NNHL Awards

 Stanley Cup (League Championship)

It had been five years since the New Jersey Devils had been to the Cup final. In their previous three trips, the Devils had lost, including a pair of Game 7 heartbreakers that ended in overtime and with a goal in the final second of regulation. It looked like the Devils were on their way to another Stanley Cup letdown after they dropped the first two games of the final against the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers. However, the Devils rallied on home ice, winning a wild 8-6 decision that tied the series at 2-2. Back in Philly, the Devils pulled out a 2-1 win and then returned home to clinch their first Cup with a 5-3 victory. The Devils had eliminated Pittsburgh in the first round in six games and had a 3-1 lead on Boston in the semifinal. Boston came back to force a seventh game but New Jersey exacted a little revenge against the team that beat the Devils in the 1998 final by downing the Bruins 6-3. In the final, it was Andrew Raycroft's turn for revenge. Picked up from the Flyers in February, the Devils netminder beat his former team.
New Jersey finished second to the Flyers in the regular season with a record of 47-23-10, recording the third 100-point season in team history by finishing the year with 104. It was the third time the first and second place team in the regular season had met in the final. All three have been won by the second-place team.

Coach/GM: Rob Steele
Players: Pavel Datsyuk, Greg de Vries, Shane Doan, Kris Draper, Mike Fisher, Simon Gagne, Roman Hamrlik, Ales Hemsky, Kim Johnsson, Ed Jovanovski, Ken Klee, Jere Lehtinen, Kirk Maltby, Derek Morris, Brendan Morrison, Rick Nash, Mattias Ohlund, Martin Prusek, Andrew Raycroft, Sheldon Souray, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Smyth, Scott Walker, Wes Walz, Henrik Zetterberg.
 
YEAR WINNER RUNNER-UP SERIES
2005/06 New Jersey Devils Philadelphia Flyers 4-2
2004/05 Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2
2003/04 Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings 4-3
2002/03 Philadelphia Flyers Detroit Red Wings 4-2
2001/02 Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings 4-1
2000/01 Chicago Blackhawks New Jersey Devils 4-3
1999/00 Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils 4-1
1998/99 Boston Bruins Chicago Blackhawks 4-0
1997/98 Boston Bruins New Jersey Devils 4-3

Gordie Howe Trophy (Most Outstanding Player)

Detroit's Keith Tkachuk became the first two-time winner of the Gordie Howe Trophy. Tkachuk led the league in scoring with 84 points, the highest point total in four years, earning him the Howe over Philadelphia goalie Roberto Luongo. Tkachuk last won the award eight years ago while he was a member of the New Jersey Devils. The big left winger was also second in the league in goals, notching 46 for the Wings. Ten of Tkachuk's goals were game-winners, a total which also led the NNHL. He also posted a league-best +37 mark.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Keith Tkachuk Detroit Roberto Luongo (Phil)
2004/05 Zdeno Chara Toronto Jarome Iginla (Chi)
2003/04 Marty Turco Detroit Al MacInnis (Phil)
2002/03 Jose Theodore New Jersey Jarome Iginla (Chi)
2001/02 Joe Sakic Boston Marty Turco (Det)
2000/01 Steve Yzerman New Jersey Ray Bourque (Chi)
1999/00 Pavel Bure Colorado Eric Lindros (Phil)
1998/99 Eric Lindros Philadelphia Dominik Hasek (Bos)
1997/98 Keith Tkachuk New Jersey Teemu Selanne (Phil)

Wayne Gretzky Trophy (Leading Scorer)

A two-time runner up for the Gretzky Trophy and the NNHL's all-time leading scorer, Keith Tkachuk finally captured the league's scoring championship. Tkachuk scored a career-high 84 points to edge New Jersey's Rick Nash by two points. Early in the year he became the first player to score 300 career goals and by midseason he had become the first NNHLer to record 600 points. In the final week of the season he hit another milestone, becoming the sixth player to record 300 career assists. Despite his consistency (nine consecutive 50-point seasons), the Gretzky was Tkachuk's first award since winning the Howe and Richard Trophies in 1998.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Keith Tkachuk Detroit Rick Nash (NJ)
2004/05 Jarome Iginla Chicago Joe Sakic (Bos)
2003/04 Mats Sundin Colorado Markus Naslund (Det)
2002/03 Eric Lindros Edmonton Jarome Iginla (Chi)
2001/02 Joe Sakic Boston Keith Tkachuk (NJ)
2000/01 Steve Yzerman New Jersey Mats Sundin (Col)
1999/00 Teemu Selanne Philadelphia Eric Lindros (Phil)
1998/99 Eric Lindros Philadelphia Peter Bondra (Chi)
1997/98 Teemu Selanne Philadelphia Keith Tkachuk (NJ)


Mario Lemieux Trophy (Rookie of the Year)

Rick Nash tied teammate Pavel Datsyuk for most points among rookies but it was Nash's goal-scoring prowess that set him apart from the field. Nash lit up opposing goalies for 44 goals. That total was not only second in the NNHL this season but shattered Milan Hejduk's rookie record of 36. Ten of Nash's 44 goals were game-winners as he played a big role in New Jersey's success despite the Devils' move to replace several veterans with rookies. Nash also tallied 14 power play goals, fourth best in the league. When it came to voting, Nash was a runaway winner, taking seven of the eight first place votes. His teammate Datsyuk was runner-up, earning five second-place votes while Boston's Michael Ryder, who finished third in rookie scoring with 49 points, finished third in the balloting with one second place and four third-place votes.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Frantisek Kaberle Colorado Pierre Dagenais (Van)
2004/05 Rick Nash New Jersey Pavel Datsyuk (NJ)
2003/04 Martin St. Louis Edmonton Martin Gerber (Mon)
2002/03 Jean Sebastien Giguere Chicago Marian Gaborik (Phil)
2001/02 Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Marty Turco (Det)
2000/01 Milan Hejduk Colorado Vincent Lecavalier (Bos)
1999/00 Luc Robitaille Boston Tommy Salo (Col)
1998/99 Stu Barnes Pittsburgh Trevor Kidd (NJ)
1997/98 Glen Wesley Boston Dave Gagner (Bos)


Bobby Orr Trophy (Most Outstanding Defenceman)

The first defenceman to win the league's most outstanding player award, it only made sense that Zdeno Chara would win the Orr Trophy. Chara finished third in league scoring with 76 points, an NNHL record for defencemen. His 27 goals also established new mark for NNHL defencemen. Chara also finished fourth in the league in assists with 49 and was in the top 10 in passing, with an 83.9% completion rate. Chara also dished out 219 hits, the fourth highest total in the league. The voting for the Orr was nearly unanimous. Chara took every first-place vote while runner-up Chris Pronger took seven of the eight second-place votes. The third finalist, Pittsburgh's Scott Niedermayer earned five third-place votes.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Chris Pronger Boston Scott Niedermayer (Pitt)
2004/05 Zdeno Chara Toronto Chris Pronger (Bos)
2003/04 Al MacInnis Philadelphia Sergei Gonchar (Van)
2002/03 Bryan McCabe San Jose Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)
2001/02 Chris Pronger Boston Wade Redden (Chi)
2000/01 Ray Bourque Chicago Rob Blake (Col)
1999/00 Ray Bourque Chicago Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)
1998/99 Scott Niedermayer Chicago Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)
1997/98 Ray Bourque Chicago Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)

Jacques Plante Trophy (Most Outstanding Goalie)

Roberto Luongo earned his second Plante Trophy after posting a league-best 2.18 average and leading the NNHL with 31 victories. Luongo also had the league's third-best save percentage, a .922 mark and recorded four shutouts. Luongo, who won the award in his rookie season of 2001/02 became just the second two-time winner of the award, joining Dominik Hasek. The Philadelphia goalie garnered five of the eight first-place votes. The runner-up was Toronto's David Aebischer, who received four second-place and one third-place vote. Boston's Mikka Kiprusoff finished third in the voting, picking up a first-place vote and a third-place vote.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia Miika Kiprusoff (Bos)
2004/05 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia David Aebischer (Tor)
2003/04 Marty Turco Detroit Martin Gerber (Mon)
2002/03 Jose Theodore New Jersey Patrick Roy (Bos)
2001/02 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia Marty Turco (Det)
2000/01 Jeff Hackett Chicago Martin Brodeur (Tor)
1999/00 Dominik Hasek Boston Guy Hebert (Chi)
1998/99 Dominik Hasek Boston Trevor Kidd (NJ)
1997/98 John Vanbiesbrouck Chicago Dominik Hasek (Bos)

Bobby Hull Trophy (Skill & Gentlemanly Play)

Jarome Iginla led the NNHL in scoring with 80 points and tied for third in goal scoring, tallying 42 for the Blackhawks. His number of goals matched the number of penalty minutes the Hawks' winger took. Iginla earned three first place votes and two second place votes, giving him enough to edge Joe Sakic, who earned two first-place votes and three second-place votes. New Jersey's Pavol Demitra also received strong consideration, earning a pair of first-place votes.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Pavol Demitra Detroit Jaromir Jagr (Pitt)
2004/05 Jarome Iginla Chicago Joe Sakic (Bos)
2003/04 Markus Naslund  Detroit Milan Hejduk (Chi)
2002/03 Ron Francis Philadelphia Ulf Dahlen (Edm)
2001/02 Nicklas Lidstrom New Jersey Simon Gagne (Chi)
2000/01 Milan Hejduk Chicago Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)
1999/00 Ray Bourque Chicago John LeClair (Chi)
1998/99 Teemu Selanne Philadelphia Nicklas Lidstrom (NJ)
1997/98 Paul Kariya Boston Ron Francis (Tor)

Bob Gainey Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)

Deja-vu. For the second year in a row, Philadelphia's Daniel Alfredsson was named the league's best defensive forward and for the second year in a row, his teammate Sergei Fedorov was the runner-up. Alfredsson finished fourth in plus/minus with a +35 mark It was a close race between the two Flyers. Alfredsson earned one first-place vote and four second-place votes. Fedorov actually had two-first place votes but only one second-place vote, allowing his teammate to edge him 21-19 in the final tally. Flyer teammate Marian Hossa also received a first-place vote and finished third in the balloting.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Jarome Iginla Chicago Sergei Fedorov (Phil)
2004/05 Daniel Alfredsson Philadelphia Sergei Fedorov (Phil)
2003/04 Daniel Alfredsson Philadelphia Sergei Fedorov (Phil)
2002/03 Mike Peca Detroit Ron Francis (Phil)
2001/02 Jeremy Roenick Chicago Joe Sakic (Bos)
2000/01 Sergei Fedorov Philadelphia Steve Yzerman (NJ)
1999/00 Keith Primeau Chicago Mike Peca (NJ)
1998/99 Eric Lindros Philadelphia Steve Yzerman (NJ)
1997/98 Ron Francis Toronto Dave Reid (Chi)

Jean Beliveau Trophy (Playoff MVP)

Acquired in December from the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis didn't exactly light it up when he landed in New Jersey. He finished the regular season seventh in scoring on the Devils but come playoff time, St. Louis delivered the type of production the Devils hoped for. St. Louis tied for the NNHL playoff scoring lead with 17 points and led all players with 12 assists. He had three goals and three assists in New Jersey's six-game triumph over Philadelphia in the final. The speedy winger was also fourth in plus/minus in the playoffs with a +8 mark and certainly didn't put his team at a disadvantage, taking only one minor penalty in 19 playoff games.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Martin St. Louis New Jersey Rick Nash (NJ)
2004/05 Sergei Fedorov Philadelphia Roberto Luongo (Phil)
2003/04 Joe Thornton Chicago Markus Naslund (Det)
2002/03 Ron Francis Philadelphia Marian Gaborik (Phil)
2001/02 Scott Young Toronto Lubomir Sekeras (Tor)
2000/01 Patrick Elias Chicago Jeremy Roenick (Chi)
1999/00 Teemu Selanne Philadelphia Ron Tugnutt (Phil)
1998/99 Dmitri Khristich Boston Ed Belfour (Chi)
1997/98 Paul Kariya Boston Keith Tkachuk (NJ)

Glenn Hall Trophy (Fewest Goals Allowed)

Roberto Luongo and Andrew Raycroft left little doubt as to who was the best goaltending duo. The Philadelphia Flyer netminders finished one-two in goals against average in the NNHL. Luongo, who earned his second Hall Trophy, led the way with a career-best 2.18 mark. It was the second time he led the league in average. Raycroft, in his rookie season, was second to Luongo with a 2.22 average. Both goalies recorded four shutouts, tied for fifth in the NNHL. Luongo also led the league in wins (31) and winning percentage (.727). Raycroft was second in save percentage (.923) and Luongo was third (.922).
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia Evgeny Nabokov (Chi)
2004/05 Roberto Luongo
Andrew Raycroft		 Philadelphia Mikka Kiprusoff (Bos)
Martin Brodeur (Bos)
2003/04 Marty Turco
Roman Cechmanek		 Detroit Roberto Luongo (Phil)
Sean Burke (Phil)
2002/03 Jose Theodore
Mikka Kiprusoff		 New Jersey Patrick Roy (Bos)
2001/02 Roberto Luongo
Manny Fernandez		 Philadelphia Sean Burke (Chi)
Mike Dunham (Chi)
2000/01 Patrick Roy
Chris Osgood
Trevor Kidd		 New Jersey Dominik Hasek (Phil)
Manny Fernandez (Phil)
Marc Denis (Phil)
1999/00 Guy Hebert
Steve Shields		 Chicago Chris Osgood (NJ)
Trevor Kidd (NJ)
Ed Belfour (NJ)
1998/99 Dominik Hasek Boston Ed Belfour (Chi)
John Vanbiesbrouck (Chi)
1997/98 John Vanbiesbrouck
Mike Richter		 Chicago Dominik Hasek (Bos)
Andy Moog (Bos)

Maurice Richard Trophy (Most Goals)

Marian Hossa became the NNHL's first 50-goal scorer in four years as he scored 52 times to lead the NNHL. With two games to play Hossa had 48 goals but he scored twice in a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh to hit the 50-goal mark. He added two more in his final game to give him the second-highest total in league history. Hossa really cranked up his goal scoring in 2005. Through the first three months of the season, Hossa had 20 goals. But through January and February he connected for 16 goals in 17 games. It looked like he might be cooling off when he went two games without a goal but then Hossa came through with four goals against New Jersey to tie a Philadelphia team record. That gave him 20 goals in 20 games. A hat-trick on March 12 against Detroit helped him pull away from New Jersey rookie Rick Nash. Hossa won the title comfortably over Nash, who finished with 44 goals, an NNHL record for rookies.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Rick Nash New Jersey Keith Tkachuk (Det)
2004/05 Marian Hossa Philadelphia Rick Nash (NJ)
2003/04 Glen Murray Detroit Geoff Sanderson (Edm)
2002/03 Jarome Iginla Chicago Pavel Bure (Col)
Keith Tkachuk (NJ)
2001/02 Pavel Bure Colorado Bill Guerin (Chi)
Ziggy Palffy (NJ)
2000/01 Pavel Bure Colorado Steve Yzerman (NJ)
1999/00 Pavel Bure Colorado Teemu Selanne (Phil)
1998/99 Peter Bondra Chicago Teemu Selanne (Phil)
1997/98 Keith Tkachuk New Jersey Teemu Selanne (Phil)


Doug Harvey Trophy (Best Defensive Defenceman)

Chris Pronger earned his fourth Harvey Trophy by edging Philadelphia's Jason Smith. Pronger was a two-way force for Boston, finishing third among defencemen in scoring with 53 points, while at the same time doing his job in the defensive end by posting a +23 mark. Pronger led all defencemen in hits with 225, third most in the NNHL. He also led the league in blocked shots with 91 while placing third in the league and second among defencemen in corners won. Pronger also played a league-high 27.8 minutes per game. Pronger received two first-place votes and four second-place votes. Runner-up Jason Smith also received a pair of first-place votes, one second-place and four third-place votes. Finalist Zdeno Chara was also popular among the voters with three first-place votes and one second-place vote.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Chris Pronger Boston Adam Foote (Chi)
2004/05 Chris Pronger Boston Jason Smith (Phil)
2003/04 Chris Chelios Detroit Adam Foote (Chi)
2002/03 Chris Pronger Boston Derian Hatcher (Chi)
2001/02 Chris Pronger Boston Rob Blake (Col)
2000/01 Rob Blake Colorado Derian Hatcher (Chi)
1999/00 Chris Chelios New Jersey Derian Hatcher (Chi)
1998/99 Chris Pronger Boston Scott Stevens (Col)
1997/98 Chris Chelios New Jersey Adam Foote (Chi)

Terry Sawchuk Memorial Trophy (Most Shutouts)

Mikka Kiprusoff earned the Sawchuk Trophy with six shuouts in 2004/05. Kiprusoff recorded his first shutout in the second week of the season but had fallen far behind early favourite Manny Legace. Legace posted three shutouts in the first month of the season and had five by Christmas. But Boston's Kiprusoff made up for lost time during an incredible stretch in January in which he recorded four shutouts in seven games. He blanked Chicago and New Jersey in back-to-back games and three games later again posted back-to-back shutouts over Colorado and New Jersey. With Legace leading by one, Kiprusoff stopped 36 shots to blank Philadelphia April 5 for his sixth shutout, tying Legace. Kiprusoff then earned the Sawchuk Trophy by virtue of more wins, 23 to Legace's 22.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia Dwayne Roloson (Tor)
2004/05 Mikka Kiprusoff Boston Manny Legace (Edm)
2003/04 Marty Turco Detroit Martin Gerber (Mon)
2002/03 Jose Theodore New Jersey Patrick Roy (Bos)
2001/02 Roberto Luongo Philadelphia Patrick Lalime (Pitt)
2000/01 Ed Belfour Montreal Trevor Kidd (NJ)
1999/00 Guy Hebert Chicago Trevor Kidd (NJ)
1998/99 Patrick Roy Colorado Martin Brodeur (Tor)
1997/98 Dominik Hasek Boston John Vanbiesbrouck (Chi)


Scotty Bowman Trophy (Coach/GM of the Year)

In a battle of two-time runner-ups, Pittsburgh's Mike Hancock edged Philadelphia's Herb Garbutt to win his first Bowman Trophy. After two consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, Hancock led Pittsburgh to its best regular season finish with 92 points. That marked a 22-point improvement over the previous season. Pittsburgh also made its first appearance in the Stanley Cup finals where they lost to Philadelphia in six games. Hancock received two first-place votes, four second-place votes and one-third place vote. Garbutt, who guided the Flyers to their first first-place finish and third Stanley Cup, received two first-place votes, three second-place votes and one third-place vote. Toronto's Dave Ridley earned a pair of first-place votes, one second-place and three third-place votes after helping the Leafs improve by 24 points and finish second in the NNHL.
 
YEAR WINNER TEAM RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Rob Steele New Jersey Herb Garbutt (Phil)
2004/05 Mike Hancock Pittsburgh Herb Garbutt (Phil)
2003/04 Greg Last Detroit Herb Garbutt (Phil)
2002/03 Steve Inkster  Vancouver Rob Steele (NJ)
2001/02 Greg Last Detroit Mike Hancock (Pitt)
2000/01 Rob Steele New Jersey Herb Garbutt (Phil)
1999/00 Pat Freestone Chicago Steve Foreman (Col)
1998/99 Pat Freestone Chicago Mike Hancock (Pitt)
1997/98 Bob DeZeeuw Boston Pat Freestone (Chi)

Eddie Shore Trophy (Most Points in Regular Season)

After coming so close to winning the Shore Trophy for many years

three consecutive seasons as runner-up for the Eddie Shore Trophy, the Philadelphia Flyers finally captured the trophy. The Flyers posted their fourth straight 100-point season, breaking the record previously held by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers also recorded 50 victories for the second straight year. The Flyers finished nine points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who recorded a franchise record 100 points.

Coach/GM: Herb Garbutt
Players: Daniel Alfredsson, Bryan Berard, Todd Bertuzzi, Radek Bonk, Phillipe Boucher, Shayne Corson, Eric Desjardins, Sergei Fedorov, Marian Gaborik, Jochen Hecht, Marian Hossa, Saku Koivu, Daymond Langkow, Roberto Luongo, Danny Markov, Rob Niedermayer, Mattias Norstrom, Mikael Nylander, Joni Pitkanen, Gary Roberts, Jiri Slegr, Jason Smith, Marco Sturm, Steve Yzerman.
 
YEAR WINNER RECORD RUNNER-UP
2005/06 Philadelphia Flyers 112 (53-21-6) New Jersey Devils
2004/05 Philadelphia Flyers 109 (50-21-9) Toronto Maple Leafs
2003/04 Detroit Red Wings 115 (53-18-9) Philadelphia Flyers
2002/03 New Jersey Devils 109 (51-22-7) Philadelphia Flyers
2001/02 Chicago Blackhawks 104 (47-23-10) Philadelphia Flyers
2000/01 New Jersey Devils 106 (50-24-6) Chicago Blackhawks
1999/00 Chicago Blackhawks 110 (51-21-8) Boston Bruins
1998/99 Chicago Blackhawks  98 (47-27-6) Boston Bruins
1997/98 Boston Bruins 103 (46-23-11) Chicago Blackhawks

NNHL All-Stars