My awards for the season's best, worst, and unusual

Flames captain Jarome Iginla (49 goals, 94 points, 83 PIM) is a tough customer and fiery leader in a classic mold. AP

Now the moment you have been waiting for, On the Fly's end of season awards -- with a twist.

Most complete player: Jarome Iginla, Flames. He won't win the Hart Trophy, but no one plays more parts of the game than this right winger. Iginla is a modern Gordie Howe with similar passion, toughness and humility. (By the way, those characteristics should be the components of the Gordie Howe hat trick rather than a goal, assist and fight.)

Honorable mentions: Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning; Daniel Alfredsson, Senators; Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings; Paul Stastny, Avalanche

Most pleasant surprise: Mike Ribeiro, Stars. Throughout his career, he had been a one-way center: pretty much his way. Well, in a contract year, Ribeiro wound up signing a five-year, $25-million deal during the season when he became an offensive force (83 points in 76 games through Monday), but also a solid plus player.

Honorable mentions: Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp, who had a career-high 36 goals; Blues right winger Brad Boyes, career-high 41 goals; Avalanche defenseman Jeff Finger; Panthers left winger David Booth; Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller; Blue Jackets goalie Pascal Leclaire, Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman, who had a career high in goals (12) and points (35) and was a plus player for the first time.

Best future among the 2007-08 rookies: Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks. Although injuries likely will derail his Calder candidacy, Toews - a two-way center who scores, hits, wins faceoffs and leads - has an extraordinary upside. Patrick Kane, his superb rookie linemate, might win scoring titles, but Toews will be the backbone when Chicago finally ices a Stanley Cup contender.

Honorable mentions: Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, whose progress allowed them to trade veteran Cristobal Huet at the deadline; the aforementioned Kane.

Best acquisition via trade: Brian Campbell, Sharks. Campbell, plucked at the deadline, was the missing piece for the aimless Sharks: a defenseman who can move the puck smartly to the forwards and run the power play. Considering how emotional he was when the Sabres moved him to the Western Conference, Campbell also is in the running for Lachrymose Valuable Player.

Honorable mention: Ilya Bryzgalov, Coyotes; Huet, Capitals; Joe Corvo, Hurricanes.

Stepping into the breach: Evgeni Malkin, Penguins. No one pulled off a star turn with more élan than Malkin, who thrust himself into the Hart debate with his scoring and virtuosity while captain Sidney Crosby was down due a high-ankle sprain.

Honorable mentions: Colorado's role players in the absence of Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth and Stastny; Carolina's Eric Staal; Pittsburgh's Ty Conklin.

Comeback player: Jeremy Roenick, Sharks. This should be unanimous. Roenick didn't merely return from a sub-par season, as did Montreal's Alexei Kovalev, he returned from quasi-retirement to become a significant contributor to a Cup contender. Roenick embraced a fourth-line role, played with energy, tamped down his massive ego, and scored important goals. He had 10 game- winners -- the same number as Alexander Ovechkin -- among his 14 as he crashed the 500-goal mark.

Honorable mention: Sergei Samsonov, Hurricanes.

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