The full list of NHL 2009 Award finalists has been released and I have included them all below. This list was put together by Rich Hammond from the Los Angeles Daily News. You can visit Hammond’s King’s site and see who he personally voted for to win the NHL Awards. My picks for the NHL Award winners are listed below the NHL 2009 Award Finalists.

Hart Trophy (most valuable)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
My Vote: 1) Ovechkin

Calder Trophy (outstanding rookie):
Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks
My Vote: 1) I agree with Hammond, Drew Doughty

Norris Trophy (outstanding defenseman):
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
My Vote: 1) Chara

Lady Byng Trophy (skill, sportsmanship):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
My Vote: 1) Datsyuk

Vezina Trophy (outstanding goaltender)
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
My Vote: 1) Thomas

Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
My Vote: 1) Datsyuk

The Winter Classic for 2010 has now been set. The 2010 Winter Classic will be played in Boston at Fenway Park with the Bruins matching up against a team to be decided upon later. The 2010 Winter Classic in Boston will be played on New Years Day and is expected to sell out as soon as tickets go on sale, regardless of the opponent. The last Winter Classic was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago and the year before that the game was played in Buffalo. Stay tuned for the Boston Bruins opponent in the 2010 Hockey Winter Classic.

The first NHL outdoor game was in 2003 when the Montreal played the Oilers in Edmonton, in a game dubbed the “Heritage Classic”. The second outdoor NHL Game was last year in Buffalo, with the Penguins playing the Sabers. The game in Buffalo drew more than 71,000 fans to the stadium, an NHL record. Carrying on with a new tradition, the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago will receive the 2009 NHL outdoor game with high expectations.

This post will be updated as more information is known.

All 3 have solidified themselves as NHL players with great careers awaiting them. Kane and Toews of course both play for the Blackhawks, giving the team a very bright future for years to come with these two outstanding players.  I think all 3 players are deserving, but I would have to pick Nicklas Backstrom as the winner.  He is a solid all around player and will only get better playing with Ovechkin.

The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards Ceremony on June 12, 2008.