The NHL playoff race is intensifying by the day, but the awards races also are heating up with just a few weeks left in the regular season.
A few of the league’s superstar players, including Hart Trophy candidate Patrick Kane and Norris Trophy candidate Mark Giordano, have suffered injuries that will keep them out of the running for end-of-the-year awards. Many of these awards races lack a clear cut favorite as a result, which should add to the excitement as the regular season draws to a close.
Here’s NESN.com’s latest edition of NHL Awards Tracker.
Hart Trophy
1. John Tavares, New York Islanders
2. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
3. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Tavares leads the NHL in scoring with 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) for an Islanders team that has become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season. His linemate Kyle Okposo recently missed 20 games with an injury, but the Islanders kept winning because Tavares tallied 27 points in that span. Tavares also is playing more than 20 minutes per game, has a 52.2 faceoff percentage and is driving puck possession with an impressive 55.4 Corsi-for percentage at even strength. He does nearly everything well for the Islanders.
Norris Trophy
1. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
2. P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
3. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Doughty leads NHL defensemen with an average ice time of 29:20 per game, while also tallying 39 points (five goals, 34 assists) through 69 games. He’s also driving puck possession with a 56.3 Corsi-for percentage at even strength despite playing against opposing teams’ top lines. Doughty’s responsibilities increased when Willie Mitchell left in free agency and Slava Voynov got suspended, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist still has consistently played at a high level in both even strength and special teams situations.
Note: Mark Giordano was the clear favorite for this award until he suffered a season-ending bicep injury earlier this month.
Vezina Trophy
1. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
2. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
3. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
In most other seasons, Schneider would be the favorite for this award. He’s had a remarkable season on a bad New Jersey Devils team.
However, Price is having a historic campaign and is carrying a Montreal team that ranks 22nd in goals scored per game and in the bottom third of many puck possession metrics to the top of the Atlantic Division. He also leads all goaltenders in wins (38), goals against average (1.95) and save percentage (.935).
Selke Trophy
1. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
3. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Bergeron is the gold standard when it comes to two-way forwards. The Bruins center has ranked among the best puck possession players throughout the season and helps the Bruins account for the majority of scoring chances at even strength, as the chart below shows. This success is even more impressive when you factor in the tough defensive zone starts Bergeron often receives.
| Even Strength 5v5 | CF% | CF% Rel | SCF% | SCF% Rel |
| Patrice Bergeron | 58.9 | 9.6 | 60.7 | 12.6 |
| NHL Rank (Forwards W/750+ TOI) | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Bergeron also ranks first in faceoffs won (962) and faceoff percentage (59.9). He’s faced the eighth-toughest competition among forwards, per Behindthenet.ca.
Calder Trophy
1. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
2. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
3. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Ekblad is having a historically good season for an 18-year defensemen. He’s averaging 22:17 per game and has tallied 34 points (11 goals, 13 assists) through 69 games. Ekblad is providing scoring production, playing excellent defense and is reliable in all types of situations. He’s one of the main reasons why the Panthers were in the playoff race for most of the season.
Jack Adams Award
1. Peter Laviolette, Nashville Predators
2. Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers
3. Paul Maurice, Winnipeg Jets
The Predators are just 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, but it would be foolish to overlook the astounding improvement they’ve shown in Laviolette’s first season behind the bench. Nashville is scoring more goals, giving up fewer goals and controlling more puck possession than it did last season. Several of the team’s younger players, specifically rookie winger Filip Forsberg, have taken a step forward in their development under Laviolette.
Many experts predicted the Preds wouldn’t make the playoffs, but as of this writing, it’s nearly impossible for them to miss the postseason.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
