2014 NHL Picks and Predictions: Mid-Season Awards: The 2013-14 NHL season is essentially at his midway point, and with the Winter Olympics set to bring the season to a halt for a bit, it is the perfect time to take a look at which players have been the best this year and have established themselves as the frontrunners for the regular season awards. Granted, a lot can change in the second half of the season as playoff spots are decided and players deal with the wear and tear of a long season. Still, a strong first half is a good first step, and with that in mind, here are the players that are the best bets to take home some of the NHL’s most prestigious individual honors in 2013-14.
Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been decimated by injuries to several stars, but Crosby has put the team on his back. His 59 total points are the most in the NHL, and he ranks fourth with 22 goals and second with 37 assists. Perhaps more importantly, Pittsburgh leads the Metropolitan Division and has scored the most goals in the Eastern Conference. Crosby has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Penguins this year, and he has been the most productive offensive player in the NHL.
Vezina Trophy: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay has had an explosive offense for the past few seasons, but inconsistent goal tending has held the franchise back. Bishop has solved the problem in a big way. He leads the league with a .935 save percentage, and his 1.89 goals against average is the third best in the NHL. Bishop also ranks third among goalies with 21 wins and is tied for second with three shutouts. Bishop has come out of nowhere, but if he can sustain his current level the rest of the way, the Vezina Trophy is his to lose.
Norris Trophy: Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
A strong argument can be made for Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, but the smart money is on Keith going forward for a couple of reasons. His 39 points are the most among defensemen, and while he is only one point ahead of Karlsson and doesn’t score as many goals, his 36 assists are eight ahead of the Senators’ star. Keith also owns a plus-14 rating compared to a minus-10 rating for Karlsson. The bottom line is that Keith plays on a much better team, and he has an arsenal of weapons to feed the puck to on Chicago. Over the course of the year, he will likely pull away from Karlsson in terms of total points, and his plus-minus rating will be substantially better, giving him a slight edge.
Calder Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon, Center, Colorado Avalanche
San Jose center Tomas Hertl was cruising to the Calder Trophy before he was sidelined by a serious knee injury. As a result, MacKinnon is in the driver’s seat. His 24 points are one behind Hertl for the most among rookies. He also leads all first-year players with 14 assists, and his 10 goals rank fourth among rookies. MacKinnon has been providing plenty of offense for a Colorado team that currently sits third in the Central Division. At his current pace, he should be able to snag himself the Calder Trophy.
Jack Adams Award: Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks
While the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks have the best record in the NHL, the Ducks are second with 63 points and are sitting atop the Pacific Division. Anaheim overachieved last season, and they are off to an even stronger start this season. Boudreau has kept the Ducks rolling despite injuries to his goaltenders, and his ability to balance the team’s veteran stars and talented youngsters has been a big part of the team’s success.
Rocket Richard Trophy: Alexander Oveckin, Right Wing, Washington Capitals
Ovechkin went on a goal-scoring binge at the end of last year, and he hasn’t slowed down. His 31 goals are seven more than any other player, and his 218 shots are 41 more than the next closest player. Plain and simple, Ovechkin has recaptured the killer instinct that made him the premier goal-scorer in the league from 2007 to 2009, and unless he gets hurt, he is likely going to claim the Rocket Richard Trophy for the second year in a row and fourth time overall.
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