Many of the 2015 NHL award races lack a clear favorite entering the final week of the regular season, which is likely to create plenty of debate over the next five days.
On Monday, TSN’s Bob McKenzie revealed the results of his yearly awards poll featuring 20 head coaches from around the league.
Every coach voted Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price for the Hart Trophy. This is hardly a surprising result, given Price’s importance to the Canadiens this season. Entering Monday, Price led the league in save percentage (.935) and goals against average (1.93) for a Montreal team that ranks in the bottom third of many puck-possession metrics and lacks bottom-six scoring.
Erik Karlsson received the most first-place votes (eight) for the Norris Trophy among the coaches polled. The Ottawa Senators captain led all defensemen with 65 points entering Monday, and he’s an excellent puck possession player. He won the award in 2011-12.
The Calder Trophy vote also was close. Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau, a former Boston College star, received eight first-place votes, just ahead of Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. This is one of the most interesting races because Gaudreau and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg — the top two rookie scorers with 61 points — are both playing at a high level for teams battling for playoff position, while Ekblad is having a historic season for a 19-year-old defenseman.
These three awards, and several others, are voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, not the coaches. That said, McKenzie’s results provide an interesting look at which players have most impressed their peers this season.
Thumbnail photo via Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports Images
