Tortorella, Bobrovsky take home top awards
LAS VEGAS — What happened in Vegas is not staying in Vegas for the Blue Jackets. After a threeday getaway, they’ll return to Columbus with some major hardware.
On Wednesday night, coach John Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, and Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, the second time each player has won the award.
Bobrovsky also landed a spot on the NHL’s firstteam All-Star Team, while rookie defenseman Zach Werenski was named to the All-Rookie Team.
It gave the Blue Jackets a big presence at the NHL Awards Show held at T-Mobile Arena.
One night earlier, captain Nick Foligno was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Award and the Mark Messier Leadership Trophy for his leadership and charitable works.
“I’m standing in for the organization (with this award),” Tortorella said, who also won the award in 2004 with Tampa bay. “I’m just thrilled for our organization that there’s a little bit of recognition going into the off-season.
“I hope it fuels us coming up to next season because … we had a hell of a year, but the hard stuff starts
next season.”
The Blue Jackets set franchise records with 50 wins and 108 points last season, finishing with the fourth- best record in the NHL.
Bobrovsky was a huge part of that, leading the league in save percentage (. 932) and goals- against average ( 2.06) and finishing second with 41 wins.
Since the rules of the Vezina Trophy were redefined in 1982, Bobrovsky is only the sixth goaltender to win the award multiple times.
Three of the previous five are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the others — Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas — could be headed there soon.
“It’s a great evening,” Bobrovsky said in accepting the award. “There are so many great goaltenders in this league. It’s special to be here on this stage.
“I want to say thank you to my teammates. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be here. I want to say thank you to the whole Blue Jackets organization, for the opportunity, for believing in me. I know we’ve had some tough times the last three years, but it’s good that we’re going the right direction now.”
Tortorella received 39 of 105 first- place votes and finished well ahead of Toronto’s Mike Babcock and Edmonton’s Todd McLellan in voting done by NHL broadcasters. He also won the award in 2004 when he guided Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup.
Bobrovsky, who also won the Vezina in 2013, received 25 of 30 votes in voting among general managers.
The Jackets had some down- ballot success, too.
Bobrovsky finished Boston
Ryan Kesler, Anaheim; Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Jose
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Auston Matthews, Toronto Patrik Laine, Winnipeg; David Poile, Nashville Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton; Pierre Dorion, Ottawa third in voting for the Hart Trophy, given to the most valuable player.
Werenski finished third in voting for the Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary
Mikael Granlund, Minnesota; Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis
Braden Holtby, Washington; Carey Price, Montreal Connor McDavid, Edmonton
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
Calder Trophy, given to the league’s top rookie.