Tag: NHL

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid was near unanimous 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy winner

Posted on | by Frank Seravalli

SUNRISE, Fla. — Ballots revealed Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was the near unanimous winner of the 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs, selected by a panel of Professional Hockey Writers Association members on Monday night.

McDavid garnered 16 of a possible 17 first-place votes to become the first skater to win the Conn Smythe in a losing fashion since Philadelphia’s Reggie Leach in 1976. With 42 points in 25 games, McDavid assaulted the record books, posting the most points in a single postseason since Evgeni Malkin’s 36 in 2008-09.

Over the course of the Oilers’ 64-day slog toward Stanley, McDavid broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists (34) in one playoff, became the first player to collect back-to-back four-point games in a Stanley Cup Final, both of which were elimination games, and laid claim to the best era-adjusted playoff run of all-time. He tied for the third-most points in one Stanley Cup Final series despite being held off the scoresheet in Games 6 and 7.

Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers skaters Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling finished second and third in voting, respectively, while Sergei Bobrovsky, Carter Verhaeghe and Edmonton’s Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Stuart Skinner also appeared on ballots.

Barkov, Forsling and Bobrovsky all presented compelling cases for the Conn Smythe, but none were able to truly distinguish himself from his teammates in what was a true ‘team’ effort. McDavid finished 20 points ahead of Barkov in the playoff scoring race.

Monday marked the sixth instance in the 58 times the Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded that a player from the losing team accepted the award. McDavid joined Anaheim’s Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003), Ron Hextall (1987), Leach (1976), Glenn Hall (1968) and Roger Crozier (1966).

In the interest of full transparency, the PHWA has once again revealed each individual ballot from all 17 voters:

2024 Conn Smythe Trophy Ballots

VoterOutletFirstSecondThird
Jonathan BernierJournal MontréalMcDavidBarkovVerhaeghe
Per BjurmanAftonbladetMcDavidBarkovBobrovsky
Ryan S. ClarkESPNBobrovskyMcDavidBarkov
Josh ClippertonCanadian PressMcDavidBarkovForsling
Luke FoxSportsnetMcDavidBarkovForsling
François GagnonRDSMcDavidBarkovSkinner
Colby GuyPalm Beach PostMcDavidBarkovForsling
Chris JohnstonThe AthleticMcDavidBarkovForsling
Emily KaplanESPNMcDavidBarkovBobrovsky
Pierre LeBrunThe AthleticMcDavidBarkovForsling
Jim MathesonPostmediaMcDavidHymanBouchard
Jordan McPhersonMiami HeraldMcDavidBarkovVerhaeghe
Daniel Nugent-BowmanThe AthleticMcDavidBarkovBouchard
Michael RussoThe AthleticMcDavidBarkovForsling
Frank SeravalliDaily FaceoffMcDavidBarkovForsling
Mark SpectorSportsnetMcDavidBarkovSkinner
Stephen WhynoAssociated PressMcDavidBarkovForsling

Voting Point Totals

Connor McDavid, Edmonton: 83 points
Aleksander Barkov, Florida: 46 points
Gustav Forsling, Florida: 8 points
Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida: 7 points
Zach Hyman, Edmonton: 3 points
Evan Bouchard, Edmonton: 2 points
Stuart Skinner, Edmonton: 2 points
Carter Verhaeghe, Florida: 2 points

Points were awarded on a 5-3-1 basis and the deadline to submit ballots to the NHL occurred with 10 minutes remaining in Game 7.

2024 BILL MASTERTON FINALISTS: ANDERSEN, INGRAM, KYLINGTON

Posted on | by Willie Ramirez

NEW YORK – The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) is pleased to announce the 2024 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominees.

Each of the PHWA’s 32 local chapters submitted nominations for the Masterton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.”

The top three vote-getters, as determined by a membership-wide runoff, will be designated as finalists. The Masterton Trophy will be awarded, along with the other NHL major awards, during the Stanley Cup Final.

The following are this year’s nominees: in alphabetical order:

Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes

Following a 4-1-0 start to the regular season, Andersen was informed doctors had discovered a blood clotting issue affecting the 11-year NHL veteran. He missed 49 games over four months from Nov. 4 to March 7. “It came out of nowhere. There were some symptoms, and that initiated the check-ups,” Andersen told the Raleigh News and Observer. After returning to the lineup – a process complicated by limited access to ice during treatment – Andersen posted a 9-1-0 record, 1.30 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and three shutouts, helping the Hurricanes finish the season third in the NHL’s overall standings. “I think the story’s not quite done yet with him,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Hopefully it ends with even something better. But just the fact that he came back … You take the worst-case scenario out of it, which is he wouldn’t be able to play again, I think that was the worst case that everyone was worried about. So it’s a win, either way.”

Connor Ingram, G, Arizona Coyotes

Ingram nearly retired due to an undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and lingering depression before he sought help through the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program in 2021, which he credits with turning his life and career around. Claimed off waivers by Arizona in October 2022, Ingram appeared in 27 games for the club in 2022-23 and established himself as the Coyotes top goaltender in 2023-24, posting a 23-21-3 record, 2.91 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and a league-tying best six shutouts in 50 appearances. Ingram has shared his story publicly since 2021 and noted how it inspired others. “It shows that while you have dark days in your life, there’s always a way out and there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel,” Ingram told PHNX Sports. “But this is not for me. It’s so other people can say ‘Hey, man, look. Life sucks right now, but let’s figure it out.’ I think this is a great way to prove you can get through it and you can do it. So why not try?”

Oliver Kylington, D, Calgary Flames

Kylington returned to the Flames lineup in late January after more than a year and a half away from the team. While Kylington has preferred not to share all the details of his extended absence for mental health reasons, the second-round pick by Calgary in the 2015 NHL Draft revealed as he returned to action that he’d worried he may not be able to resume his promising career. Kylington, who continued to work with Flames’ support staff through his time away from the game, again became a fixture on Calgary’s blueline, skating an average of 17:15 per game in 33 contests. His comeback has inspired and provided hope for many facing their own mental health challenges. “Everyone’s journey is very individual. It’s very personal. You can take bits and bites of my story, and that can maybe help someone,” Kylington told the Calgary Herald. “But at the end of the day, as an individual, you have to do the work yourself and face your problems, your individual problems, and do that journey yourself.”

Mark Mulvoy selected as 2023 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award winner

Posted on | by Willie Ramirez

TORONTO (June 1, 2023) – Frank Seravalli, President of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and Chuck Kaiton, President of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, announced today that Mark Mulvoy will receive the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism, and Dan Rusanowsky will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Mark Mulvoy’s incredible career in sports journalism began at his hometown Boston Globe in the 1960s. In the decades that followed he made his mark at Sports Illustrated, rising through the ranks to become the youngest managing editor in the magazine’s history. His passion for hockey never wavered, and found expression in books like “My Game” with Bobby Orr and “Face off at the Summit” with Ken Dryden.

“Mark Mulvoy was a ground-breaking reporter as the first foreigner given access behind enemy lines to lift the curtain on the Soviet style of play”, said Seravalli. “Mulvoy had boots on the ground in Moscow a handful of years before the ’72 Summit Series, then of course was there to chronicle history. More importantly, he kept hockey in the hands and doctor’s offices of the voracious Sports Illustrated readers. He was hockey’s best friend at a time of critical period of growth for the sport.”

Dan Rusanowsky has been the radio voice of the San Jose Sharks since the team’s inception in 1991. One of the club’s most recognizable figures both on-and-off the ice, Rusanowsky directs the Sharks Radio Network, contributes to the team’s official game program, and provides regular columns and broadcast reports for sjsharks.com. A native of Connecticut, Rusanowsky began his broadcast career as the voice of St. Lawrence University’s NCAA Division I hockey program and the American Hockey League’s New Haven Nighthawks.

“Dan has an insatiable love for radio and has been an integral part of promoting the game of hockey in the Bay area on that medium from day one​ of the San Joes Sharks’ existence in 1991,” said Kaiton. “He is extremely worthy of this honour.”

Mulvoy and Rusanowsky will receive their awards at the “Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Media Awards Luncheon” in Toronto on Monday, November 13, 2023, and their award plaques will be displayed in the Esso Great Hall at the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside past award recipients.

Recipients of these awards, as selected by their respective associations, are recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as “Media Honourees” – a separate distinction from individuals inducted as “Honoured Members.”

Honoured Members are selected by the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend begins on Friday, November 10, 2023, culminating with the Induction Celebration on Monday, November 13, 2023. This year’s inductees will be announced live on TSN on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

  • Named in honour of the late Montreal newspaper reporter, the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association in recognition of distinguished members of the hockey writing profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to the game of hockey.
  • Named in honour of the late “Voice of Hockey” in Canada, the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and to the game of hockey.

Flyers, Wild win 2022 Dillman Award

Posted on | by Willie Ramirez

The Professional Hockey Writers Association is pleased to announce the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild are 2022 winners of the Dick Dillman Award, presented annually to honor the work of outstanding NHL public relations staffs.

Traditionally, the award recognizes the excellence of one winner in each the Eastern and Western conferences. As the sports world attempted to return to a sense of normalcy while still enduring the unusual circumstances presented by the global pandemic, the selection committee once again took in great consideration all that was involved.

The Wild (Western Conference) were the committee’s choice for a third consecutive season, while 2022 marks the first Flyers win since 2018. This year marks the fourth time both the Wild and Flyers have been honored.

“We’re once again pleased to recognize members of communication staffs and recognize them for what they do best, including building relationships between members of the media and teams, so that we can write stories effectively while efficiently report on oft-times difficult situations outside of daily activity,” PHWA president Frank Seravalli said. “These two staffs stood out among their peers, with Minnesota continuing to set a standard that made it an easy choice for a third straight season. We commend both the Wild and Flyers for a job well done.

In Minnesota, the communications department is led by Aaron Sickman, director of media relations, along with media relations specialist Megan Kogut.

“We are incredibly honored and grateful to be named a recipient of the Dick Dillman Award,” Sickman said. “We want to recognize and thank everyone in our organization, including Bill Guerin, our coaches and players for their willingness to share their stories with the media and our fans. We are also very thankful for the great coverage the Wild received this past year from our writers and broadcasters.”

The Philadelphia Flyers’ PR staff is headed by Zack Hill, senior director of communications, under the direction of vice president of communications Sean Coit. The director of public relations is Joe Siville and Brian Smith is the manager of broadcasting and media services. Allie Samuelsson is the game operations coordinator, Meghan Flanagan is director of corporate communications, and Kate Kizitaff is the communications coordinator.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association wishes to congratulate Hill for 29 years of meritorious service to hockey media and offer best wishes in retirement. Under Hill, the Flyers have been named a finalist for the Dillman Award an incredible 12 times.

“We are honored, thrilled and humbled to win the Dillman Award,” said Hill.. “Our goal has always been and will continue to be to help the media in any way we can. We strive to be as accommodating as possible in aiding both the local and national media in their coverage of the team.”

The Dillman Award is presented in honor of the late, great Minnesota North Stars public relations guru Dick Dillman. The Dillman committee is chaired by Dillman’s daughter, Lisa Dillman, and features a voting panel of senior PHWA members.

Previous Dillman Award winners:

2020-21: Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins
2019-20: Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild
2018-19: Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames
2017-18: Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars
2016-17: Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild
2015-16: Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames
2014-15 Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars
2013-14 Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks
2012-13: Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks
2011-12: Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators
2010-11: Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks
2009-10: Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks
2008-09: Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks
2007-08: Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks
2006-07: Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks