Award Races (not sure you can call all of these a race though)
As the season begins to wind down and we start gearing up for the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR (playoff Hockey). I figured now would be a good time to do a quick rundown of some of the award races. Are they close? Who is really in contention? Who do I think will win? We will be focusing on the five major individual awards for hockey which for those who don’t know (or are unsure) are as follows.
Hart Memorial Trophy– Awarded to the league’s most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Rocket Richard Trophy– Given to the player who leads the league in goals scored.
Vezina Trophy- Awarded to the league’s best goalie as voted on by the PHWA (see above).
James Norris Trophy– Awarded to the league’s best defensemen as voted on by the PHWA.
Calder Memorial Trophy- Awarded to the best rookie player at the end of each season As voted on by the PHWA
Now that we know what we are looking at let’s jump in and we are going to work from the bottom up.
Calder Memorial Trophy
Last year the Detroit Red Wings’ budding young star Moritz Seider won the award. In doing so he became only the 3rd defenseman since 2010 to take home this honor. The previous two were Florida Panthers Aaron Ekblad in 2014-2015 and the Colorado Avalanches Cale Makar in 2019-2020. This year while we will probably have another defensemen finalist in the Buffalo Sabers Owen Power, the likely winner of this year’s award and current odds on favorite is the Seattle Krakens centerman Matty Beniers.
The Current Favorite- Matty Beniers (-1400)
The 20-year-old Beniers made his NHL debut last year. Getting a brief 10-game sample with the club over the last few weeks of last season. His cup of coffee last year was short enough to keep his rookie eligibility intact heading into this season. He has only missed 2 games with the Kraken this year and while he hasn’t quite been as flashy as some past forwards who have won this award he has put together a fine season. He currently is 2nd in all rookie skaters with 19 goals (1 behind Dallas Stars Wyatt Johnston). While also being 2nd amongst rookies in assists behind only Coyotes forward Matias Maccelli (32 to 30). While he probably won’t crack the 66 points put up by Canucks forward Elias Petterson back in 2018-2019 (in only 71 games) or come near the points per game averages of the Wilds Kirill Kaprizov from his 2020-2021 campaign (51 points in 55 games) his ability to perform on both sides of the ice has been crucial in what looks to be the Krakens first playoff berth.
The Rest of the Pack- Mason McTavish (+1800), Owen Power (+1800)
McTavish has really gotten it going here in the 2nd half of the season. Scoring 10 of his 16 goals since the calendar turned to 2023. He was actually taken with the pick AFTER Beniers in that 2021 draft going 3rd overall to the Ducks. Unlike Beniers who was playing top 6 minutes from very early on in the season, McTavish’s foray into top 6 minutes has been more recent with the ducks currently being without Adam Henrique. Nevertheless, McTavish has answered the bell and been performing almost willing the ducks to a come-from-behind win Sunday night against the currently surging Predators. Power on the other hand is a very rare blend for a defenseman. Coming in at 6 ft 6 and weighing approximately 218 lbs. This massive 20-year-old can bring the wood and score points. It’s impressive whenever you see a young man of his age playing 23+ minutes a night while also producing at a 40+ point pace.
Others worth Mentioning
Cole Perfetti- One of only 5 rookies averaging over 0.55 points per game while playing at least 42 contests.
Matias Maccelli- 2nd amongst rookies in points per game with 0.71 points per game (behind Beniers)
Juuso Parssinen- the last of the 5 rookies to be averaging over 0.55 Points per game
James Norris Trophy
Cale Makar had an incredible season last year. Winning the Norris, a Stanley Cup, and the Conn Smythe all in one year. Despite being outscored by Preds defenseman Roman Josi (96 to 86) and receiving less 1st place votes than Josi (98-92) he won the trophy anyway. This year’s current favorite Erik Karlsson looks to be the first non-first-time winner since, well himself in 2014-2015.
The Current Favorite- Erik Karlsson (-350)
Karlsson has had a resurgent season this year in San Jose. After a solid first year in San Jose (2018-2019), Karlsson’s play seemed to fall off the last 3 seasons. A rash of injuries (he didn’t play more than 56 games in any season) and a decrease in points (down to 0.67 his first 4 years in San Jose compared to 0.83 in Ottawa) seemed like Karlsson was on the back nine of his career. Well clearly, we were wrong. He is averaging 1.21 points per game this year (a new career high). He has 16 more points than any other defenseman in hockey. The downside of Karlsson is well his defense. His -14 rating is the worst among the top 20 scoring defensemen matched only by Ducks defensemen Cam Fowler (who has less than half as many points).
The Rest of the Pack – Adam Fox (+750) and Josh Morissey (+1000)
While Fox is having a fine season scoring (62 points in 69 games) he does not currently rank in the top 5 scoring defensemen this year. The defensive side is where he has really shined. Currently leading all defensemen in takeaways with 76. Morissey on the other hand is having an offensive explosion compared to his career numbers. His 37 points last season were the most he had ever scored in a season and he’s more than doubling that pace this year, currently on pace for an 80-point season.
Others worth Mentioning
Rasmus Dahlin– 4th in Ice time at 25:39 per game and on pace to flirt with 80 points could easily pass Morissey with a strong finish to the season.
Cale Makar– Injuries have hurt as he has only played in 55 games this year but when healthy this is basically the same Makar as last year’s Norris’s winner.
Vezina Trophy
Igor Shesterkin was your 2022 winner, and the race wasn’t all that close. He led the league with a .935 Sv% and 2.07 GAA. This combined with a 36-win season (in 53 starts) made Igor the easy choice in 2022. This year’s race is somehow even easier to decide.
The Current Favorite- Linus Ullmark (-1000)
Not really a whole lot to dive in on here. Ullmark leads the league in SV% GAA and Wins (.935, 1.97, 34 Wins). The only knock some may have on him is he has not started as many games as some of his peers. Only 41 starts with ranks 16th amongst goalies. It will likely not matter though based on how dominant he has been. The Bruins have gotten 69 of a possible 82 points in games he’s started.
The Rest of the Pack- Ilya Sorokin (+1100)
In any other season, Sorokin may be the favorite to win the award. A .925 SV% while also having a GSAE (Goals saved above expected) of 32.7 is clearly Vezina caliber. The issue is Ullmark has just been better. It is a shame for Sorokin as this phenomenal season will likely only result in him being a Vezina finalist but this season should not go unnoticed.
Others worth Mentioning
Connor Hellebuyck
Igor Shesterkin
Jake Oettinger
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Juuse Saros
I just felt we should recognize how good of seasons these goalies are having but no none of them are winning the award and only one will even end up a finalist with the 2 others previously mentioned.
Rocket Richard Trophy
Auston Matthews has taken home this honor the last 2 years. Being this award is for whoever leads the league in goals there isn’t a whole lot to discuss. Connor McDavid currently leads the pack with 58 goals 11 ahead of David Pastrnak. Like the Hart trophy this year McDavid appears to be running away with this one.
The Current Favorite- Connor McDavid (-125)
If you can find a sportsbook willing to take your bet for McDavid to win the Rocket and the odds are -125, I would bet my life savings on it. Unfortunately, these odds are likely outdated and not being updated anymore as it seems it’s been pulled off the board at most sports books. He is having a historic season and should run away with this award.
The Rest of the Pack- David Pastrnak (+140)
“Pasta” is having a great season in his own right (47 goals and 45 assists) earning every bit of the big new contract he just got. Unfortunately for him what McDavid is doing is historic.
Others worth Mentioning
Mikko Rantanen- In a normal year Mikko might have been a Hart favorite
Leon Draisaitl- If he didn’t play with McDavid and put up these numbers he would be looked at as one of the 3 best players in hockey.
Hart Memorial Trophy
The BIG ONE. The Most Valuable player. Last year Auston Matthews took home this award along with the Rocket Richard. This year it seems likely McDavid will do the same. He is currently leading the league in goals (58) assists (76) and total points (134). He is having the best offensive season we have seen from any forward since Mario Lemieux put up 160 in 1995-1996.
The Current Favorite- Connor McDavid (-5000)
Can we call him the favorite if he’s already won the award? With this award, it will be McDavids 3rd Hart trophy putting him in ELITE company. Only 8 other players have won 3 or more Hart’s in their career. The most recent was Alexander Ovechkin who won his 3rd in 2013. This victory for McDavid will also mark the 13th Hart trophy winner for the Oilers putting them behind only the Montreal Canadiens for most Hart trophy winners for a franchise.
The Rest of the Pack- David Pastrnak (+3000), Linus Ullmark (+4000)
Pasta and Ullmark are both having amazing seasons. Both would be worthy of this award in any other season. This year is just not going to be it though.
Others worth Mentioning
Jason Robertson- Leading what many feel is the best team in the west and on pace for close to 100 points
Mikko Rantanen- He has kept this Avalanche team in the playoff hunt despite injuries to Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar.