Tampa Bay Lightning Come Home Empty Handed from NHL Awards

Jan 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper talks with right wing B.J. Crombeen (19) and center Tom Pyatt (11) on the bench against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning came home empty handed from the NHL Awards tonight.

Coach Jon Cooper, goaltender Ben Bishop and forwards Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat were all up for major awards but didn’t even sniff the silverware.

Cooper, who likely had the best chance of any Lightning member, finished third in Jack Adams voting for coach of the year. Cooper only received five first place votes from the 95 voters, who are made up of NHL broadcasters. Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche took home the award.

Bishop, who was up for the Vezina which is given to the best goalie, also finished third. He received just one first place vote from the 30 NHL general managers. Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins won comfortably.

After setting a franchise record for wins with 37, Bishop also finished 10th in Hart Trophy voting, given to the league MVP. Sidney Crosby, who led the league in points, took home the silverware for the second time in his career.

In Calder Trophy voting, Nathan MacKinnon won the rookie of the year award by a landslide after collecting 130 of 137 first place votes. Palat had five first place votes while Johnson didn’t receive any.

Some good news for the pair of rookies though as both Palat and Johnson were named to the NHL All-rookie team.

Some other Lightning related notes from the night:

• Steve Yzerman finished eighth in the General Manager of the Year Award. Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks finished first.
• The Norris Trophy winner, given to the league’s best defenseman, was Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks. Victor Hedman finished ninth and received one first place vote.
• Palat came home 11th in Frank J. Selke Trophy voting, given annually to the best forward that demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. Johnson finished 20th while Patrice Bergeron took home the silverware.