Claude Julien of the Bruins has been chosen as the coach of the year, earning 35 first-place votes from the NHL Broadcasters? Association, according to an Associated Press report. Julien won the award Thursday night in Las Vegas after guiding the Bruins to the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Boston?s Zdeno Chara has edged Washington?s Mike Green to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman, according to an Associated Press report. Chara beat Green and Detroit?s Nicklas Lidstrom for the award on Thursday night in Las Vegas.

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is the NHL?s MVP for the second straight year after leading the league with 56 goals, according to an Associated Press report. Ovechkin beat fellow Russian finalists Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins and the Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk on Thursday night. He also won the Lester Pearson Award awarded by the NHL Players? Association to the most outstanding player.

Tim Thomas has been picked overwhelmingly by NHL general managers as the league?s top goalie, according to an Associated Press report. Thomas earned 22 first-place votes to take the Vezina Trophy. Columbus? Steve Mason, awarded the Calder Trophy earlier Thursday night as rookie of the year, was the next closest finalist with three first-place votes. Minnesota?s Niklas Backstrom received one.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason has been awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy, given annually ?to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League,? the League and club announced tonight. The other finalists for the Calder Trophy, which was handed out at the 2009 NHL Awards held at the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas, were Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan and Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg. ?I just want to say congrats to Bobby and Kris on their tremendous seasons,? Mason said. ?This is a tremendous honor for myself. There have been so many people who have helped me along the way to make this possible. First off, I would like to thank my family, who has been with me since the beginning. I would like to thank the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, starting with the McConnell family, coach Ken Hitchcock and (general manager) Scott Howson and the rest of the Blue Jackets staff for giving me the opportunity to prove that I can play at this level. My teammates deserve a huge thanks, for without them, none of this would have been possible. ?Another reason that I am here is my mentor and goalie coach Dave Rook. I can?t thank him enough for transforming my game into what it is today. A big thanks goes to my billets in London and Kitchener, who put up with me for three years. I would also like to thank my family and buddies back home in Oakville, your support has never gone unnoticed. To all the supportive Blue Jackets fans, you guys are awesome in Columbus and are a ton of fun. To the sportswriters association who voted for me, thank you.? Mason, 21, went 33-20-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 61 games this season. His 10 shutouts led the NHL, set a franchise record and were the most by a rookie since Chicago?s Tony Esposito posted a rookie record 15 in 1969-70. He ranked second in the NHL in goals-against average and tied for ninth in wins. He posted three-straight shutouts on Dec. 27 vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 29 at Los Angeles and Dec. 31 at Anaheim and in the process set a club record for consecutive shutout minutes by a goaltender at 199:19 between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. He was twice named the NHL Rookie of the Month, winning the award in November (5-2-1, 2.09 GAA, .919 SV%, two shutouts in eight games) and December (7-5-0, 1.41 GAA, .950 SV%, three shutouts in 12 games). He made a career-high 47 saves on Dec. 17 in a 2-1 OT win vs. San Jose and made 45 saves on Jan. 9 in a 3-0 win at Washington. The Oakville, Ontario native was the Blue Jackets? third pick, 69th overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft. Mason is the first Blue Jackets player to be awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy. In 2002-03, forward Rick Nash was a finalist for the league?s top rookie honor, which was awarded to St. Louis defenseman Barrett Jackman.

The NHL is boosting the spotlight on its annual awards ceremony, and Capitals star Alex Ovechkin hopes that means repeat honors for him as MVP, according to an Associated Press report. Ovechkin scored a league-high 56 goals during the regular season and will learn Thursday night whether it is enough to snag the Hart Memorial Trophy again.

Evgeni Malkin didn?t score a goal in the last three games of the Stanley Cup finals, but he led all playoff scorers with 36 points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy on Friday night as the Penguins beat the Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7. Malkin was in tears as he realized what he accomplished a year after doing little offensively with one goal and two assists as the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in six games. This time, he had two goals, six assists, a big smile and a trophy to lift.