The good old NHL awards. Something that everyone debates about all offseason long. Let’s do that a few months early, shall we? These are my predictions for each award, but they’re also my Mid Season Awards. Things may change, and players may start struggling or picking things up. So let’s get right into the awards without a runner-up.
The Art Ross Trophy
It's pretty easy to guess this one. McDavid is the best offensive player in the game, and it isn’t very close. His 52 points in 30 games give him a 97 point pace so far this season. In a 56 game season. His 7 games so far against Ottawa probably make that the number that it is. I don’t expect him to hit 100, but he’ll certainly win the Art Ross.
The Maurice Richard Trophy
Auston Matthews has taken the throne of the best goal scorer in the NHL. After last season I thought David Pastrnak took the crown from Ovechkin, but it just is Matthews. There isn’t much of a debate here, as his 21 Goals in 26 Games speaks for itself. This is probably the first of many Richard Trophies for Matthews.
The Jack Adams Award
Winner: Barry Trotz
The Islanders are currently in 1st place in the toughest division in the NHL right now. Even with a roster that isn’t as good on paper as it was last season, Barry Trotz still finds a way. Right now he’s the best coach in the NHL, and he deserves his third Jack Adams Award.
Runner Ups: Joel Quenneville and Rod Brind’Amour
Quenneville is right up there next to Trotz as the front runner for this award. Florida has been great so far this season and having such a quick turnaround after 4 seasons of not making the round of 16 in the playoffs. He’s coached a team that lost a lot of depth in the offseason to a position they haven’t been in in a long time.
Rod Brind’Amour has led the Hurricanes to a similar record as the Islanders and the Panthers. This team made it to the conference finals in 2019, and people thought it was a fluke. Brind’Amour has this team looking like a real contender right now.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Winner: Aleksander Barkov
He’s been in the Selke conversation for a while now, and it’s about time he finally wins one. He has captained the Florida Panthers to one of the best records in the NHL, and he’s having his best season defensively. He’s fantastic on both sides of this ice and deserves to win this one.
Runner Ups: Sidney Crosby and Anze Kopitar
It’s still amazing to me that Sidney Crosby hasn’t won a Selke Trophy. He doesn’t get recognized enough for his amazing defensive play. He’ll be very close with Barkov for this one, and I do hope he wins it. Barkov has a lot more Selke-level seasons left in him, and Crosby probably doesn't. They're very close.
Kopitar is one of the most underappreciated players in the NHL. He’s such a fantastic player that won 2 Stanley Cups in his defensive prime. He’s picked it back up again this season, and I expect him to be in Selke conversation. O’Reilly, Bergeron, and Couturier aren’t too far from this 3rd spot.
Calder Memorial Trophy
Winner: Kirill Kaprizov
Kaprizov is the easy pick this year. He’s come into the NHL from the KHL and played just how I expected him to. Kaprizov has helped make Minnesota a more exciting team, and he’s certainly putting eyes on them. He leads the team, and rookies, with 23 points on the season in 25 games.
Runner Ups: Kevin Lankinen and Kaapo Kahkonen
Lankinen is legit for the Blackhawks. So far in 19 starts for this team, he was a record of 10–5–4, with a 0.917 Save% and a 2.79 GAA. I thought that Chicago was going to have goaltending problems this season, but I also didn’t expect this from Lankinen whatsoever.
Like Lankinen, Kahkonen has been fantastic for the Wild. In 15 games he has an 11–4–0 record, with a 0.922 Save% and a 2.19 GAA. I knew that Kahkonen was ready for an NHL role but I didn’t think that he would take the Starter role from Cam Talbot, he’s been fantastic.
Ted Lindsay Award
Winner: Patrick Kane
I understand that Chicago might just be on a hot streak. But right now, in Toews’ absence, Kane is leading them to the playoffs. The Central Division is stacked this year. I mean the team that made the Stanley Cup Finals isn’t even in the playoffs. His 79 point pace through 29 games, really shows what Kane has been able to do for this team.
Runner Ups: Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews
This award means who’s most valuable to their team. With the two leading scorers in the NHL being Edmonton Oilers, I’m not sure that McDavid is the most valuable to his team. He’s the best player in the world, but the Oilers would still be an alright team, not nearly as good, but they have Draisaitl.
Same with the Maple Leafs. Matthews has been the best goal scorer in the NHL and has led the Leafs to the best record in the North Division. The Leafs are also tied for first in the NHL. In 3 games without Matthews this season, Toronto has gone 3–0. Like the Oilers, they won’t be better off without Matthews, but they might still be a playoff team in the North.
Vezina Trophy
Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy
With a 17–3–1 record and a 0.934 Save%, Vasilevskiy is proving that he’s still one of the best netminders in the NHL. He’s been fantastic, and it has been his best season analytically. It looks like he has taken another step, somehow that’s possible. Tampa is still very scary.
Runner Ups: Marc-Andre Fleury and Semyon Varlamov
Will Fleury ever actually age? He’s 36, and yet he looks better than he ever has this season. We’re only 19 games in, so his numbers may drop off. But his 0.935 Save % and 14–5–0 record speak for themselves so far. It will certainly be close between him and Vasy.
No one is talking about Varlamov this season. I have no clue why, he’s been unreal for the Islanders. A 0.929 Save% and a 13–4–3 record are the best numbers he’s put up since 2013–2014 in Colorado. He does have a great defensive system in front of him, but that doesn’t take away from what he’s done.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Winner: Victor Hedman
Just like 2019, the Lightning has taken the Vezina and the Norris Trophy. Hedman has been great defensively and offensively. His 5 Goals and 26 Points in 26 Games are currently leading the league amongst defensemen. He’s been the backbone of this team's defence, and he’s done a great job doing it.
Runner Ups: Cale Makar and Charlie McAvoy
If it wasn’t for Makar having only played 15 games so far, he would be my front runner. He has played fantastic in those 15 games, putting up 14 points, as well as being great defensively. He is the real deal, and he’ll be a multiple-time Norris Trophy winner by the end of his career.
Charlie McAvoy is a great, underrated defenseman, and I think this season people are recognizing his talents. Everyone knew that he was spectacular defensively, but the thing most people criticized about his play was how he wasn’t great offensively. Well, his 17 points in 25 games this season speak otherwise.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Winner: Connor McDavid
Look, I understand the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay have the same meaning, but I don’t think McDavid will get them both. McDavid has been the best player in the NHL this season. He’s helped carry his team into a top 3 spot in his division. The idea that him hitting 100 points in 56 games is even possible should show this.
Runner Ups: Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews
I already said what I said about these two. Patrick Kane has been fantastic so far for Chicago and has carried them with Toews and Dach being injured so far. If they make the playoffs it’s solely because of Kane.
Auston Matthews is showing just how good he is at goal-scoring this season. He’s always been great, but I think a 45 goal pace in 56 games shows that he’s hit another level.