the Rangers. Pretty much held true this year. As Jaromir started to feel healthier, the Rangers started to turn into a juggernaut.Most Improved Player:
Rozsival. See the defenseman part above.Most Valuable Player:
Henrik Lundqvist. Without a doubt, Henrik carried this team on his back towards the end of the year. I forget the numbers, but since christmas i believe he either led the league or was top 3 in every single major statistical category that goalies are measured in.Most Underrated Player:
Fedor Tyutin. This kid is really starting to blossom in my opinion. Hes showing why we placed so much hope on him, and if he could ever learn to get his rocket of a shot on goal, i think he could be a #2 defenseman.Most Overrated Player:
Jed Ortmeyer. While I absolutely love the kids (30 year old kid?) heart, and his determination, people were expecting his arrival to turn this team around single handedly. Lets face it. Jed is a decent 4th liner, but the days of showing a ton of heart being enough to secure you a place in this lineup are long gone. this team is starting to become a TEAM with a ton of heart, and skill to boot.Worst Defenseman (minimum 40 games):
Marek Malik, with Karel Rachunek being a very very very close second. I say this not because Malik is a bad defenseman, he actually can be a very SOLID guy for periods on end, but when he makes mistakes, they are doozies. i mean, were talking plays that make you want to reach in the TV and strangle him. definitely the most baffeling guy, and though id say his defense is actually better than Rachunek, i still think hes the worst defenseman on the team due to the severity of his mistakes. (did that make any sense?)Worst Forward (minimum 40 games):
Adam Hall. While you can make the case for Orts, or Orr, or Hollweg, you have to remember what their roles are. Those guys deliver in their roles, Hall didnt. The kid was out of place from day 1. Only good thing about bringing in Hall here was that he eventually got us Bourret.Most Disappointing Player (minimum 20 games):
Darius Kasparaitis. Surprises never cease. I expected him to anchor this defense, instead he comes to camp a shell of his former self. It was like an overnight transformation from a solid #3, to barely a #9.Player To Watch Next Season:
Jaromir Jagr. My gut tells me, hes going to explode. Something insane like 130 points or something. I think hes going to be back….BIG TIME.
Petr Pruchas review coming in a day or so. Been fairly busy here, so it may be a few days…
-Inferno