"I have to thank Brad Richards,' St. Louis joked of the second-place finisher and former teammate with the Lightning. "He told me that Christmas cards to the referees really work.'
Los Angeles Angels CapsDave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes capped a storybook season by running away with the Jack Adams Trophy, awarded to the League's best coach. Tippett orchestrated a 28-point turnaround by the Coyotes that earned the franchise its first playoff berth since 2002. He was rewarded by earning 291 points, 231 more than Nashville's Barry Trotz, the runner-up. Tippett also received 57 of the 59 first-place votes.
Kansas City Royals Caps"We were a team that nobody gave much of a chance at the start of the year and we used that adversity as a motivating factor throughout our whole group,' he said. "In the end, we probably did a lot more than most people thought, but in Phoenix we think it is just the foundation of what we want to build on.'
Houston Astros CapsWashington goalie Jose Theodore also battled through adversity this season, dealing with the grief of losing his young son, Chase, who died at the start of last season from complications stemming from his premature birth -- and was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for the way he battled through the tragedy.
Los Angeles Dodgers Caps"It's a mixed feeling. It was really tough year, but I'm proud of the way I handled myself,' Theodore said after finishing his teary-eyed speech.The Coyotes' organization took home a second piece of hardware Wednesday night when Shane Doan won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which celebrates charitable and humanitarian contributions by a NHL player.