Cory Conacher (NOR) Named 2011-12 MVP

[chilly666]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that left wing Cory Conacher of the Norfolk Admirals has been named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s most valuable player for the 2011-12 season, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.

Conacher becomes the fourth rookie to win the award since it was first presented in 1947-48, joining Bill Hicke (1958-59), Pelle Lindbergh (1980-81) and Stephan Lebeau (1988-89).

Conacher ranks second in the entire AHL with 35 goals and 75 points, tied for second with 14 power-play goals and tied for third with seven game-winning tallies for league-leading Norfolk heading into the final weekend of the regular season. He has recorded a point in 51 of his 72 games played, with the Admirals showing a 40-11-0-0 record in those contests, and has a plus/minus rating of plus-13 along with 110 penalty minutes for the year. The 22-year-old native of Burlington, Ont., represented Norfolk at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic (where he tallied 2-1-3 in the All-Star Game) and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and AHL Second All-Star Team for 2011-12.

Undrafted out of Canisius College, Conacher signed an AHL contract with Norfolk following training camp and inked a two-year NHL deal with Tampa Bay on Mar. 1.

[wayne19]

well deserved

[FrontLineAdmirals]

Originally Posted by wayne19

well deserved

Maybe so, but Aucoin would have had well over 100 points and probably won the award had the Caps not recalled him.

[sinbin]

We can't wait to see him in a Crunch uniform next season ....

[ShawnDulin]

Originally Posted by FrontLineAdmirals

Maybe so, but Aucoin would have had well over 100 points and probably won the award had the Caps not recalled him.

I am hoping the league is starting to look in a new direction and reward rookies and prospects more than guys who can never be a big part in an NHL team. But Hamel should get the AHL Life time achievement award, maybe even name it after him.

[chilly666]

jody gage or chris taylor would be better choices for that award imo

[4thLineGoon]

Originally Posted by ShawnDulin

I am hoping the league is starting to look in a new direction and reward rookies and prospects more than guys who can never be a big part in an NHL team. But Hamel should get the AHL Life time achievement award, maybe even name it after him.

That would be the worst thing for the league. The A has already taken a hit from the rise of the Euro leagues. They've taken a lot of the AHL vets and given them far better money for less games, leaving a select few who are still clinging to the NHL dream or have families or other reasons to stay stateside. There are enough lousy kids who aren't even prospects but NHL teams justify their place on the team because they used a pick on them.

The top prospects get most of the ice time anyway and the older guys are there to help them along. A lot of fans actually miss having the Jody Gage or Ken Gernander types who provide continuity and leadership to teams rather than having the kids for 2-3 years at a time, whith a constant rotating of vets.

[4thLineGoon]

Also, how bad do Rochester and Milwaukee look for letting Conacher go after last year? He had a goal in 2 games for the Amerks, three goals and two assists in 5 games for the Ads, and yet Norfolk was the one who offered an AHL deal. Hindsight is 20/20 but considering some of the stiffs that got deals based on draft choice and Conacher's huge season, this one hurts!

[wayne19]

Originally Posted by sinbin

We can't wait to see him in a Crunch uniform next season ....

its sad we are losing this norfolk team- the players want to stay but for some reason tampa thinks they can do better closer to other teams.