Vezina Trophy (best goalie)
Roberto Luongo
Vancouver Canucks
With how talented Luongo is, it’s actually shocking that he hasn’t yet won this award in his eight-year NHL career. Twice he has been a nominee for it -- with Florida in 2004 and with the Canucks last season. He’s overdue to win the Vezina Trophy and this could well be the season he takes home the hardware.

The added responsibility of being captain of the Canucks will be good for Luongo as he’s the type of player who craves responsibility. And it’s interesting to note that there have been only six goalies named as NHL team captains. The last keeper to receive the honor was Bill Durnan of the Canadiens in the 1947-48 season.

Also by Luongo’s standards, he is coming off a sub-par year and that – along with a long offseason to recharge -- sets the stage for him to have quite a bounce-back campaign.

Vancouver has not gotten any better offensively so the Canucks must win close, low-scoring games. I love the defense in front of Luongo – Mattias Ohlund, Sami Salo, Willie Mitchell and Kevin Bieksa – are a tremendous big four. All the more reason I believe Luongo’s numbers will be terrific this season.

I think we’re set to see the Roberto Luongo of two, three and four years ago. A sub-par year for Luongo is still better than the seasons put up by many other goalies in the league but look for resurgence in his play – one good enough to bring him this award.

With the Vezina Trophy being voted upon by the general managers of the NHL’s 30 teams, Luongo is still somewhat marooned by playing so many of his games in the Pacific time zone, thus performing his magic when many of the GMs in the East have gone to sleep. But with a change in the NHL’s scheduling that will have teams from the West playing more games in the East, more GMs will have a chance to see Luongo play and that should only bolster his chances at winning the Vezina.

Calder Trophy (rookie of the year)
Steven Stamkos
Tampa Bay Lightning
If you are a forward it’s numbers that get you this award. Historically, the Calder ends up going to a forward unless there is a dominant rookie defenseman and no rookie forward puts up significant numbers.

I first mentioned Stamkos in this column when looking at Vincent Lecavalier’s chances of winning the Art Ross Trophy. Stamkos, who doesn’t turn 19 until February, will have a shot to put up real good numbers for a lot of the same reasons that Lecavalier does.

Stamkos has to learn the defensive part of the game but he should thrive on offense given Melrose’s coaching style. Melrose is the perfect fit for any player who has abundant skill and wants to put up numbers. Stamkos fits that bill and veteran wingers Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi should prove tremendous role models for the rookie.

Video   Steven Stamkos: The NHL's next big thing NBC Sports' Pierre McGuire talks about the No. 1 overall draft pick and new Lightning center's star ability. NBC Sports

Melrose is not a conservative guy. If you didn’t realize that then you weren’t paying attention to his wardrobe and his hairstyles on ESPN. The sport would be better off if there were more Barry Melrose’s in the league and Stamkos will be better off by breaking into the NHL with a coach like Melrose who will embrace all the offense the rookie can give the Lightning.

MORE FROM NHL

NHL Section Front

Sharks blank Penguins More pain for ’Canes as skid hits 12 straight Ward suffers ‘significant injury’ in 'Canes loss Devils rally to beat Sens, improve to 8-0 on road Iginla nets winner for Flames against Rangers Flyers beat Blues in SO for 4th straight victory Capitals win again without Ovechkin Kessel's first goal helps Leafs rout Wings Wings' Williams suffers fractured right fibula Goal-starved Bruins come to life against Sabres NHL Section Front   Add NHL headlines to your news reader: