LAS VEGAS: Canadian forward Corey Perry beat out Daniel Sedin and Martin St. Louis to win the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player trophy during the annual awards show Wednesday. The Anaheim Ducks forward collected the Hart Trophy for being MVP after scoring a league-high 50 goals this season, including 19 goals in his final 16 games. “I didn't expect this,” Perry said. “But like I said earlier, I can't do this without my teammates and my linemates.” The 26-year-old from Toronto beat out NHL scoring champ Daniel Sedin whose twin Swedish brother, Henrik, took home the MVP title last season. Perry had already won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer. Canada's St. Louis, who finished with 68 assists this season, earned a consolation prize as he was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play. The Sedins own the past two scoring titles. Daniel won it this season with 104 points — including 41 goals while Henrik finished with 99 points. Henrik also had 75 assists. Detroit's veteran defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom of Sweden returned to the awards platform by winning his seventh Norris Trophy as the top defenceman. Lidstrom beat out Nashville's Shea Weber of Canada and Boston's Zdeno Chara of Slovakia. Lidstrom, who needs one more Norris to tie Bobby Orr with eight, won the award for the first time since 2008. American Tim Thomas added his second Vezina Trophy to go with the Stanley Cup ring he earned earlier this month with the Boston Bruins. Thomas set an NHL record for save percentage when he finished at .938, surpassing Dominik Hasek's .937. Thomas also had a league-leading 2.00 goals-against average. Thomas beat out Vancouver Canucks goalie Robert Luongo, who was the losing goalie in the Stanley Cup final. It was a double blow for Luongo, who found himself being outplayed by Thomas on a nightly basis during the NHL championship which Boston won in seven games. Dan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins earned the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year, and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks won the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward. Jeff Skinner, the 19-year-old rising star of the Carolina Hurricanes, won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Hardnosed veteran forward Ian Laperriere won the Masterton Memorial Trophy for dedication and perseverance after coming back from a horrible injury in last year's playoffs where he was hit in the face with a slapshot. “It has been a really, really tough year,” Lapperriere said.
