HALFWAY AWARDS

What The Puck?!

Written by Chase Howard

As we have passed the halfway mark of the season, this week's What the Puck? will be dedicated to the NHL Awards races. If you want to argue, you know where to find me.

NHL Awards Las Vegas; Source: The Point | Photo from Getty Images

Hart Trophy

• Frontrunner - Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)

• Runner up - Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)

• Dark Horse - Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)

This isn't the best player award, it's the most valuable, and so far this season, that designation belongs to Patrick Kane. The Chicago Blackhawks were supposed to be rebuilding, yet currently, they sit fourth in the Discover central division, and Kane, who sits third in the NHL with 42 points, is the main reason why. Keep in mind he is doing this with rookie center Pius Suter (who?). Don't take my word for it? Here is what Blackhawk's head coach Jeremy Colliton had to say. "His production is better than ever. But to me, it's all about the work ethic away from the puck and willingness to put pressure on the puck and create transition for himself and his linemates too".

Whether fair or not, McDavid is handicapped by his expectations and the immense talent of teammate Leon Draisaitl (last year's Hart winner). However, if he can improve his already impressive numbers, it will be hard to deny him. Until this week, the Leafs were winning, and Matthews was scoring to fuel that engine. However, one of those isn't looking great currently. If the Leafs can get back in the win column and Matthews can maintain, if not expand on his NHL goals lead, he has a good argument.

Lindsay Trophy

• Frontrunner - Connor Mcdavid (Edmonton Oilers)

• Runner up - Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)

• Dark Horse - Anze Kopitar (Los Angles Kings)

OK, this is the best (or most outstanding, by definition) player award, and that is Connor Mcdavid. Mcdavid leads the NHL in Points (58) and Assists (38) while sitting second in goals (20). Currently, it's not that close, as 2nd place has 49, and well, look at that is teammate Leon Draisaitl. McDavid also sits first in offensive point shares and goals created. Need I say more? For info on Kane, see above, and keep in mind that no credit can be heaped on Draisatil for Kane's production thus far. Anze Kopitar is at or near the top in almost all relevant categories for the Los Angeles Kings and has ten more points than the next King (15 over their next best forward). All while remaining as one of the league's top defensive forwards.

Vezina Trophy

• Frontrunner - Marc Andre Fleury (Las Vegas Golden Knights)

• Runner up - Andrei Vasilevsky (Tampa Bay Lightning)

• Dark Horse - Philipp Grubauer (Colorado Avalanche)

Fleury and Vasilevsky were featured heavily on this blog two weeks ago, and not much has changed for them; thus ill keep it brief as I don't want to waste your time (feel free to go back if you need a refresher). Fleury has been particularly strong since now sitting first in shutouts, second in save %, and third in GAA. Vasilevsky remains strong and places the top four in the same categories (behind Fleury in each but first in wins). Grubauer sits second in wins and GAA well being tied with Fleury for first in Shutouts.

Norris Trophy

• Frontrunner - Victor Hedman

• Runner up -Jeff Petry

• Dark Horse - Charlie McAvoy

Victor Hedman is the best skater (sorry Stamkos) on likely the best team in the league, at least right now; he leads the offensive juggernaut in points. This award isn't really up for debate right now. Barring a collapse or injury, this is Hedman's award to lose. Tampa Bay Head coach Jon Cooper early this year remarked, "I would argue that he's playing the best of his career. There are times out there when he's going. He looks like a man among boys." Remember we are talking about a guy who finished 3rd the last two years and won this award three years ago.

Jeff Petry is having a career year for the Montreal Canadiens, bringing his game to a whole new level; he's even above Hedman in point shares. Charlie McAvoy of the Bruins has stepped up again this season. Despite a bevy of injuries besetting Boston's blue line, their defence remains elite, sitting third in goals against per game (2.29). McAvoy's the main reason for this, proving to be the new big dog on Boston's back-end, with Zdeno Chara now in the capital.

Selke Trophy

• Frontrunner - Mark Stone

• Runner up - Patrice Bergeron

• Dark Horse - Aleksander Barkov

Mark Stone is one of the premier two-way forces in the league and sets the tone for the Vegas Golden Knights. Stone sits first in the NHL in takeaways, third in plus-minus, and 7th in points. Patrice Bergeron is always a good bet for this award as a complete player and faceoff ace. The overall defensive strength of his teammates and the outstanding play of Stone keep him in second. Aleksander Barkov has strong defensive numbers, such as his third place in expected plus/minus and his strong possession numbers, but still has areas to improve, such as faceoff percentage.

Rocket Trophy

• Frontrunner - Auston Matthews

• Runner up - Connor McDavid

• Dark Horse - Mikko Rantanen

Matthews just can't help himself. He leads the NHL in goals (21), game-winning goals (7), and is fourth in shots (112). Did I mention he plays with one of the league premier playmakers in Mitch Marner? Connor McDavid is second in goals (20) and sits second in shots and first in ice time among forwards, leading to no shortage of chances. Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche loves scoring in spurts and is getting hot again with four tallies in his last four games, moving him into a tie for fifth with 16 pucks put to the twine.

Lady Byng Trophy

• Frontrunner - Nathan Mackinnon

• Runner up - Anze Kopitar

• Dark Horse - John Tavares

Colorado Avalanche Alpha Nathan Mackinnon is a hockey guy's guy and a class act, always managing to make people look silly and rack up points without penalties or tricks. Anze Kopitar and John Tavares are two under-appreciated vets who don't take penalties and play a strong two-way game.

Calder Trophy

• Frontrunner - Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild)

• Runner up - Tim Stutzle (Ottawa Senators)

• Dark Horse - Vitek Vanecek (Washington Capitals)

Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild has been electric, leading rookies in goals, points, and assists. This award is the closest to closed. Keep on Kirilling them Kaprizov. Tim Stutzle has been great and would have a good chance in other years, sitting second to Kirill in points and assists for the bottom-dwelling Senators. Vanecek has been solid, if not spectacular for the Capitals, but if their other netminders struggle or Vanecek gets hot, they could make this interesting.

Jack Adams

• Frontrunner - Joel Quenneville (Florida Panthers)

• Runner up - Rod Brind'amour (Carolina Hurricanes)

• Dark Horse - Dean Evason (Minnesota Wild)

The Florida Panthers sit tied for first in their division, and head coach Joel Quenneville should be proud. His Panthers started strong and have a 10-1-4 record in one-goal games. Rod Brind'amour has made the Carolina Hurricanes into a smart possession-based team that nobody wants to play. The Minnesota Wild were looking lost to start, but Dean Evanson refused to quit in his first full season behind the bench. Now the Wild are up to third in the Honda West and have only lost thrice on home ice.

Quick Hits

• Buffalo Sabres Coach Ralph Kruger was given the axe this week after the Sabres continued to struggle. Krueger and key assistant Steve Smith were fired on Wednesday. Don Granato, formerly an assistant, is taking over as head coach. Development coaches Dan Girardi, and Matt Ellis are joining Granato's staff as assistants. We all saw this coming. The question is, where does Buffalo go from here? If they play well under Granato, do they give him a serious shot and avoid a rebuild?

• Alexander Ovechkin continued his crusade against crease dwellers this week. Climbing past Phil Esposito (717) into 6th all-time with 718 720 NHL goals. He is now just 12 back of Marcel Dionne (731) for the all-time top five. Ovechkin has now scored in his last five games and moved up to the third spot in all-time game-winning goals (115), trailing Phil Esposito by three. Catch Ovechkin's go-ahead goal HERE.

• Speaking of Russian Rockets, Evgeni "Geno" Malkin recorded his 1100th career point this week. He became the second-fastest active player (935 games) to do so behind teammate Sidney Crosby. Malkin also moved up into 63rd in all-time scoring before sadly being injured in the next game. He is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Still, reading? If so, thank you, and sign up for SPORTS TREE yet? (Here's a reminder if not, sportstree.ca)