After last year, but not this year. Konstantinov began the year recovering from a summertime tennis injury. Leetch, who won the award in 1992 and the favorite this time, led all defensemen with 78 points and did not miss a game for the fourth straight season. Ozolinsh, like Konstantinov, is a first-time nominee. He led defensemen with 23 goals and had just two fewer points than Leetch, on a team with more firepower than anyone else in the league.
Some people never see the guy play.
It's a tough vote. Just getting nominated is an accomplishment. It is the first time in his six-year career that Konstantinov has been recognized as one of the best in the game. He has a good shot to earn a spot on the league's postseason All-Star teams as well. He also overcame the bias against European players, especially rigid for defensive defensemen, and his reputation as a dirty player.