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Nominate "The Player of the Year?" (For NHL Season, Olympics, AND Playoffs)

June 12, 2014, 12:22 PM ET [97 Comments]
Eklund
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It's another travel day in the NHL. Time to strike the bigtop, pull up the trailer hitches, and take this circus back across the country for (at least) one more show. I will be discussing EVERYTHING that happened in NY last night during the Hockeybuzzcast Today at 3pm ET. We are delaying our start today so we can be joined by some special guests.

As I sit on the Amtrak back to Philly, to spend tonight with family before a travel whirlwind back to LA tomorrow, I can't help but look back a little at this past year in hockey. It has been quite the hockey year.

With all the talk of who will win the NHL awards I got to thinking further...Who was the best hockey player this year? Not the Hart Trophy. Not the Conn Smythe. Not the Olympic MVP.

Who was the best combined player in all three?

I wanted to introduce our own Hockeybuzz Awards and take nominations from you for the
"Hockeybuzz Hockey Player of the Year."

Here are some of my nominations...feel free to second them or add your own in the comments. I will put the nominees to a vote tomorrow. Make your case for your nominees as well and I might include your post in tomorrow's voting blog.

Here are my nominees...

Drew Doughty

In a way, Doughty inspired this idea. The guy may actually not get a single award this year, but were you to combine what he did in the regular season, the playoffs, and the Olympics he might just have been the best hockey player this year. He might win the Conn Smythe still, but that vote looks to be very up-in-the air at this point.

Henrik Lundqvist

Even if the Rangers had been swept King Henry would have to be considered strongly. A great NHL season, a silver medal, and getting a team to the Final that few thought could ever get here.

Patrick Kane

In the Olympics and playoffs Kane was just dynamic and almost unstoppable.. And had he scored the game winner in game 7 against the Kings it would have been the third series he won on an OT goal this year. He was the reason a game 7 even happened.

Jonathan Toews

Like Kane, Toews was a force in all three seasons. More and more we keep hearing people saying they would start a team with Toews...

Anze Kopitar

What Kopitar did with Slovenia can't be overstated. He literally willed his country to its first Olympic win and a win in the medal round. Kopitar played close to 30 minutes in many of those games. In the playoffs Kopitar has been the biggest reason Gaborik is on fire and Kopitar is also a Selke candidate. He is one of the best all-around players in the NHL and the world.

Jeff Carter

Aside from Doughty, Jeff Carter could also win both Gold and Stanley Cup this year. Carter has really come into his own in these playoffs. He was always a solid good player, but he has now reached an elite status that I feel has surpassed initial expectations..

Who would you like to nominate and why?

Rumor Chart Update Coming...Podcast at 3pm.
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