PPPlayoff and NHL Awards picks

With the regular season come to a close, it's time for every follower of the game's annual traditions.

1. Stanley Cup Playoffs predictions
2. NHL Awards predictions

Luckily for you, our team put together their selections, and the results are either going to be bang on, or hilariously off. Each of the winners below are drawn from 15 of our writers' selections.

NHL Playoffs

Eastern Conference Champion

The Tampa Bay Lighting

It was close, but the Lightning edged the Rangers by three votes.

Western Conference Champion

The St. Louis Blues

This wasn't even close. Eight of our 15 writers have the Blues coming out of the West. Only one other team received more than one vote in the Blackhawks (3).

Stanley Cup Champion

The St. Louis Blues

Of the eight writers who chose the Blues to advance to the finals, five had them winning the cup, followed by Tampa Bay (4). The Blackhawks, Wild, Islanders, Rangers, and Ducks reached received one selection.

The Full Results

NHL Awards

Hart (MVP)

Carey Price

I can't remember a year where it was so clearcut, and a goalie no less. Only draglikepull voted for someone other than Price by selecting Sidney Crosby.

Norris (defensemen)

Erik Karlsson

This was a four-horse race, but Karlsson was the consensus choice, followed by Subban, Weber and Doughty. No other defensemen received votes, which would have surely been different had Shattenkirk and Giordano stayed healthy.

Vezina (goalie)

Carey Price

End of story. Sorry, Rinne, you never had a chance.

Jack Adams (coach)

Tie: Paul Maurice and Bob Hartley

There was no clear favourite here. Maurice (Jets) and Hartley's (Flames) three votes bested Babcock (Red Wings), and Vigneault (Rangers), who received two.

Calder (rookie)

Aaron Ekblad

Stone's late push earned him one vote, Ekblad, a 19-year-old, had the slight edge over Gaudreau by two votes.

Selke (defensive forward)

Patrice Bergeron

The usual characters (Toews, Bergeron, Datsyuk) all received votes, but Bergeron had the clear edge. Pacioretty, Thornton, Hossa, and Kucherov also each received a vote.

GM of the Year

Steve Yzerman

Another close one, with only four GMs receiving a vote. Steve Yzerman (Lightning) came out on top, barely edging out Garth Snow (Islanders), with Poile (Predators), Murray (Sabres), and Bowman (Blackhawks) receiving one vote each. Yes, ElSeldo voted for *that* Murray. "He made a plan and kept working until he achieved it," he said.

The Full Results