Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award — Who To Vote For?
I don’t even want to discuss the last game. Brutal.
What I want to discuss is the annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. This night is one of my favorites of every season, if for no other reason than to see Steven McDonald’s perserverance and the reverence the entire Garden and players have for him. (Even if it does make me feel old to see his son, Conor, grown up.) There’s an energy in the building on this night, regardless of the team’s spot in the standings. Players want to win this award.
The award goes to the player that most goes “above and beyond the call of duty.” To me, this means the player that you look at every night and think “god, he’s got to be tired after this game” or “how is he always trying this hard?” Basically, it’s the kid that in little league other players hated cause the coach always said things like “why don’t you try as hard as Jimmy?,” but you couldn’t hate cause he was a great teammate.
So who’s most deserving this year? There are three candidates remotely worthy, and three only: Gaborik, Callahan, and Lundqvist. Who else could there be? Prospal – but he missed significant time, among other reasons. Dubinsky – missed lots of time too, and still is a little hot-headed. Staal – nah. Drury – hmmm. Close, but his production and leadership (perhaps) were way down this year. And even among the 3 worthy players, there is a clear cut winner.
3. Gaborik
Came out of the gate like gangbusters. Consistently challenged for the league goals lead. 70 games into the season still the league leader in third period goals (16). But more than anything, he carried a team that everyone, including him, knew needed him to do just that. And he did it with the entire opposing team game-planning to stop him each night. He played hard (in his aloof European way). And he encouraged his teammates (remember all those sightings of him talking to Del Zotto or congratulating Dubinsky?). But he tailed off late in the season. Blame it on injuries (leg, groin, etc.), opposing teams’ attention, a slump, indifference, whatever. He tailed off. But perhaps most of all, like many elite players, his game lacks that gritty feel that Steven McDonald award winners typically (and in my opinion) should have. This is the yeoman’s award. Not the star’s award. (Though a star certainly can win it if he also does yeoman’s work.)
2. Callahan
The perennial favorite to win the the award. May one day be renamed the McDonald-Callahan Extra Effort Award. Won it in 2008-09 in his first full year with the team. Does everything in his power, EVERY NIGHT, to help the team win. He does the dirty work. Blocking shots, killing penalties, loose puck battles on the boards, face-washing, hitting (despite his size, top 5 in the league in hits), and adds scoring (second on the team in goals). And the Garden loves him. Certainly the fan favorite. Kind of like a young Adam Graves. There is nothing not to like about Callahan. He has done everything to win this award, and nothing to lose it. In any other year he’s a shoe-in empty-netter to skate up and shake hands with Conor. But this is not any year. Which brings me to our more than deserving winner….
1. Lundqvist
The King is hands down the winner. Not even close. Heidi Montag has a better chance of being on the cover of Perfect 10 than Lundqvist does of losing this award. At MANY times this year he has stood on his head to win games or at least keep the Rangers in games. He has saved 55 shots in a game, given up 5 while being the best player on the ice, talked to the media after every excruciating loss, and given everything he has every game (and he played in a whopping 61 of 70 of them so far). There were some touch-and-go spots in the season, but that is to be expected. He’s a team leader and our best player. And the hardest (well, tied with Cally) worker on the squad. He’s the 2005-06 winner. (And the only goalie to win it other than Vanbiesbrouck in 1989-90, who only co-won it.) You can argue Callahan, but give me Lundqvist as my 2009-10 winner.