Bruins' Chara, Thomas To Represent Boston In Las Vegas, Who Is B's Biggest NHL Award Snub?

Things we'd bet on happening tonight at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas: Dan Bylsma winning the Jack Adams. Zdeno Chara winning the Norris Trophy. Ryan Kesler's terrible hair winning the Selke. Brad Marchand dancing topless on at least three bars. One of the Sedin sisters crying about something, win or lose. 

Oh, and Tim Thomas winning the Vezina.

There are, to be sure, an awful lot of sure-thing award winners tonight. But in the interest of contributing to the squabble surrounding the event, a better - and certainly more intriguing - question is this: of each member of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, which one should be in Vegas, but isn't?

Marchand, to be sure, would have been a great candidate for the Calder Trophy - but his slow start probably hindered and his reputation may have preceded him when finalists were voted on.

Patrice Bergeron should be a finalist for the Selke. If Kesler is, there's no reason that Bergeron - despite having less points and a slightly lower plus-minus - shouldn't.

But, submitted for your consideration, the biggest snub is actually Thomas. Yes, the Conn Smythe, presumed Vezina and Stanley Cup aren't enough. The guy deserves the Hart Trophy as well. And if you disagree, just look at the way in which the Bruins hung Tuukka Rask out to dry, and consider the situation the team would have been in had Thomas played at that same level.

Corey Perry or Daniel Sedin can have the Lindsay. But give Thomas - the guy who pumped his team's blood and tires all year - the Hart.