The Avalanche announced today that the organization will officially retire number 21 in honor of former Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg. The Avalanche will raise Forsberg's #21 in a special ceremony prior to the start of the club's 2011-12 season opener on Saturday, Oct. 8 against the Red Wings at Pepsi Center. Forsberg's #21 will be the fourth sweater number retired in the 16-year history of the Colorado Avalanche, joining Ray Bourque (77), Patrick Roy (33) and Joe Sakic (19). Forsberg will be the eighth player in franchise history to have his sweater number retired, as the Quebec Nordiques retired the jerseys of Peter Stastny (26), Michel Goulet (16), Marc Tardif (8) and J.C. Tremblay (3).

Longtime Blackhawks and Stars goalie Ed Belfour was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on his first try, it was announced on Tuesday. He will enter the Hall with Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Mark Howe. The four former NHL stars were chosen by the hall's 18-member selection committee. The induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 14.

Dan Bylsma of the Penguins has won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year, according to an Associated Press report on Wednesday night. Bylsma led the Penguins to the playoffs despite the absences of stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who both missed much of the season.

After a two-year break, Nicklas Lidstrom is the NHL’s top defenseman again, according to an Associated Press report. The Red Wings star won the Norris Trophy on Wednesday night for the seventh time in his 19-season NHL career. Lidstrom tied Doug Harvey as a seven-time winner, one behind record-holder Bobby Orr.

Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Calder Trophy on Wednesday, beating out San Jose's Logan Couture and Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Tim Thomas has a second Vezina Trophy to go with his recent Stanley Cup title. The Bruins goalie earned top NHL honors on Wednesday after a stellar season that culminated in the championship.

Ducks forward Corey Perry, who scored a league-best 50 goals, won the Hart Trophy on Wednesday night. His surprise win came at the expense of scoring champion Daniel Sedin of the Canucks, who was trying to complete an unprecedented MVP double dip after his twin brother and teammate Henrik took the honors last year.

Tim Thomas grabbed the Conn Smythe Trophy and took it for a long skate. The Bruins goalie was named the MVP of the NHL postseason on Wednesday night with a spectacular run to his first Stanley Cup title. "It's quite an honor. I mean, the Stanley Cup is the biggest one, that's the one you're shooting for. But Conn Smythe is completely an honor," the 37-year-old goalie said after shutting out the Canucks 4-0 to win Game 7 of the NHL finals and help the Bruins earn their first title since 1972.

USA Hockey announced last week that Hobey Baker winner and Coyotes prospect, Andy Miele was honored as the College Hockey Player of the Year, presented by Bauer Hockey. Miele had an outstanding 2010-11 season helping lead Miami University (OH) as a team captain to its first-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship, while becoming the first RedHawk to capture the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's top collegiate player. Miele outpaced the college hockey field in both assists (47) and points (71) and led the nation with 1.82 points-per-game.