Washington Capitals Team Awards 2014-2015

Washington Capitals Awards: Barry Trotz Memorial Trophy

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Barry Trotz Memorial Trophy is the Washington Capitals equivalent of the Lady Byng Trophy, which goes to the player who demands a trade over being snubbed from his team’s preliminary Olympic roster “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability“. There were several contenders for this award. Kuznetsov was quite gentlemanly other than his goal celebrations and only had 24 penalty minutes. If Joel Ward isn’t gentlemanly, I don’t know what gentlemanly is. Karl Alzner was a strong contender, but he grew a rugged beard instead of his usual gentlemanly mustache. That left one gentlemanly player: Marcus Johansson.

Marcus Johansson exhibited great sportsmanship throughout the season, only committing five minor penalties. If I recall correctly, two of them were of the bogus “delay of game” variety. Since the “delay of game” penalty was basically only created in a desperate attempt to create more scoring, I don’t really consider delay of game to be a penalty. Johansson is so gentlemanly, I bet he’s sipping tea with his pinkie finger up in the air while wearing a monocle and top hat as you read this.

Johansson also set a high standard of playing ability for the Washington Capitals this season. He had a career year. He had a 20 goal season and proved that he could have success away from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. He was a very important part of the second line and was often their most reliable player. He had 138 shots on goal, which was a HUGE improvement over what he did in 2013-2014.

Next: Olaf Kolzig Foundation Player Award