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| Callahan winning 2008-09 Award |
The
award was first established during the 1987-88 season following detective
McDonald’s shooting on July 12, 1986. The
award in his honor is given out to reward the player that most goes above and
beyond the call of duty to aid the team.
For the past two seasons the winner of the award has been Rangers assistant
captain Ryan Callahan. Callahan will
certainly be a candidate for a third consecutive award, but this year the
competition will be tough based on the sheer number of guys who have given so
much for the team this season.
Given
the way the team has played both in style and character narrowing the list down
was difficult, but the five guys I would take as the best candidates are: Dan
Girardi, Ruslan Fedotenko, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Prust. You could certainly made a case for some
others to be involved in the discussion and that is a testament to the team and
the way they have fought all season long.
Dan Girardi
Tough
to question the candidacy of the guy who leads the league in blocked shots (206)
and is third on the team in hits (162).
Girardi has shown absolutely no hesitation in getting in front on any
opponent’s shot, to the point where it has hurt him at time with deflected
goals, but there is no questioning his effort.
Girardi has also been a quiet leader among the Rangers young defense
core and taken on the added responsibility of playing three more minutes a game
than ever before.
Ruslan Fedotenko
If
you want to gauge the true value of Ruslan Fedotenko and his effort/worth to
this team think about how differently they played when he was out with his
shoulder injury. The team lost a piece
of their identity without arguably their best forechecker in the lineup and
what he did against Florida earlier this year typifies what this team is
about. Not only did he throw himself in
front of the Bryan McCabe blast from the point and take it off the hand, but
afterwards while in serious pain he got right back up and attempt to block more
shots before heading to the bench was what extra effort and commitment to the
team are all about.
Brian Boyle
Part
of the Steven McDonald award for me is not just the effort on the ice, but the commitment
to improvement off of it and Brian Boyle displayed that willingness to do
whatever it takes to be better for his team with his work last summer on his
skating. Based on that work last summer
he has come back a new player who is more capable not just offensively, but in
his ability to effectively use his physical size on opponents. He has translated that into a team leading
203 hits on the season which also ranks him 10th in the NHL. Beyond just the numbers with Boyle is the
trust the team has in him to play in any situation against any opponent and his
work killing penalties with his partner in crime, Brandon Prust, has been huge
for the Rangers not just in keeping pucks out of their net, but sticking them
into the opposition’s. Along with that
Boyle has become one of the team’s key faceoff takers, is always willing to
block a shot and play through the pain while also defending teammates.
Ryan Callahan
Ryan
Callahan is the yearly odd-on favorite to win the award and giving it to him
this year would upset no one as once again he has put in a campaign that does
great honor to the award. Callahan plays
without regard for his own personal health on every shift whether it be
blocking shots, killing penalties, hitting anything that moves, and always
willing for the scrum after the whistle.
Callahan missed 19 games this year, which somewhat hurts his candidacy,
but then you have to realize he missed those game breaking his hand diving in
the way of a shot against the Penguins, so tough to fault him for that. Despite the missed time Callahan is still
third on the team with 189 hits, and his leadership has certainly helped a
young team find its way this season.
Brandon Prust
As
deserving as Callahan and all the others might be this year, for me, Brandon
Prust is the clear cut winner of the Steven McDonald award for 2010-11. You watch this team and the fighting spirit,
that warrior mentality is epitomized by Brandon Prust. Whether it be at even strength or on the penalty kill you know that every shift out there Prust is going to give you maximum effort and then some. Throw away the stats and just watch Prust
play night after night with countless injuries and never complain, never take a
shift off and you cannot help but respect him. Prust will not, even to his own detriment, turn down a fight against
anyone and as much as it may infuriate me as it happens because of his injuries
and situations you love the heart. Prust
is not this team’s best player, but he is leads in the sense that creates an environment
of no excuses around the team. When you
watch a guy play multiple games with a charley horse that is bad enough that
when the game ends he cannot straighten his leg, everyone in that room notices
and refuses to talk injury. After all,
to Prust “It’s just pain,” and for that he should win the 2010-11 Steve
McDonald extra effort award.
Let
me know what you think.
