Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators

Pekka Rinne is a modern day workhorse when it comes to playing net as an NHL goaltender.

Pekka played in all but eight games for the Nashville Predators in 2011-12. He posted a 43-18-8 record with 5 shutouts, a 2.39 GAA and .923 Save Pct.

As mentioned Above, Rinne faced the most shots in the NHL this season with a total of 2,153. This was a full 400 more then Lundqvist. Pekka Rinne was a big reason the Predators made the playoffs the last two seasons.

He has been nominated two consecutive years for this award.

Even though his wins are higher, along with the shots faced, I think what suffers here in this vote is the higher GAA and lower save percentage while facing the most shots.

Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers

King Henrik had arguably the best campaign for a goalie in the 2011-12 season. On a team that focuses on defense and blocked shots under coach John Tortorella, Lundqvist put together a season that reflects this.

He did not face a large amount of shots, when placed in comparison to his fellow nominee Pekka Rinne from Nashville.

Lundqvist faced a total of 1,753 shots, which was 13th among goalies. There were also eight shutouts posted by Lundqvist, which set a career high.

All this stellar play help the Rangers climb to the top spot in the East at 109 points.

Henrik Lundqvist has been nominated three other times for this award in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Jonathan Quick – Los Angeles Kings

No goalie came close to Quick’s season in 2011-12, as far as I am concerned.

He played to a 35-21-13 record with a 1.95 GAA and .929 save percentage, along with 10 shutouts.

Out of his 34 losses this season in regulation, overtime, and shootout, 24 were one goal losses. He also suffered five 1-0 losses this season.

Los Angeles scored the second fewest goals in the NHL this year, further proving Quick’s value and influence on my choice for this award.

Without Jonathan Quick this season, the Los Angeles Kings would be watching the Lakers and Clippers from the Staples center seats, instead of making the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Paul MacLean – Ottawa Senators

John Tortorella – New York Rangers

Tortorella did a great job with the Rangers once again. However, the Rangers have been good for the last two years.

With Tort’s defensive style of play, the team bought into the system.

The stout defense combined with the great goaltending of Lundqvist and Biron, made for a combination to take them to the first seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers have a good team overall, but I think some of the other NHL coaches had a bigger impact on their respective teams than Tortorella did with New York.

Ken Hitchcock – St. Louis Blues

Hitchcock immediately set forth a new defensive minded coaching style, where it focused on blocked shots, smart defensive zone play, and rotating 2 hot goalies on a regular basis to keep them fresh.

I think the most impressive, is the worst to first mentality. That translated to the team going from 39 wins and 87 points with no playoffs, to 49 wins and 109 points.

They also made the playoffs for the first time since 2008-2009. This was all done with the 23rd highest payroll, and major components missing for extended periods of time.

David Perron, Alexander Steen, Andy McDonald, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Matt D’Agostini all missed major time this year with injuries.

Shea Weber – Nashville Predators

I really enjoy this guy’s style of play. Weber is a beast. Scary looking, tough, hits like a truck and has a shot second to only Zdeno Chara.

Although not coveted for his offensive skills, his hard shot results in many offensive chances in front of the opposition net.

In 78 games this season, Weber tallied 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points.

He also is used on the power play for that shot, and had 22 points including 10 goals. Weber was also a +22 which shows he is a good shut down D-man.

This combined with the 177 hits and 140 blocked shots, made Weber a blue liner to be feared in the NHL this season.

This is the second nomination for him, following his first in 2010-11.

Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators

When looking at the Norris Trophy, it is for the best defenseman.

Erik Karlsson has some obvious growing to do into the defensive portion of his play, along with the physical side, (60 hits and 65 Blocked shots).

What cannot be overlooked, is the fact that for a blue liner, he is lethal with the puck on his stick.

He can score from the point, pinch in and score in the slot or blast a one timer from outside the circle on the power play.

In 81 games, Karlsson was in the top 10 for league scoring with 78 points (19g 54a). Karlsson also had 28 points on the power play, contributing three goals and 28 assists.

He has nearly doubled his point total in all three years of his professional career to this point.

Zdeno Chara – Boston Bruins

What can you say about this giant force of Hockey nature that we do not know already. He is big and physical, with the hardest shot ever in the NHL.

He is durable and on the ice as a captain should be. Chara not only racks up ridiculous amounts of ice time, he is out there for the power play, scoring eight of his 12 goals this year with the extra man.

He totaled 52 points in 2011-2012 and was a +33. Chara is physical by default, with 166 hits this season. When he touches someone, they fall.

The thing that surprised me looking into the year that he had, he did not block many shots, with 87. That is a low number for such a large body on the ice as much as he is.

Chara won the Norris back in 2009, and this is his third nomination.

Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers

I have have broken down the stats for Lundqvist above, and feel he is worthy of the nomination for the Vezina. When looking at the nomination for MVP, you have to look at if this team could have succeeded without him.

The New York Rangers have a very capable backup in former Sabre Martin Biron. Biron was 12-6-2, with a 2.46 GAA and .904 save percentage.

In the Rangers style of play, it is very possible that Biron could project out for 30-37 wins. I certainly do not see the Rangers dropping out of the playoffs without Lundqvist.

Therefore to me, he does not win the Hart for Most Valuable Player to his team.

Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning

This kid is great. No other words can describe him. 60 goals – first in the NHL. 97 points – second in the NHL.

Stamkos is also a staple on the power play, scoring 12 goals and 25 points. On a team with some aging veterans and goaltending problems, Stamkos is becoming a well rounded player.

He backchecks well, and is not a liability in his own end most times. He is great in the clutch, notching 12 game winning goals.

He also finished third in shots with 303 in a full 82 games. I fully expect him to continue on a pace of 50-60 goals per season as long as he stays healthy, and wear the ‘C’ very soon for the Lightening.

Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins

Malkin scored nine game winners this season. He will hit, scrum in corners, be dirty with the stick and his hands and snipe with the best of them. The most impressive is this was done with other major players out of the picture.

Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy all missed significant time. When considering an MVP, you need to look at if the team would have been where they were without the player.

Looking at the roster the Pens have had most of the season, there is no better choice. Malkin was the glue that held Pittsburgh together in the regular season.

He far and away deserves the nod for the Hart in the 2011-2012 season.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers

When looking at the potential season that R.N.H. could have had this year, it really makes you think if a player who ended the year on the Injured list could win this award.

In a mere 62 games in 2012, the 18-year-old rookie scored 18 goals and 34 assists for a total of 52 points.

He was lethal on the power play, scoring nearly half of his points with the extra skater, (3 G 20 A). He is a playmaker, and can pick the corner and snipe if the situation calls for it.

He averaged 17:36 in ice time, which was third among NHL rookie forwards this season.

If not for the two shoulder injuries, he would have projected out for 69 points, including 24 goals.

Gabriel Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog may be the overall complete package as a rookie. Landeskog plays a good defensive game, as well as offensive.

He scored 52 points (22 G 30 A) in a full 82 games this season.

He is durable and tough, can hit and skate very well, and even had a fighting major this season, which means he can hold his own if needed.

He was used later in the year on the power play netting six goals and adding six assists with the extra skater.

He playes left wing, and logged the most average ice time for rookie forwards with 18:37 per game.

Adam Henrique – New Jersey Devils

Adam Henrique was not expected to be as productive this season as he was.

Adam Henrique was sent down to Albany to start the season.

He was down there for just three games before being called up by the Devils and he never went back.

Henrique tallied 51 points in 74 games (16 G 35 A) and was a +8.

He is a center, which means face offs are important, as well as ice time.

He was at 48.8% efficiency on face offs, and averaged 18:10 in ice time, which was second among rookie forwards.