Featured Image: Connor McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers prepares to take a faceoff against rival team, Calgary Flames. (Photo Credit / Andy Devlin-Getty Images)
There is about a month left in the NHL regular season before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Before that wonderful time of year comes around, it’s time to make my picks for the major awards.
Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)
Winner- Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini (71) of the San Jose Sharks celebrating a goal. Photo Credit to Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Macklin Celebrini has proven that he will be the next superstar in the NHL, and many say he already is one. He’s a great two-way center who can create plays at such a young age. The 19-year-old is having a stellar year with 32 goals and 57 assists on a mediocre Sharks team.
Last season, the Sharks finished bottom in the NHL. If they qualify for the postseason, there is a sound argument you could make for Celebrini. The obvious choices are Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon of course, but they play on solid teams that would still be good teams without their star player. However, the Sharks rely on Celebrini.
Art Ross Trophy (Most Points)
Winner-Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid (97) of the Edmonton Oilers plays the puck in a game against the Dallas Stars. Photo Credit to Jerome Mirron-Imagn Images
McDavid has been considered the best hockey player in the world for a little bit for good reason. He’s the fastest skater in the league, and has some of the niftiest hands you’ll ever come across. His ability to see plays one step ahead of everyone else is a quality of all previous hockey greats. (Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, etc) He is a center who can find the back of the net when he wants to and can make plays with his eyes closed.
The Art Ross race is tight in the NHL at the moment, with McDavid in the lead (109), MacKinnon in second, and Nikita Kucherov in third. McDavid has the advantage of driving the best power play in the league which allows him to pick up easy assists along the way–43 of his points this season have come from the Power Play.
Rocket Richard Award (Most Goals)
Winner- Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates. Photo Credit to Wendel Cruz-Imagn Images.
Nathan MacKinnon has been absolutely explosive on offense this year, and leads the league in goals with 43. The players closest to him is Cole Caufield (37) and Krill Kaprizov (36). The Avalanche are arguably the strongest team this year, and MacKinnon has benefited heavily from that in the box scores.
MacKinnon stays hot for the remainder of the season and rides his way to the Rocket Richard with ease.
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
Winner- Matthew Schaefer
Matthew Schaefer (48) of the New York Islanders shoots a wrist shot. Photo Credit to Bildbyrån.
Matthew Schaefer has had one of the most impressive rookie defenseman seasons in NHL history. The 18-year-old has 20 goals and 26 assists, which is extremely impressive for a young defenseman. The first-overall pick is an elite talent that Islanders fans can enjoy for years to come, and is almost a lock for the Calder.
The fact that Schaefer is in top 3 points by rookies as a blue-liner is very impressive. He very well could be the next Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar.
Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie)
Winner- Andrei Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy, goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning, makes a routine glove save. Photo Credit to Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
The Tampa Bay Lightning is one of the best teams in the NHL, and Vasilevskiy is a big part of that. He’s been an absolute stud in between the pipes for the Lightning. The 2019 Vezina winner is toting the third best save percentage in the NHL (.914) and the second lowest GAA (Goals Allowed Average) (2.28).
Scott Wedgewood leads the two previously mentioned categories, but plays behind a more solid defense compared to Vasilevskiy. The two goaltenders stats are so close however, so either goalie could walk away with the award.
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman)
Winner- Cale Makar
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche deking a San Jose Shark. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Avalanche.
NHL fans have debated on whether or not Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar is the better defenseman for a while now. Makar is having the more impressive season however, tied for second alongside Zach Werenski for most points among defensemen (66). Evan Bouchard leads defenseman for points but isn’t as strong on defense as he is on offense, putting him out of Norris contention. Makar however has a strong defensive game, and is part of the reason the Avalanche are having as strong as a season as they are.
Werenski and Hughes are possible winners as well but Makar is the likely pick.
