The Vancouver Canucks had a solid showing at the NHL Awards, where Daniel and Henrik Sedin took home the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
A fantastic ending to unbelievable careers. #NHLAwards #ThankYouSedins pic.twitter.com/W8t73AUJap
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 21, 2018
As a solo winner two years ago, Henrik becomes the first two-time Clancy recipient in the award's history.
When Irfan Gaffar asked if "this is feeling like the end," Henrik admitted that he's still basically in summer training mode and the full impact of retirement probably won't hit him and Daniel until training camp starts.
I'm half expecting they'll just be going about their business as usual in the weight room when the current players convene for their medical testing on the first day of camp.
As expected, Brock Boeser finished a solid second to Mat Barzal in the Calder voting.
Voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy by members of the PHWA: pic.twitter.com/mVfQz4QxAJ
— PHWA (@ThePHWA) June 21, 2018
Boeser did earn a spot on the rookie all-star team:
The kids!@Barzal_97 @BBoeser16 @ClaytonKeller37 @CMcAvoy44 @WillButcher4
— NHL (@NHL) June 21, 2018
Juuse Saros#NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/k3LAccViFG
As promised, the PHWA has just released all the details of the voting — and naturally, the roasting has begun. Dig in!
The PHWA members' ballots for the NHL awards: https://t.co/J0ANSMSeye
— PHWA (@ThePHWA) June 21, 2018
I mentioned yesterday that this year's awards would have a different vibe, now that fans in Vegas have a home team to cheer for. But I underestimated the team's prominence. Not only did they go 2-for-2 in player categories with William Karlsson taking home the Lady Byng and Deryk Engelland receiving the Mark Messier Leadership Award, of course Gerard Gallant won the Jack Adams and George McPhee was named general manager of the year. Those were such slam dunks, I totally forgot about them!
So, the Knights took home every award they were nominated for and emerged as the most decorated team of the night.
A successful first haul at the #NHLAwards 👌 pic.twitter.com/wqyZa9WitF
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 21, 2018
It's still surreal to think it was exactly one year ago that McPhee was getting roasted for his expansion draft strategy.
Now, the action shifts to Dallas. The general managers' meeting takes place today, then the draft finally kicks off on Friday.
Not much change on Frank Seravalli's updated Trade Bait list. Max Pacioretty and Artemi Panarin are the only big movers. Though the Canucks have downplayed the idea of trading their seventh-overall pick, it's still on the list at No. 7, with Chris Tanev and Alex Edler as sleeper possibilities at 23 and 24, respectively.
As for the draft, here's something to chew on:
We'll soon find out who the #Canucks select with their 1st selection in the NHL Draft. The betting odds:
— PlayNow/SportsAction (@PlayNowSports) June 20, 2018
Evan Bouchard: 2.75
Adam Boqvist: 3.80
Noah Dobson: 4.50
Brady Tkachuk: 7.00
Oliver Wahlstrom: 7.00
Filip Zadina: 8.00
Quinn Hughes: 9.00
â–¶ https://t.co/FXCcQseeEJ pic.twitter.com/xvVjJp68Hj
All roads lead back to those defensemen, don't they?
Here's one last rundown of the most likely possibilities:
ICYMI: Seven players Canucks could, should consider Friday with seventh pick https://t.co/8PVi0naxKK pic.twitter.com/XR4Eita1NK
— Province Sports (@provincesports) June 21, 2018
Ben Kuzma categorizes Quinn Hughes and Filip Zadina as "The Hope," Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson and Adam Boqvist as "The Reality" and Oliver Wahlstrom and Barrett Hayton as "The Considerations." One notable omission on his list: Brady Tkachuk.
Kuzma figures things will shake down primarily based on what Ottawa decides to do with its pick. I still think they'd be better off cutting their losses and handing it over to Colorado rather than waiting till 2019 but so far, all indications are that they will make the pick themselves. The feeling is that if the Sens are able to swing a deal for Erik Karlsson by tomorrow, they're more likely to be in on a defenseman.
Widely rumoured to be after Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the Montreal Canadiens pulled a rabbit out of their hat on Wednesday.
Prospects Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina attended a supper hosted by the Canadiens at the team hotel in Dallas tonight. Habs brass previously had dinner with Brady Tkachuk, Barrett Hayton, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi in Buffalo a few weeks ago.#NHLDraft #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/n4PU0nYW5k
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 21, 2018
Considering this story is coming from the Canadiens website, it's very possible that this is a red herring designed to throw teams off the scent.
1. Have told this story before but when I worked for Devils, we made a show of taking Barrasso out for dinner night before draft in 83. Had no intention of taking him but wanted to force Sabres to take him with first of their three first-rounders at 5 overall... https://t.co/GViqsIDlSP
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 20, 2018
There's still talk that the Canadiens are open to trading this third pick—presumably to move down. I bet Marc Bergevin would love to be able to grab Kotkaniemi at a lower position, and secure an extra asset along the way.
This is cool to see: the prospects hit the ice in Dallas today for a clinic with some youth hockey players from Dallas.
Top Prospects ready to go. Svechnikov forgot his jersey pic.twitter.com/vPOtfrdhGv
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) June 21, 2018
I'm sure it will be a whirlwind of interviews and photo ops for the next 48 hours.
As for us—we wait. I don't imagine any more deals will be consummated until the teams hit the draft floor on Friday.
