The only award show I watch

Five things about last night's NHL awards ceremony in Toronto:

~ Perhaps it was a bit too predictable, but the NHL's awarding of its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Gordie Howe was pretty darn touching. I can't help but wonder, though, if that award will someday be named after Mr. Hockey.

~ It was nice to see Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier honored across the league for his philanthropic efforts, winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. Then again, Hockey Bay has known about Vinny's off-the-ice contributions for some time.

~ I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised that Washington's Bruce Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award, for the NHL's best coach. Long before he took his spot behind the Capitals' bench, I watched quite a few games when he was coach of the AHL's Manchester (N.H.) Monarchs. Though he had a tough time getting the Monarchs deep into the playoffs, he led the Hershey Bears to the 2006 Calder Cup championship.

~ Someone from the Anchor Bar ought to send Chicago's Patrick Kane a couple heaping, steaming plates of chicken wings for his shout-out to Buffalo during his acceptance speech after winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. As a native western New Yorker, it's always sweet to see a Buffalo kid do good.

~ For as long as Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk has played in the NHL, don't you think that his English would be a bit better by now. I must admit, though, his acceptance speeches for winning the Frank Selke (defensive forward) and Lady Byng (gentlemanly player) trophies had to be among the shortest in award show history.