Forsberg Is Most Worthy of the Top Honor

With the end of the season comes the end of the voting period for the NHL’s major awards. They are chosen by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Assn., except as noted.

One writer’s ideas on how the voting will go:

Hart Trophy (most valuable player): Peter Forsberg, Colorado. Honorable mention: Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver.

Forsberg carried the Avalanche while Joe Sakic was injured and collected 48 points in his last 28 games, lifting Colorado to its ninth consecutive division title. Naslund and Bertuzzi gave the Canucks lots of production and even more swagger.

Calder Trophy (rookie of the year): Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit. Honorable mention: Alexander Frolov, Kings, Barret Jackman, St. Louis, and Rick Nash, Columbus.

Zetterberg led rookies in scoring with 44 points. He played for a good team, but he improved steadily and created chances rather than scoring off teammates’ setups. Frolov has great moves and superb vision of the ice. Jackman, a defenseman, made a huge leap with few shaky moments. Nash will be a big-time scorer in a few seasons.

Norris Trophy (best defenseman): Al MacInnis, St. Louis. Honorable mention: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit, and Ed Jovanovski, Vancouver.

MacInnis kept the Blues from folding while Chris Pronger missed most of the season because of wrist injuries. MacInnis is indomitable, averaging nearly 27 minutes a game at 39 and leading defenseman with 68 points. Lidstrom, smooth and tireless, is the glue that holds the Red Wing defense together. Jovanovski is rugged, big and capable of chipping in offensively.

Vezina Trophy (best goaltender, voted by general managers): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey. Honorable mention: Marty Turco, Dallas, and Patrick Lalime, Ottawa.

Brodeur has never won the Vezina, despite being perhaps the best goalie of his generation. He’s a workhorse, plays well in big games and always has great numbers but gets overlooked because the Devils lack sizzle. Turco was Ed Belfour’s backup for two years and took over the starting job with aplomb. His 1.72 goals-against average was a key factor in the Senators’ league-high 113 points.

Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship and gentlemanly play): Marian Hossa, Ottawa. Honorable mention: Trevor Linden, Vancouver, Teemu Selanne, San Jose.

Hossa is a class act, as is the veteran Linden. Selanne gets hacked and whacked but stays above the fray and remains one of the NHL’s most exciting players.

Frank Selke Trophy (best defensive forward): Jere Lehtinen, Dallas. Honorable mention: Peter Forsberg, Colorado, and Sergei Fedorov, Detroit.

Lehtinen is never out of position and plays both ends of the ice superbly. Forsberg might be the most complete player in the game and never lets up. Fedorov also pays as much attention to defense as offense and is not only rangy but smart.

Jack Adams Award (best coach): Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota. Honorable mention: John Tortorella, Tampa Bay, and Mike Babcock, Mighty Ducks.

Lemaire guided the third-year Wild into the playoffs by maximizing his resources, not making players change their styles to accommodate him. He got a lot out of middling forwards such as Cliff Ronning and Andrew Brunette. Tortorella showed players that defensive improvement need not stifle creativity. Babcock, in his first year, earned players’ respect with his unwavering demand for excellence.

Au Revoir, Mario?

All signs point to Mario Lemieux retiring again, this time for good. His emergence from retirement in 2000 couldn’t guarantee the Penguins a solid future, and if he can’t keep the NHL alive and well in Pittsburgh, the outlook for the club’s survival is bleak.

Lemieux skipped the Penguins’ season finale Saturday. In their home finale last Wednesday, he played with 25 specially numbered sticks, identifying them for display in the Hockey Hall of Fame. That’s what Wayne Gretzky did in his NHL farewell.

Disheartened by financial woes that led the Penguins to trade their best players, he’s reluctant to go through another rebuilding process.

“I’ve been wrestling with that,” said Lemieux, who became a part owner of the Penguins to rescue them from bankruptcy and recoup salary he was owed. “Maybe the young kids might feel more comfortable if I’m not around, being the owner. Maybe I intimidate a few of them.... This season hasn’t been much fun for the franchise or myself. It’s been difficult.”

Lemieux, who will be 38 in October, recovered from Hodgkin’s disease and serious back surgery to win two scoring titles before retiring in 1997. He returned 44 months later but was hampered by injuries and fatigue, not to mention the financial squeeze that jeopardizes the franchise.

“It’s been a great experience. Difficult at times, but I always did the best I could,” he said, hinting at his intentions by using the past tense.

The Next Generation

Jackman was still in diapers when MacInnis made his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames in the 1981-82 season. They’re teammates with the Blues this season and Jackman is a strong candidate for rookie of the year, for which he credits the 39-year-old veteran.

“I don’t think I’d be having the season that I’ve been having right now if it weren’t for him,” Jackman said. “He’s showed the confidence in me, and his poise on the ice just kind of gives me that extra patience to know that if I make a mistake, he’s behind me. It gives me the freedom to calm myself down and play the way I have in the past.”

Jackman also said he’s flattered to be considered for the rookie award, but it’s not dominating his thoughts.

“As a defensive defenseman, it’s nice to be recognized, maybe being one of the candidates,” he said. “But in the big picture, the Stanley Cup is what I’m looking for. Any kind of individual accomplishments kind of pale in comparison.”

Slap Shots

Among the most remarkable individual improvements is Colorado winger Milan Hejduk’s jump from 21 goals in 62 games last season to 50 in 82 games this season. He was the league’s only 50-goal scorer and it was the second consecutive season only one player has cracked that barrier.

“He’s amazing,” Coach Tony Granato said. “Anytime we needed a big goal, he’s the guy who got it for us.”

Linesman Gerard Gauthier retired Saturday after 32 seasons. Linesmen have a tough and generally thankless job, but he did his job well.... Toronto center Mats Sundin needed three root canal procedures to repair the damage after he was struck in the face by a clearing pass in a game against Minnesota last week. The amazing thing is, he didn’t return for his next shift and actually missed a game.

Memo to Ranger General Manager Glen Sather and Madison Square Garden Chairman James L. Dolan: Remember your guarantees that the Rangers would make the playoffs, despite a mishmash of a lineup and the misguided hiring -- and dismissal -- of Bryan Trottier as coach? Who will you blame now, with the Rangers out of postseason play for a club-record sixth consecutive season?

Sather, you can always pull out the excuse you used for the post-dynasty Edmonton Oilers, that you didn’t have a big enough budget to work with. Must be hard to get by with an $80-million payroll.

Dolan, you promised fans a freeze on ticket prices next season and a 10% price cut the following season if the Rangers miss the playoffs next season. A hollow promise, at best, because a work stoppage could wipe out the 2004-05 season, anyway.

Being voted coach of the year seems more of a curse than an honor. Last year’s winner, Bob Francis of Phoenix, missed the playoffs.

Last year’s runners-up, Brian Sutter of Chicago and Robbie Ftorek of Boston, were fired before this season ended. Bill Barber, the 2001 winner, was fired by the Flyers.

Andy Van Hellemond, the NHL’s director of officiating, and Colin Campbell, director of hockey operations, have promised to maintain vigilance against obstruction during the playoffs. They called this season’s crackdown a success, citing as evidence that 12 players scored 80 or more points, up from four last season.

“What we were trying to do is create more scoring chances,” Van Hellemond said. “The north-south movement has been a lot better and there’s been a lot of play in the end zones.”

Said Campbell, “Something like this is not going to be complete in one year. We’re going to have to go back at it next year and the year after that.”

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Hand Them Hardware

Helene Elliott’s choices for NHL awards:

MVP: Peter Forsberg, Colorado

Rookie of year: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit

Best defenseman: Al MacInnis, St. Louis

Best goalie: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey

Sportsmanship: Marian Hossa, Ottawa

Best def. forward: Jere Lehtinen, Dallas

Best coach: Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota