Who is likely to win an award on Thursday night

	Evgeni Malkin's superb season helped teammate Sidney Crosby reach his potential. Andy Marlin/Getty Images
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The NHL will hand out its annual awards on Thursday night at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET, Versus) and there are some very worthy nominees. If I were a betting man, I'd bet the last piaster I could borrow on the following, although I am not in any way suggesting or condoning gambling. Just a little figure of speech by way of an intro. And now, without further ado:

CALDER TROPHY
(Rookie of the Year)
Nominees: Evgeni Malkin (Penguins), Jordan Staal (Penguins), Paul Stastny (Avalanche)

Malkin was the top rookie scorer, and his 33 goals and 85 points ranked him 18th among all players. He had 40 points on the power play (11th), and 25 of his goals came with his team either trailing or tied. No empty stats there.

Stastny was a second-half revelation, netting 27 goals and 73 points, good for third on the Avs. His record-setting 20-game scoring streak solidified his credentials.

Staal posted some big numbers, especially considering how little ice he saw compared to some other top-end rookies, and his league-leading seven shorties certainly earned him some attention. But the third finalist should have been Kings forward Anze Kopitar, or even San Jose's Marc-Edouard Vlasic, both of whom earned larger roles with their respective teams.

Who should win: Malkin. This one's not even close. Although he obviously hit the wall toward the end of the season, the second overall pick of 2004 fully lived up to his advance billing. As a dangerous second-line counterpoint he provided the extra breathing room that allowed Sidney Crosby to reach his own potential.

Who will win: Malkin

HART TROPHY
(Most valuable)
Nominees: Martin Brodeur (Devils), Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Roberto Luongo (Canucks)

It was another superlative season for Brodeur, who capped it off by winning 48 games to break Bernie Parent's 33-year-old record. Brodeur played 78 games, one short of Grant Fuhr's mark, posted a GAA of 2.18 and led the league in saves (2,011) and shutouts (12).

Luongo revitalized a franchise that was struggling to be mediocre. He tied Parent's mark of 47 wins and had a 2.29 GAA in 76 games. Luongo also was the biggest reason why the Canucks boasted the NHL's top penalty kill.

At 19 Crosby became the youngest player to win a major league scoring title and confirmed his status as the best player in the world. Despite his tender age, he provided leadership that was critical to Pittsburgh's 47-point reversal of fortune from 2005-06.

Who should win: Luongo. Simply put, this edition of the Canucks wasn't any better than the team that missed the playoffs in 2005, but add Luongo to the mix and presto: Northwest Division champs. No other player meant more to his team.

Who will win: Crosby. He's not just the best player in the league, he's the most important player in terms of how the game is perceived and marketed. It won't be an injustice when his name is called.

LADY BYNG TROPHY
(most gentlemanly player)
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings), Joe Sakic (Avalanche), Martin St. Louis (Lightning)

Enough with the mocking of this award. Even a proponent of smashmouth hockey has to recognize that along with the "most gentlemanly" proviso comes a requirement for a "high standard of play." Previous winners include Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Rick Middleton, Brett Hull, Johnny Bucyk and Stan Mikita, along with Datsyuk and Sakic. All those guys could play on anybody's team. They weren't bruisers, but each thrived in the hard areas of the ice.

Datsyuk set himself up for a repeat of last year's win with a virtually identical season (27 goals, 87 points, 20 PiMs).

Sakic, at 37, became the second-oldest player to score 100 points in a season, trailing only Gordie Howe, who had 103 points at age 40 in 1969.

St. Louis seems like a bit of an odd choice because he plays a feistier game than the other finalists. Still, it's hard to ignore the fact that he was whistled for just 28 minutes while scoring 102 points, good for fifth overall.

Who should win: Datsyuk. This cat is the epitome of clean living and high-caliber play.

Who will win: Sakic: His total of 46 PiMs is higher than many would expect for a potential Byng winner, but no player is more respected around the league. If he tripped, slashed or hooked someone, they probably were asking for it.