2013 NHL Picks and Predictions: Individual Award Winners: Just a handful of games remain in the lockout-shortened 2013 NHL season, and while a couple of playoff spots are still up for grabs, it is time to take a look at the players that have positioned themselves to take home the league’s top individual honors. Given the abbreviated 48-game schedule, players that got off to fast starts had a bigger advantage than usual, but there were a few players that caught fire later in the year that have forced their way into the conversation. With that in mind, here is a look at the potential winners of the major individual awards for the 2013 NHL season.
Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
While the argument can be made that Crosby should not be named the MVP because he has missed time with a broken jaw, the fact that he still leads the league with 41 assists and 56 points despite missing time only helps his cause in my mind. Crosby was flat out unstoppable in the 36 games he played, and he had Pittsburgh in the driver’s seat in the Eastern Conference long before a puck to the face broke his jaw and sidelined him.
Vezina Trophy: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
If the season ended today, the Blue Jackets would make the playoffs, and Bobrovsky is the reason why this cellar-dwelling franchise is in position to taste the postseason. He ranks fifth in the NHL with a 2.03 goals against average, second with four shutouts and second with a .931 save percentage. By the way, Bobrovsky has amassed those numbers despite playing behind a defense that has allowed the eighth-most shots on goal and being supported by an offense that has scored the sixth-fewest goals. No goalie has done more with less than Bobrovsky.
Norris Trophy: P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have a playoff spot wrapped up and are currently leading the Northeast Division, and Subban has certainly been a key player. He leads all defensemen with 11 goals and 36 points this year. More impressively, his 25 power play points this year lead the entire NHL. He has been contributing on both ends of the ice all year, and has provided more offense for Montreal as a defenseman than some teams get from their top-line offense players.
Calder Trophy: Jonathan Huberdeau, Left Wing, Florida Panthers
Huberdeau deserves the award based on his raw numbers alone. After all, he leads all rookies with 14 goals and 28 total points. However, those numbers become even more impressive when you consider that he is surrounded by a terrible supporting cast. The Panthers have scored the second-fewest goals in the NHL this year, and Huberdeau is just one goal shy of the current team leader. It’s not like he landed on a line with two other star-caliber players. Huberdeau has earned his points this year.
Jack Adams Award: Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
Barring a collapse in the final few games, the Senators are going to make the playoffs. That is a pretty impressive accomplishment for a team that saw injuries claim a potential Vezina Trophy winner in Craig Anderson, a potential Norris Trophy winner in Erik Karlsson, and two of its three-best offensive players in Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. For keeping his team focused and effective in the face of four major injuries, MacLean deserves to be recognized.
Rocket Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Left Wing, Washington Capitals
After hibernating for the first half of the year, Ovechkin has exploded down the stretch. He has 18 goals in his last 17 games, giving him a league-leading 28 heading into the final few games. After a couple of down years, Ovechkin is starting resemble the player that averaged 54 goals per year through his first five seasons as a pro. Considering he has already come out of nowhere to catch and pass Steven Stamkos for the most goals and shows no signs of slowing down, the Rocket Richard Trophy could be headed Ovechkin’s way for the third time in his career.
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