TORONTO -- Three nights after winning another Stanley Cup, Martin Brodeur was lauded as the NHL's top goaltender. Finally.

Olympic gold, three championship rings and now, at last, he'll get his name on the Vezina Trophy, which the 30 general managers deemed he deserved at the league's annual awards gala last night.

It was the perfect ending to an over-the-top season for Brodeur, who had league highs of 41 wins and nine shutouts.

The 31-year-old Montrealer, who flashes a smile so often it seems perpetual, continued celebrating the New Jersey Devils' latest championship by carrying the Stanley Cup onto the stage of the CBS Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday night.

He was asked if there's anything left for him to achieve.

"Ask me if it's fun," he replied. "I don't look tired?

"Winning never gets old."

Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche was named most valuable player, Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings best defenceman for the third year in a row, Barret Jackman of the St. Louis Blues rookie of the year (ahead of former London Knight Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who finished third), Alexander Mogilny of the Toronto Maple Leafs most gentlemanly player, Jacques Lemaire of the Minnesota Wild top coach for the second time, and Jere Lehtinen of the Dallas Stars best defensive forward for the third time.

Detroit captain Steve Yzerman got the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey, beating out Steve Rucchin of London and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and Wings teammate Brendan Shanahan got the Clancy Trophy for humanitarian endeavours.

The first all-star team: Forsberg between Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi and Markus Naslund, Al MacInnis of the Blues and Lidstrom on defence and Brodeur in net.

Naslund won the Lester B. Pearson Award earlier in the day as most outstanding player in a league-wide vote by players.

Brodeur also got a share of the Jennings Trophy because New Jersey and Philadelphia finished with fewest goals allowed.

"People always asked, 'You haven't won the Vezina?' Now I've finally got it," he said with satisfaction. "But I never felt overlooked.

"(Dominik) Hasek was so dominant that it was normal that he won it all those years. I always said if I won the Vezina it would be with worse stats than I had in the years Hasek kept beating me."

Brodeur, who made more than $6 million US in salary this season with New Jersey, pockets an additional $400,000 US as a bonus for winning the Vezina.

Forsberg gets a $100,000 US bonus from the Avalanche for winning the Hart. Brodeur, with a $500,000 bonus riding on the MVP award, finished third.

Forsberg also received the Art Ross Trophy for winning the scoring title with 106 points, and teammate Milan Hejduk accepted the Maurice Richard Trophy for his league-high 50 goals.

"I've been very fortunate to play for a good team for a long time," said Forsberg, 29, who was the first Swede to win the Ross and also the first to take the Hart.

Both Forsberg and Naslund grew up in the northern Swedish city of Ornskoldsvik and were born 10 days apart.

Naslund was second in Hart voting by hockey writers.

"I didn't expect this," said Forsberg. "It feels good.

"It was (eight) years ago I was rookie of the year and here I am again."

He has hinted he might play in his homeland next season. He wouldn't say if he'd be back for another season with the Avalanche.

"That's a question I've been asked," he said. "It hasn't been answered yet.

"I will decide soon."

Lidstrom, 33, is the first man to win the Norris three years in a row since Bobby Orr took it home eight straight years through 1975.

"I've never met him," said Lidstrom. "I'd like to meet him and get a picture taken with him."

Lidstrom's 29 minutes 20 seconds ice-time average was highest in the league.

He was third in scoring among defencemen with 62 points, including 18 goals. He edged MacInnis for the Norris.

"I thought MacInnis was going to win," said Lidstrom. "He had a strong season with (Chris) Pronger out."

Jackman, 22, of Trail, B.C., is the first Canadian defenceman since Ray Bourque in 1980 to win the Calder Trophy as top rookie.

He's only the second defenceman in the last 14 years to win it and he is the first Blues player to win it in the team's 36-year history.