Tim Thomas News

Much as the NHL season was about Tim Thomas and his brilliance in coming back from hip surgery despite the many hurdles thrown at him, the NHL Awards also became the Tim Thomas Show.

The Bruins goaltender made history as only the second goalie to capture the Vezina Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season, which made weathering the “old man” jokes from NHL Awards host Jay Mohr easier. Winning his second Vezina Trophy in the last three seasons and dominating the playoff field has given Thomas a little more perspective on things, and the athletic goaltender said that he will proudly bear the title of “the redneck goaltender” for the rest of his career.

Mock his methods if you must and laugh at the street hockey style saves if you’re a butterfly-style snob, but the 37-year-old Thomas is finally comfortable in his own skin after winning everything short of the Hart Trophy.

The Awards night was about Thomas, his .938 save percentage in the playoffs, his 52-save performance against the Flyers that demoralized their entire team, the stick save on Steve Downie that won them a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final and an unblinking seven games against the Canucks that nobody will ever soon forget.

It’s amazing that Thomas rose from such a low place as a 37-year-old goaltender coming off the hip surgery scrap heap. It paid off immediately for both Thomas the Bruins. The question now becomes what will Thomas do for an encore next season? Coming soon to a theater near you: The Tim Thomas Story, with Wednesday night’s awards show as another dramatic, bling-inspired scene.

It's the second time in three years that Thomas has won the award.
Perry, who also won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's goal-scoring leader, likely won the Hart with his finishing kick. He had a late surge of 19 goals in his final 16 games to reach the 50-goal mark and lift his Ducks into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Zdeno Chara, the captain of the Cup-winning Boston Bruins, finished third in the Norris voting, just 48 points behind Lidstrom.

In another highly followed – and extremely tight -- race, Carolina’s Jeff Skinner won the Calder Trophy as the League’s best rookie. Center Ryan Kesler headlined the haul, winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the League’s best defensive forward. Goalie Roberto Luongo and his backup, Cory Schneider, won the William Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goalies for the team that finishes with the fewest goals allowed.

Daniel Sedin received the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s top point-getter after finishing with 104. He also was named the winner of the Ted Lindsay Award, the MVP award as voted on by the members of the NHL Players’ Association. He beat out Perry and Steven Stamkos, who was named EA Sports NHL12 cover athlete during Wednesday’s award show.
Bylsma beat out Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault by just 17 points.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere took home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."
Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry was voted the National Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player and Tim Thomas, who helped the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup, was named the sport’s top goaltender.

Perry also took the award for goal-scoring leader with 50 goals and Sedin was honored for amassing a league-high 104 regular-season points.