Most Accurate Shot in the Last Quarter Century: Joe Sakic
20 of 26 coaches took part. Coaches were instructed to consider the current season only, and could not vote for their own players.
Best Player: Sergei Fedorov (15), Wayne Gretzky (3), Ray Bourque (1), Doug Gilmour (1)
Best Defensive Forward: Sergei Fedorov (6), Doug Gilmour (3), Brian Skrudland (3), Guy Carbonneau (2), Adam Graves (2), Joel Otto (1), Mark Messier (1), Wayne Gretzky (1), Ron Francis (1)
Best Penalty Killer: Sergei Fedorov (5), Doug Gilmour (4), Guy Carbonneau (4), Adam Graves (2), Mike Ridley (1), Neal Broten (1), Mike Gartner (1), Mark Messier (1), Gaetan Duchesne (1)
Best Stickhandler: Jaromir Jagr (5), Sergei Fedorov (4), Alexander Mogilny (4), Wayne Gretzky (3), Alexei Zhamnov (1), Pierre Turgeon (1), Sergei Nemchinov (1), Eric Lindros (1)
Hardest Working Player: Doug Gilmour (6), Adam Graves (3), Jeremy Roenick (3), Kirk Muller (2), Gary Roberts (2), Ray Ferraro (1), Sergei Fedorov (1), Craig MacTavish (1), Mike Gartner (1)
Most Underrated Player: Joey Mullen (4), Adam Graves (3), Brendan Shanahan (2), Keith Tkachuk (2), John Maclean (1), Joey Juneau (1), Sergei Zubov (1), Sergei Fedorov (1), Joe Nieuwendyk (1), Vladimir Malakhov (1), Mike Modano (1), Mark Recchi (1), Dave Andreychuk (1)
Best Shot: Brett Hull (6), Al MacInnis (4), Mike Modano (2), Mike Gartner (1), Ray Bourque (1), Jimmy Carson (1), Alexander Mogilny (1), Eric Lindros (1), Joey Mullen (1), Cam Neely (1), Sergei Fedorov (1)
Best Skater: Sergei Fedorov (8), Teemu Selanne (3), Paul Coffey (2), Mike Modano (2), Mike Gartner (2), Pavel Bure (1), Alexander Mogilny (1), Jeremy Roenick (1)
Best Pure Scorer: Brett Hull (7), Dave Andreychuk (6), Alexander Mogilny (2), Sergei Fedorov (2), Cam Neely (1), Kevin Stevens (1), Jaromir Jagr (1)
Best Playmaker: Wayne Gretzky (9), Adam Oates (5), Doug Gilmour (4), Sergei Fedorov (1), Craig Janney (1)
Most Accurate Shot in the Last Quarter Century: Joe Sakic
And this is why people say Fedorov's 1993-94 season ranks very highly all-time. Note the fact that he finishes well in all of these "skill" categories, AND receives a "most underrated" vote. From NHL COACHES.
Best Player: Mario Lemieux (17), Chris Chelios (1), Teemu Selanne (1), Ray Bourque (1), Pavel Bure (1)
Smartest Player: Mario Lemieux (11), Ray Bourque (2), Adam Oates (2), Doug Gilmour (2), Wayne Gretzky (2), Chris Chelios (1), Pavel Bure (1)
Best Playmaker: Adam Oates (11), Mario Lemieux (9), Doug Gilmour (1)
Best Defensive Forward: Doug Gilmour (6), Joel Otto (5), Ron Francis (3), Dirk Graham (2), Brent Sutter (2), Murray Craven (1), Guy Carbonneau (1), Kelly Miller (1)
Best Penalty Killer: Dave Poulin (4), Doug Gilmour (2), Mario Lemieux (2), Pavel Bure (2), Dirk Graham (2), Sergei Fedorov (2), Mike Ridley (2), Gaetan Duchesne (1), Neil Broten (1), Craig MacTavish (1), Guy Carbonneau (1), Ron Wilson (1)
Best Faceoff Man: Joel Otto (4), Peter Stastny (3), Ron Francis (3), Doug Gilmour (2), Adam Oates (2), Peter Zezel (1), Mark Messier (1), Mario Lemieux (1), Steve Yzerman (1), Jari Kurri (1), Dale Hunter (1), Brent Sutter (1)
Hardest Worker: Doug Gilmour (6), Jeremy Roenick (5), Craig MacTavish (3), Kirk Muller (3), Kelly Miller (1), Pat Lafontaine (1), Ray Bourque (1), Joel Otto (1)
Most Infuriating: Chris Chelios (3), Claude Lemieux (2), Darius Kasparaitis (2), Dino Ciccarelli (2), Jeremy Roenick (2), Tony Granato (2), Dale Hunter (1), Doug Gilmour (1), Bryan Marchment (1), Jocelyn Lemieux (1), Rob Pearson (1), Marty McSorley (1), Kevin Dineen (1), Paul Broten (1)
Most Underrated: Larry Murphy (3), Kelly Buchberger (2), Ron Francis (2), Steve Larmer (2), Doug Gilmour (1), Adam Oates (1), Steve Chiasson (1), Kevin Stevens (1), Jeremy Roenick (1), Pierre Turgeon (1), Rod Brind’Amour (1), Kirk Muller (1), Joe Juneau (1), Tony Granato (1), Mark Recchi (1)
Toughest Player: Chris Chelios (7), Gary Roberts (4), Rick Tocchet (3), Jeremy Roenick (2), Randy McKay (1), Adam Graves (1), Bob Probert (1), Dirk Graham (1), Doug Gilmour (1)
Best Shot: Al Iafrate (5), Al MacInnis (3), Teemu Selanne (3), Brett Hull (2), Ray Bourque (2), Luc Robitaille (1), Doug Gilmour (1),
Chris Chelios (1), Pavel Bure (1), Steve Larmer (1), Mario Lemieux (1)
Total votes for Doug Gilmour in 1993: 24
Total votes for Sergei Fedorov in 1994: 29*
* Excluding the 15 votes he got as, 'best player'. . . since he wouldn't have gotten those if Mario Lemieux was healthy. . .like he was in 1993. Note that in '93, Mario is the ONLY player who receives more than one vote. In 1994, Fedorov and Gretzky both get multiple votes.
Gilmour receives votes in 10 categories. Multiple votes in 5 categories.
Fedorov receives votes in 10 categories. Multiple votes in 6 categories.
Just more evidence that Gilmour's 1993 campaign is, in fact, pretty comparable to Fedorov's 1994 season (despite the mythic proportions its gained in some corners).
Gilmour being named best defensive forward in 1993, and then finishing runner-up to Fedorov in 1994 also gives lie to your own statement that his Selke win wasn't legit.
I'll check when I get a chance. I remember the story of Pat LaFontaine being the No. 2 player in the game for the 1992-93 Yearbook. (The thought of LaFontaine being ranked ahead of Gretzky at that time floored me, but LaFontaine showed just what he was capable of in 1992-93).Also, I'm sure I saw something like this in a THN yearbook around 1991 or 1992. I'm going to check.
edit: I think what I saw was a list of the top faceoff men by team. Unfortunately, I can't find it now. I recall Joel Otto, Mark Messier and Dale Hunter being on it.
1979 said:Minnesota North Star centre Bobby Smith was selected rookie of the year yesterday in a poll of National Hockey League players published by The Sporting News. Smith previously was chosen NHL rookie of the year by The Hockey News.
The 21-year-old Ottawa native received 117 votes in The Sporting News survey, easily topping Washington's Ryan Walter, who had 78 votes. Wayne Babych of St. Louis finished third with 60.
Meanwhile, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders made a clean sweep of The Sporting News NHL all-star team. In a vote of 270 players, centre Bryan Trottier, left winger Clark Gillies and defenceman Denis Potvin of the Islanders and right winger Guy Lafleur, defenceman Larry Robinson and goalie Ken Dryden of the Canadiens were chosen as the league's best players.
1980 said:Los Angeles Kings centre Marcel Dionne has been selected 1979-80 National Hockey League player of the year in a poll conducted by The Sporting News. Dionne, who scored 53 goals for the Kings, received 128 of 348 votes cast by NHL players in the annual poll by the weekly publication announced yesterday. He edged Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers by one vote.
Ray Bourque of Boston Bruins was voted the league's top rookie. Bourque set a record for points (65) by a rookie defenceman with 17 goals and 48 assists.
1983 said:Wayne Gretzky of Edmonton Oilers was the overwhelming choice by National Hockey League players as the player of the year in balloting conducted by The Sporting News.
Gretzky received the votes of 176 players in the results announced yesterday. Boston Bruin goalie Pete Peeters was second with 116 votes. It is the third consecutive year players voted Gretzky the NHL's top star.
Right winger Steve Larmer of Chicago Black Hawks was chosen rookie of the year.
Gretzky, 22, had 196 points, with 71 goals and 125 assists, to win his third consecutive scoring title this season. His assist total is an NHL record.
The weekly sports periodical polled 326 NHL players.
1984 said:Edmonton Oiler Wayne Gretzky has been selected the 1983-84 National Hockey League player of the year in a poll of NHL players conducted by The Sporting News. The Oiler centre received the honor for a record fourth consecutive year. Gretzky was chosen on 250 of a 313 ballots cast.
Centre Steve Yzerman, first-round draft choice of Detroit Red Wings last June, was chosen rookie of the year. His 39 goals and 87 points set Detroit standards for a first-year player.
Gretzky demonstrated his importance to the Oilers in a season that saw Edmonton win the Stanley Cup for the first time. He finished the season with 87 goals and 118 assists to lead the NHL in scoring for the fourth year in a row. He was held without a point in only three games.
Gretzky heads the publication's all-star team as well. Boston's Rick Middleton was chosen the all-star right winger, Michel Goulet of Quebec Nordiques was selected at left wing, the Bruins' Ray Bourque and Washington Capital Rod Langway were chosen as defencemen. Pat Riggin of Washington was selected the team's goaltender.
1998 said:Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek is The Sporting News player of the year in the NHL for the second year in a row. In a poll of players, Hasek received 98 votes, followed by Anaheim's Teemu Selanne (69) and Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr (25). The weekly publication also chose Boston's Pat Burns as coach of the year and Bruins right-winger Sergei Samsonov as rookie of the year. Pittsburgh's Craig Patrick was selected executive of the year.
2002 said:Jarome Iginla, a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, on Tuesday was named Player of the Year by The Sporting News in a landslide vote. Iginla received 101 votes to become the first Calgary player to earn the Sporting News Player of the Year award.
Goaltender Patrick Roy and center Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche finished second and third with 22 and 17 votes, respectively, in balloting among NHL players.
The 24-year-old Iginla scored a league-leading 52 goals and added 44 assists to top all players with 96 points.
Atlanta Thrashers right wing Dany Heatley edged out teammate Ilya Kovalchuk for the Sporting News Rookie of the Year honor. The 21-year-old Heatley had 26 goals and 41 assists.
Brian Sutter and Mike Smith of the Chicago Blackhawks were honored as the Coach and Executive of the Year, respectively, after the club went from 29-40-8 to 41-27-13 and a playoff spot. It had been 56 years since The Sporting News' voters nominated a Blackhawk for either category, the last being coaching honors for Johnny Gottselig in 1945-46.
In a close vote by NHL coaches, Sutter edged out Bobby Francis of Phoenix and Robbie Ftorek of Boston.
Globe and Mail GM Poll said:1. At this point in the season, which team is favoured to capture the Stanley Cup?
Dallas 9
Detroit 6
Philadelphia 1
2. If all goalies were available, which current NHLer would you start in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals?
Patrick Roy, Col 8
Martin Brodeur, NJ 2
Curtis Joseph, Det 2
Nikolai Khabibulin, TB 2
Olaf Kolzig, Wsh 1
Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 1
3. What change has made the game better this season, obstruction crackdown or hurry-up face-off?
Hurry-up face-off 10
Obstruction crackdown 4
Neither has helped 1
Declined to answer 1
4. Are you confident Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow will strike a new collective agreement before Sept. 15, 2004?
No 10
Yes 5
Declined to answer 1
5. Who is the most underrated player in today's game?
Steve Rucchin, Ana 3
Ron Francis, Car 2
Wade Redden, Ott 2
Daniel Alfredsson, Ott 1
Dan Cloutier, Van 1
Adam Deadmarsh, LA 1
Kenny Jonsson, NYI 1
Jere Lehtinen, Dal 1
Tommy Salo, Edm 1
Sergei Zubov, Dal 1
Declined to answer 1
6. Who is the most overrated player in today's game?
Eric Lindros, NYR 8
Jaromir Jagr, Wsh 5
Pavel Bure, NYR 2
Declined to answer 1
7. If all the players were free agents, who would be the first player you would sign?
Joe Thornton, Bos 5
Peter Forsberg, Col 4
Nicklas Lidstrom, Det 2
Nikolai Khabibulin, TB 1
Mario Lemieux, Pgh 1
Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 1
Jose Theodore, Mtl 1
Declined to answer 1
8. Which NHL city has the best fans?
Toronto 4
San Jose 3
Columbus 2
Detroit 2
St. Paul, Minn. 2
Edmonton 1
Ottawa 1
Philadelphia 1
9. Which NHL team's long-term future are you most worried about?
Nashville 9
Ottawa 3
Calgary 2
Buffalo 1
Declined to answer 1
10. Who is the best coach in today's game?
Jacques Lemaire, Min 6
Ken Hitchcock, Phi 5
Robbie Ftorek, Bos 1
Bob Hartley 1
Jacques Martin, Ott 1
Joel Quenneville, Stl 1
Declined to answer 1
11. What NHL city has the best rink?
Edmonton 4
Toronto 2
Anaheim 1
Atlanta 1
Columbus 1
Flordia 1
Minnesota 1
N.Y. Rangers 1
Ottawa 1
Philadelphia 1
Washington 1
Vancouver 1
12. Who would you pay to sit and listen to for a two-hour seminar on hockey?
Scotty Bowman 5
Wayne Gretzky 3
Bob Gainey 2
Al Arbour 1
Bob Clarke 1
Roger Neilson 1
Craig Ramsay 1
Anatoli Tarasov 1
Declined to answer 1
13. Some NHL teams have experienced attendance woes this season. Are ticket prices too high?
Yes 9
No 5
Declined to answer 2
14. Which player who is eligible and not in the Hockey Hall of Fame, should be inducted?
Doug Wilson 3
Grant Fuhr 2
Steve Larmer 2
Kevin Lowe 2
Neal Broten 1
Dick Duff 1
Rick Middleton 1
Brad Park 1
Doug Risebrough 1
Dave Taylor 1
Declined to answer 1
15. Who is the most controversial figure in hockey these days?
Don Cherry 6
Bob Goodenow 5
Gary Bettman 2
Brett Hull 2
Declined 1
Winnipeg Free Press said:Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres leads the list of nominees for the annual Lester B. Pearson award, as presented by the NHL's Players' Association. Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers, Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks, Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks were also nominated. The MVP award, as voted on by the players themselves, will be presented tomorrow afternoon at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The source you might be thinking of is the "At a Glance" section in each team profile for the 1991-92 THN Yearbook. It listed a team's strengths and weaknesses, keys to success, scoring line, checking line, grinders, enforcers, snipers, hardes worker, best skater, catalyst, point men, defensive quarterback, top minor league prospects and selections from the 1991 draft.Also, I'm sure I saw something like this in a THN yearbook around 1991 or 1992. I'm going to check.
edit: I think what I saw was a list of the top faceoff men by team. Unfortunately, I can't find it now. I recall Joel Otto, Mark Messier and Dale Hunter being on it.
This needs to be remembered the next time someone asks why Grant Fuhr is in the Hall of Fame...Who would you want as your goalie to stop an opponent's breakaway with 30 seconds left and the score tied in the 7th game of a Stanley Cup final?
G Fuhr (40), P Roy (17), D Puppa (14), M Vernon (11), M Liut (8), J Vanbiesbrouck (8)
In case anyone is looking for more detailed results, here are the original threads:
1971: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/march-13th-1971-nhl-coaches-poll-toronto-star.679838/
1974: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/march-23rd-1974-nhl-coaches-poll-toronto-star.680204/
1976: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/february-21st-1976-nhl-coaches-poll-toronto-star.680232/
1979: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/february-17th-1979-nhl-coaches-poll-toronto-star.680216/
1981 (players poll): http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/players-poll-taken-before-1980-81-season.680327/
1984: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/april-30th-1984-nhl-coaches-poll-toronto-star.680222/
This is just from the odd free pages there are available still waiting for them to give me full accessDigitizing The Hockey News already paying dividends