NHL awards at the quarter mark: Lightning duo sizzling atop MVP race
The NHL season is only 47 days old, but history shows that teams not in a playoff position on Thanksgiving will have a difficult time getting there by the end of the season.
With 309 games already played, we will be at the quarter pole of the season this week.
Paste BN Sports NHL columnist Kevin Allen and NHL editor Jimmy Hascup weigh in with their award front-runners.
Hart Trophy (MVP)
Allen: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: It’s truthfully a toss-up between Stamkos and linemate Nikita Kucherov, but Stamkos might be playing the best hockey of his career. Runner-up: Kucherov.
Hascup: Kucherov, Lightning: He’s the league’s leading goal scorer on the NHL’s top team. Kucherov also ranks second with 33 points and leads the league in points per 60 minutes (3.78) at even strength among players with at least 200 minutes. Runner-up: Jaden Schwartz (Blues)
More: One path to success for the Red Wings' rebuild on the fly
More: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas suspended 10 games for slashing
Calder Trophy (Rookie)
Allen: Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes: The 11 goals are impressive, but his most telling statistics are his 71 shots on goal. That ranks 12th in the NHL. Runner-up: Will Butcher (Devils)
Hascup: Matthew Barzal (New York Islanders): Barzal's emergence as a legitimate top-six center has been vital. He leads rookies in points (19); he has a 54% Corsi (5% better than his team without him on the ice) and is 18th in the NHL in primary points (first assist or goal) per 60 minutes. Runner-up: Keller
Vezina Trophy (Goalie)
Allen: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets: In 16 starts, Bobrovsky owns a .933 save percentage and has given up one or no goals in eight of those appearances. Runner-up: Corey Crawford (Blackhawks)
Hascup: Bobrovsky: Among starters, Bobrovsky is first in overall SV% (.933), first in five-on-five save percentage (.944) and tied for third in wins (11). Runner-up: Crawford
Norris Trophy (Defenseman)
Allen: Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues: He has played a major role in the Blues’ 15-5-1 start. Pietrangelo is playing 26:12 per game, and he’s tied for second among defensemen in shots on goal (69). Only 16 defensemen are playing 25 or more minutes, and he leads them all in plus-minus (+9). Runner-up: Victor Hedman (Lightning)
Hascup: Pietrangelo: He’s tied for first among defensemen in points (19); he’s a positive possession player and has a 64% goals-for percentage (16 goals for, nine against at even strength). Runner-up: Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators)
Jack Adams Award (Coach)
Allen: Mike Yeo, Blues: His team has been the NHL’s best since he took over the Blues last February. Runner-up: John Hynes (Devils)
Hascup: John Stevens, Los Angeles Kings: Their puck possession is worse than previous seasons, but the Kings have scored more and look rejuvenated.
Biggest Disappointment
Allen: Edmonton Oilers: They were a fashionable pick to reach the Stanley Cup Final and this morning they rank 29th out of 31 NHL teams. Runner-up: Canadiens
Hascup: Oilers: This was supposed to be the start of more glory years. Runner-up: Canadiens
Most Improved Team
Allen: New Jersey Devils: How many pundits projected the Devils leading the Metropolitan Division this close to Thanksgiving? Zero would be a good guess. Runner-up: Lightning
Hascup: Devils: They are better, especially on offense. Even though they've gone from 28th to seventh in the overall standings, there are questions about sustainability. Runner-up: Kings
Biggest Surprise
Allen: Brayden Schenn, Blues: Schenn is among the scoring leaders. He’s on a 100-point pace after never having more than 59 in his career. Runner-up: Sean Couturier (Flyers)
Hascup: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg signed Steve Mason after Hellebuyck's disappointing 2016-17 season. Now, Hellebuyck (.931 SV% in 15 games) is the reason the Jets have gotten off to a strong start. Runner-up: Couturier
Biggest Mystery
Allen: Pittsburgh Penguins: The two-time defending champions rank 26th in goals-against average and are strangely inconsistent. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are both minus-12. Phil Kessel (+2) is the only big-name Penguins player who isn’t minus. Their 5-on-5 scoring average is one of the NHL’s worst. Runner-up: Wild
Hascup: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: He hasn’t played since Nov. 2 because of a lower-body injury and his return date is unclear. Even when he played, he sported a 3.77 goals-against average and .877 SV%. Runner-up: New York Rangers
Thanks to corsica.hockey for the advanced stats