Top 10 Stories of 2012: #6 – Senators Past and Present Bring Home Hardware

There was plenty of Ottawa-related flavour at the 2012 season-ending party where the best of the best were honored in Las Vegas. For the first time, the Ottawa Senators brought home two prizes in a single year from the NHL Awards in June.

Erik Karlsson got the nod for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman.  He garnered more votes than two perhaps more well rounded defensemen, Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber.  However, the incredible offensive performance contributed by the Senators blueliner was difficult to ignore despite some defensive deficiencies in his game.

Erik Karlsson became the first Senators player to take home an award for on-ice performance since Alfie’s rookie season. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Also coming home with hardware was captain Daniel Alfredsson.  While he missed out on the Masterton Trophy that he was nominated for, Alfie was the surprise winner of the King Clancy award.

Ottawa’s other hopeful, coach Paul MacLean, lost out on the Jack Adams awards to Ken Hitchcock.

The big winner on the night was Evgeni Malkin, who took home the Hart Trophy for MVP, the Ted Lindsay award (Most Outstanding Player as voted on by fellow players), and the Art Ross Trophy as the top scorer.

Other winners were Gabriel Landeskog (Calder), former 67’s standout Brian Campbell (Lady Byng), Patrick Bergeron (Selke), Henrik Lundqvist (Vezina) and Steven Stamkos (Rocket Richard).  The combo of former Senator Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak won the Jennings Award and Max Pacioretty edged Alfredsson for the Masterton.