2014-15 NHL Picks and Predictions: Picking the Major Award Winners

2014-15 NHL Picks and Predictions: Picking the Major Award Winners: The 2014-15 NHL season has arrived and before action on the ice kicks into gear, it’s time to predict which players will ultimately claim the top individual honors when all is said and done. Granted, injuries can always derail a player’s special season, and there is always a chance a surprise contender emerges on the strength of a career year. That being said, here are my picks for the top award winners for the 2014-15 NHL season.

Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Honestly, Crosby is not competing with other players for this award as much as he is competing with his own physical health. When he is fully healthy, he is easily the best offensive player in the NHL. Last year, his 107 points were 17 more than any other player, and he has never scored fewer than 102 points in a season that wasn’t cut short by injury. He reportedly feels better than ever after offseason wrist surgery, and I expect him to stay healthy on his way to his second straight Hart Trophy and third overall.

Vezina Trophy: Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

He is the defending winner of this award, and while it has been a few years since one goalie has emerged as the clear dominant force in net, I think Rask is on the verge of becoming just that. Last season, he ranked third in goals against average, second in save percentage, fifth in wins and first in shutouts. Not only can he put a team on his back, but he rarely has rough patches. Throw in the fact that he plays for an excellent Boston team, and Rask is in prime position to deliver another statistically dominant season.

Norris Trophy: Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

Karlsson won this award in 2011-12, and while he doesn’t have a great team around him, he produces enough on his own to win a second Norris Trophy in 2014-15. After all, he led all defensemen with 74 points last year, finishing third in goals and second in assists at the position. Karlsson also led all blueliners with 257 shot attempts. Meanwhile, he doesn’t just make his presence felt on offense, and he finished last season with more than 100 hits and more than 100 blocks. Karlsson is more than a full year removed from a nasty Achilles injury, giving him a great chance to improve on his already-gaudy numbers.

Calder Trophy: Jonathan Drouin, Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning

The 19-year-old wing was the third-overall pick in the 2013 draft, and he comes equipped with an NHL-ready offensive arsenal and plenty of speed. Perhaps more importantly, he lands in an ideal situation for his current set of skills as he is expected to play on the top line for a Tampa Bay team that has one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Playing alongside a goal-scoring machine like Steven Stamkos, Drouin has a great shot to lead all rookies in points, goal and assists, making him the easy frontrunner for the Calder Trophy.

Rocket Richard Trophy: Steven Stamkos, Center, Tampa Bay Lightning

Alexander Ovechkin has won this award in each of the last two seasons, but Stamkos took home the honors in 2009-10 and 2011-12 before a couple of injury-shortened seasons took him out of the mix. He is fully healthy heading into the 2014-15 season, and when he is on the ice, he is lighting the lamp. Playing for an offensive-minded team like Tampa Bay only helps his odds, and with Martin St. Louis no longer around, Stamkos will be even more of a workhorse for the Lightning’s attack. Look for Stamkos to claim his third career Rocket Richard Trophy this year.

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