LAS VEGAS -- Let's be honest, there will always be moments of great hilarity, somber emotion and, well, flat-as-pancake jokes when it comes to the annual NHL awards ceremony.
It's the nature of the beast.
So, in case you missed the show, here's a look at some random thoughts from the 2015 awards held at the MGM Grand resort.
Price stands above the crowd: As expected, it was a night of nights for Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who picked up a Ted Lindsay Award as MVP as chosen by the players, the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender, a share of the William M. Jennings Award that goes to the team that allows the fewest goals and, of course, the granddaddy of trophies, the Hart Trophy as league MVP. It marked the first time since 2002 -- when former Hab Jose Theodore won the award -- that a goaltender was named league MVP. Price joked that he was uncomfortable with his first acceptance speech -- which was for the Ted Lindsay Award -- but he got better as the night wore on. Practice makes perfect. Hard watching Price and thinking of a time when it looked as though the Canadiens might have missed the mark in making him the fifth-overall pick in the 2005 draft. "There's always going to be difficult times, and it's how you react that really defines your character," Price said. "Fortunately for me, I have the right people around me to really show me the right way. My wife has really been a foundation for me. My parents and having my dad there, being a former player, he understands what it's like to be in these types of situations. Having somebody like that to lean really makes a big difference."
Karlsson a worthy Norris winner: Among the awards the Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on, none was more difficult to sift through than the Norris Trophy. Standouts Shea Weber and Roman Josi (who was first on my ballot) might have split the Nashville Predators vote, finishing fourth and fifth in voting and were absent from the final ballot. So was Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano, who some observers believe should have won the trophy even though he missed the last six weeks of the regular season with a torn biceps. But at the end of the day, when the Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson came up with his second Norris in four years, I was reminded of a conversation with a top hockey executive a couple of years back who said there is no other player like Karlsson in the league. Yes, he's not a prototypical defender in the mold of, say, a Rod Langway or Chris Pronger, but there is no disputing the impact of Karlsson on a team that was dead in the water but somehow found a way into the postseason. Karlsson bested Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadiens for the Norris, which probably was the right call after all. "I think I'm a better player than the first time I won it," Karlsson said. "I had no expectations. I made improvements, but I think there is still a ways to go." Karlsson also finished ninth in Hart Trophy voting, an indication of his status as a catalyst for the Sens.
Hudler steals the show: The Lady Byng Award for sportsmanship is often given short shrift, but no question the top recipient of the evening had to be winner Jiri Hudler of the Calgary Flames. The Czech forward, who had a career season with the surprising Flames (31 goals and 76 points) appeared on stage in his stocking feet. "My shoes were stiff," Hudler explained later. "I couldn't do it. I was sitting there for an hour and half. I thought Lady Byng was going to be first trophy, but it's not. Obviously, it is the most important one." Hudler also joked that he woke up Wednesday morning with a text from coach Bob Hartley -- who was honored with the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year -- who wanted to make sure teammate and rookie of the year nominee Johnny Gaudreau was in bed by midnight. Hudler joked that he also had a text from Gaudreau telling Hudler to make sure Hartley was in bed by 11. Finally, Hudler waxed poetic, "Life is life," while talking about his baby daughter. Among the fans of Hudler's performance? Masterton Trophy winner Devan Dubnyk. "Oh, god, he wasn't wearing shoes," Dubnyk said. "It's the best thing I have ever seen. What a speech."
Ekblad hits his target: If it wasn't the Norris that gave me fits, it was the Calder Trophy for top rookie. It looked for a long time like Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators was going to run away with the honors, but he, like his team, faded down the stretch and finished fourth in Calder voting (but he did end up on the all-rookie team). But how would it shake down with Gaudreau and Mark Stone of the Ottawa Senators, so key to their respective team's second-half charge to unexpected playoff berths, and Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad? The three were ultimately separated by just 121 voting points, and it was Ekblad who ended with the hardware, a testament to the young defenseman's seamless transition from junior hockey to the NHL game. Ekblad turned 19 during the season and is one of the reasons people can ask with legitimate curiosity whether the Panthers are playoff-bound next spring. Did Ekblad expect such a night for himself? Maybe. "I set out goals for myself at the beginning of every season that I wouldn't tell a single soul, and this was one of them," the first-overall pick in last June's draft said.
Flames score big: It was a nice night for the Calgary Flames, a team that has battled irrelevance in the Western Canadian city for years, but this season reasserted itself as a team on the rise. Along with Hudler, Gaudreau and captain Giordano, who was nominated for two community awards, coach Hartley ran away with the Jack Adams as coach of the year, almost doubling the number of votes runner-up Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers received. It is a testament to the Flames' upper management, including president Brian Burke and general manager Brad Treliving, that they stuck with Hartley even though he was hired by former GM Jay Feaster, who was fired in December 2013. In many ways, Hartley's team took on his own persona: hard-working, blue collar and not to be denied. "Coach-of-the-year award, I think it's a reflection on the entire organization," Hartley said. "Every team talks about commitment, but what's the real definition of commitment? I think that our players have shown that in the past years."
Alfie comes back: It was great to catch up with longtime Ottawa Senators great Daniel Alfredsson, who was a presenter at the awards. The 42-year-old is coming off his first season of retirement after playing one season with the Detroit Red Wings, in 2013-14. "It feels great," Alfredsson said of being back in the NHL family, at least for a night. "Absolutely great. Running into ex-teammates, players you played against a long time [and] you had a lot of respect for. It really is a big family when you come down to it. Definitely a lot of fun to be back in that setting." Alfredsson, who coached his kids in Detroit last season, admitted he would like to find a way back into higher levels of hockey, although he's not exactly sure just how that might happen or in what form. He has spoken to the Senators about some sort of role moving forward, but that, too, is a bit ill-defined. "I don't know," Alfredsson said. "There's no role yet. We've been talking on and off. I don't know exactly where I would fit in, what I would do. We'll see what happens here. I'm in no rush. I'm very fortunate to play as long as I did, so no regrets. Looking forward to the next challenge, the next chapter."
Jolt from a Bolt: Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman was honored as GM of the Year, and part of his ability to win the award again in the future will rest in his ability to bring captain Steven Stamkos under contract. The Lightning's dynamic forward is entering the final season of his current deal, and both parties have made it clear getting a contract extension done is a top priority. Still, Yzerman was a bit testy when asked by colleague Craig Custance of ESPN The Magazine about the status of contract talks. "I think I will answer it this way: I don't intend to give a daily update on the negotiations," Yzerman said. "When I have something to announce, we'll announce it. That's our intent, and we'll work towards that."