Q: Who are your picks for the top awards?
— Chris Middleton from Eden Prairie, Minn.

Video   Who will be MVP? April 11, 2010: While Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are perennial MVP candidates, goalies Ryan Miller and Ilya Bryzgalov are also contenders.

A: I'm going with Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov for both the Hart (MVP) and the Vezina (top netminder). With even average netminding the Coyotes might have missed the playoffs. All in all, a tremendous season for a goalie the Ducks once had to give away.

Calder (rookie of the year): Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers. Exceptional agility for such a big kid. Fit seamlessly and impressively into the Sabres back line.

Norris (top defenseman): The Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom. Forget about where he finished in points. Turns age 40 in late April and he remains the gold standard along the blue line.

Selke (best defensive forward): Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk. Also was the only Russian forward to play any defense at the Olympics.

Lady Byng (most gentlemanly): Ducks forward Teemu Selanne. Hope the honor convinces him to hang around at least one more year.

Jack Adams (best coach): The Coyotes' Dave Tippett. Talk about making chicken salad out of chicken spit.

Executive of the Year: Coyotes GM Don Maloney. You may now return to the Rangers front office.

Q: Which non-playoff team has the best chance to turn things around next season?
— Larry from Mich.
A: I'm going with the Leafs, Larry, because I saw them play a lot of good games this season, only to see them lose, especially in the first half, because of bad goals — and bad goaltending. The net will be improved next season with an experienced Jonas Gustavsson pairing with veteran J-S Giguere from the start.

Also, you'll see GM Brian Burke swap defenseman Tomas Kaberle for a top six forward who will help bolster the scoring. Figure them for a seventh or eighth seed in the East.