Premier League of the Year Awards- NHL Style

I've not blogged in a long time,so it took a slightly unusual idea to make me do so again. Here im going to apply the standard NHL of the year awards to Premier League players, the cross over of categories made for some interesting decision making. Here goes...

Jack Adams Award- Coach of the Year

David Moyes- Everton.

Coach of the Year: David Moyes

A quick scan of the current premier league table provides few major shocks. The ones that are there, Newcastle 14th and QPR 19th are dissapointments, and even West Brom at 8th isnt a huge shock with the majority of the division's middle order pritty interchangeable year to year. Everton though remain very much in the hunt for a Champions League place and considering their minimal wage and transfer budgets, Moyes' abillity to build what he himself has called his "best ever" Everton side is a little remarkable. The teams currentely above the Toffee's would all view missing Europes top club competition as failure but Everton, ahead of arch rivals Liverpool and looking set to break a club record for fewest defeats in a premier league season (9, currentely on course for 5) may well be viewed as success for them.

Honorable mentions: Micheal Laudraup- Swansea. Alex Ferguson- Manchester United

Bill Masterson Memorial Award

Steven Gerrard- Liverpool.

Perseverance and dedication: Gerrard

This is an interesting one at the best of times, especially considering the cross over in sports. Officially the Masterson is awarded to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship  perseverance and dedication to hockey". It's unofficially a "best comeback" award often given to players who have returned from long term to career altering injuries, as well as occasionally family tragedies. With that said the fact that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has played every minute of every game the reds have played this season, less than a year removed from the longest injure absence of his career,  at 33 an age where most Premier League midfielders slow down. Factor in his 9 goals with games remaining the probability of yet another double figure haul from midfield and Stevie G takes this one.

Honorable Mentions: Shane Long- West Brom. Dimitar Berbatov- Fulham

Frank J. Selke Award- Best Defensive Forward.

James Milner- Manchester City

Ever reliable: Milner

Synics who know anything about this award would  complain that its badly given out in the NHL. It dosent really matter how good you are defensively, if you cant also chip in offensively, no one will care. It's often thought of as a nice little award to pat "superstar" players on the back because they also do the everyday things lesser players are expected to do, like win face-offs and block shots. Anyway, that aside we'll use it to hand out some much needed praise to under celebrated holding midfield players. The best of the bunch has been the champions English number 7, Milner. Incredibly versatile Milner has played right and left wing back,  right and left midfield, aswell as central midfield in an ever changing City starting 11. His abillity to cover for his full back as well as get back up the park to provide crosses has earned a player of the month award for City and, so it appears, a regular starting place for his national side.

Honorable Mentions: Ramieres- Chelsea. Michael Carrick- Manchester United.

James Norris Memorial Award- Best Defender.
Patrice Evra- Manchester United

Norris Winner Patrice Evra

Another fairly uncelebrated part of the premier league is being a defender. Until some pundit wants to take offensive at the notion that a non premiership player other than Lionel Messi may be the best player in the world in his position, no one wants to talk about how many defenders have actually had very good seasons. Man United have been happy to see the combination of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand back in their defense far more often than last season, but theyve still been far from regulars. Earlier in the season especially the goalkeeper position was a revolving door at Old Trafford but one almost ever present has been their vice captain, Evra. United are second in the most clean sheets chart and have seen a career high four goals knocked in by the Frenchman, he's been due to "win this award" but i beleave he has done this season.

Honorable Mentions: Leighton Baines- Everton. Pablo Zabaleta- Manchester City

Vezina Trophy- Best Goalkeeper
Joe Hart- Manchester City

Number one: Hart

It could easily be argued this has been Hart's weakest season since being handing the gloves as City's number one, but the 25 year old has been ever present in a team that has conceded less goals than any one else, kept more clean sheets than any one else and has been beaten on the joint least occasions. Not bad. Vincent Kompany has been injured, Kolo Toure, Matija Nastasic and Jolean Lescott have all been rotated perhaps far too often, and ill fated adventures with a 3-5-2 formation has seen the likes of Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabelta look out of position as centre halves so its not difficult to say Hart is the most responsible for City's surprisingly strong defensive effort this season.

Honorable Mentions: Petr Cech- Chelsea. Simon Mignolet- Sunderland.

Calder Memorial Trophy- Best Rookie
Miguel Michu- Swansea
Technically Michu wouldnt be eligible for this award in the NHL. The criteria is for first year players, usually 18 to 22 year old's. To keep it fair theirs an upper age limit of 26 to prevent already established players coming to the NHL and running away with it, however since it is far more common practice for

More than you payed for: Michu

established players to come to the premier league, we'll give him a pass. Little was known of him before he joined the Swans at the start of the 2012/13 season but 17 premier league goals later he is in many ways the envy of the league after being signed for a incredible 2 million pounds. There's not been a better value for money signing in the league, and you could safely say his goals alone have prevented Swansea suffering "second season syndrome" 

Honorable Mentions: Jan Vertonghan- Tottenham. Romelu Lukaku- West Brom.

Hart Memorial Trophy- MVP
Robin Van Persie- Manchester United.

RVP- MVP

Another award thats criteria will be often debated, Van Persie takes the ever prestigious most valuable player award in this mock awards show. Obviously the most valuable player to his team wont always necessarily win this, just because your valuable to your team dosent mean your brilliant, what if your team are rubbish? Thats what probably tips Van Persie for this award ahead of the other contenders, Spurs are yet to guarantee a Champions League (If they get one at all) and Liverpool are also rans. So as great as the individual contributions of the likes of Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale have been, they haven't also single handily been the difference in the title race, Van Persie has. Admittedly he's had a stronger supporting cast, but keeping in mind United only missed out on last years title on goal difference, and this year lead it by 12 points and are 9 goals better off than City you can see why he is considered the difference between the two sides.

Statistical Awards
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award- Best Save Percentage: Gerhard Tremmel- Swansea
Rocket Richard Trophy- Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie- Manchester United
Art Ross Trophy- Most Points (Goals and Assists): Robin Van Persie- Manchester United
William M. Jennings Trophy- Goalkeeper with Fewest Goals Against: Joe Hart- Manchester City