More Awards Nods for Ovi and George McPhee

Yesterday brought the news of two more awards nominations for Capitals organization as Alex Ovechkin was one of three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is presented annually to the player judged as the most outstanding player in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.Ovechkin, who has won the last two NHLPA’s “Most Outstanding Player” awards and the past two Hart Trophies, could join Guy Lafleur (1975-78) and Wayne Gretzky (1981-85) as the only players to ever win it three years in a row. He joins rival Sidney Crosby and one-half of Hockey Mom's other favorite twins, Henrik Sedin, as this year's nominees. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada. Hockey Mom could sure use a vaca right about that time - hmmm, hanging by the pool in say, Vegas maybe? Not gonna happen but it sure would be fun, eh?


And the accolades don't stop there as General Manager George McPhee was also cited as one of three finalists for the league’s first General Manager of the Year Award, along with Phoenix’s Don Maloney and Nashville’s David Poile. Voting for the General Manager of the Year Award was conducted among the 30 club general managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media. The winner will be announced during the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. McPhee assembled a Capitals team that established club records in wins (54) and points (121) while winning the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the NHL and its third consecutive Southeast Division title. Washington led the NHL in goals per game (3.82) and power play (25.2%).
Washington finished the regular season with a roster that featured nine players drafted by McPhee, nine he signed as free agents and eight that he acquired via trade. Additions to this year’s team included 29-goal-scorer Mike Knuble, who signed with the Capitals July 1, 2009, and four players acquired at the March 3 trade deadline. In addition to Washington’s success the team’s American Hockey league affiliate, the Hershey Bears, posted that league’s best record after winning the 2009 Calder Cup.

And in other hockey happenings:

-Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore and defenseman Mike Green will be presenting the Children’s National Medical Center with two separate checks on Friday, May 7, and Monday, May 10. Theo, a finalist for the Masterton Trophy, raised $35,000  for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s National Medical Center through his Saves for Kids program. Green is a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award, which is given to the player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community. This great group of guys changes tires for stranded fans and devotes their time and resources to bring cheer to the kids at CNMC - enough to make your heart melt. Keep up the great work boys!

-A look at some of the UFAs available to put in your favorite NHL team's shopping cart this summer courtesy of  From the Rink.

-A terrific interview with everybody's favorite backup goalie -  Brett "Stretch" Leonhardt - from my pal over at Storming the Crease.


-Japer's Rink breaks down the pros and cons of the Capitals pursuing Anton Volchenkov to shore up the blueline.

-Yep, those Montreal Canadiens are proving to be no spring picnic for the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins...

-Detroit's Johan Franzen didn't earn the nickname "The Mule" for nothin'...the hard-working forward set a team playoff record with six points including four (yes, four) goals in the 7-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks. The Red Wings were fighting for their playoff lives in a must-win Game 4 to avoid a Sharks sweep and to say Franzen came up huge would be the understatement of the season...

-Bad new for the Boston Bruins, who need to get a huge can of Raid to stave off the injury bugs that have plagued them all season. Looking to sweep their series against the Flyers (who may see the return of Simone Gagne from injury for Game 4), the Bs lost David Krecji (who has four goals and four assists in nine postseason games) to a dislocated wrist. Ouch.

And to all you moms out there (especially my cohorts in hockey momhood) - wishing you all a spectacular Mother's Day with no kids' sporting events on the agenda!