As the calendar year turns to 2018 and the NHL season just past the half-way mark, it's time to look at what players are making an impact (or lack of) in the NHL this season and the candidates for awards at the end of the year:
Hart Trophy:
1. Nikita Kucherov (TBL) - 43 GP: 27 Goals, 33 Assists, 60 Points, +16, 21 PP Points
Kucherov remains at the #1 spot from the quarter-season rankings (http://formanfaceoff.blogspot.ca/qsrankings), he leads the NHL in goals (27), and points (60) while pacing the Lightning to an NHL best 31-9-3. The Russian superstar has been so dominant the past few years, in fact dating back to February 21st of last year he has 46 goals and 50 assists for 96 points in his last 66 games. It's pretty hard to fathom that with all this production Kucherov is only making $4.76 million a year, when his deal is up at the end of next season he could be making almost triple that. For now Kucherov is well on his way to his first career 100 point season and potentially even 50 goals, he's my MVP (and pretty much everyone else's) choice at the half-way mark.
2. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) - 41 GP: 18 Goals, 34 Assists, 52 Points, +5, 17 PP Points
As an Avalanche fan I'll admit a little bit of bias here, but to me there hasn't been a more exciting player to watch in the NHL this season then Nathan MacKinnon. The Avs were horrible last year with an NHL-worst 48 points, but things have turned around quickly this year ever since the Matt Duchene trade and the emergence of the 22-year old MacKinnon. He is 2nd in the NHL with 52 points, but most impressively he's already reached his totals from last season (16 goals/53 points in 82 games) in half the amount of games. Whether the Avs can make the playoffs or not in a tough Western Conference (tied for 2nd WC spot currently), MacKinnon is must watch hockey and deserves the recognition during his career year.
3. John Tavares (NYI) - 43 GP: 22 Goals, 29 Assists, 51 Points, -2, 15 PP Points
The Islanders Captain is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and why wouldn't he in his contract year before becoming one of the biggest free agents in recent years? Who knows if JT stays with the Isles or not, but for now the line of Bailey-Tavares-Lee is one of the best in the NHL and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Tavares is on pace to break his career-high in goals (38) and points (86) and will be in the MVP conversation all season long.
Honourable Mentions: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL), Steven Stamkos (TBL), Claude Giroux (PHI), Blake Wheeler (WPG)
Vezina Trophy:
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1. Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - 36 GP: 27-6-2, .933 Save %, 2.10 Goals Against Average, 6 Shutouts
This is an easy and quite obvious choice, Vasilevskiy moves up from #2 in the quarter-season rankings and his numbers speak for themselves. He leads the NHL in wins (27), shutouts (6) and is 2nd in save percentage (.933%) and goals against average (2.10) among all goalies. Some people might suggest that part of this is due to the team he plays on, and to those people I would say tune into a few Lightning games and seeing how good Vasilevskiy truly is. He's the easy Vezina choice right now.
2. Jonathan Quick (LAK) - 34 GP: 19-13-2, .926 Save %, 2.31 Goals Against Average, 3 Shutouts
Injuries limited Quick to just 17 games last season, and so far at the half-way point this year Quick has been brilliant in a bounce-back season for the Kings. Quick is top 10 in almost every goalie category, with 19 wins (7th), .926 save % (6th), 2.31 goals against average (6th) and 3 shutouts (7th). After missing the playoffs in 2 of the last 3 years, Quick has the Kings playing great hockey and back as the Stanley Cup contenders they were just a few years ago.
3. Pekka Rinne (NSH) - 32 GP: 21-8-3, .925 Save %, 2.43 Goals Against Average, 3 Shutouts
After the first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history, the Predators look well on their way to being contenders again this season and a big reason has been the play of 35-year old Pekka Rinne. Rinne is top 10 in all goalie categories, with 21 wins (5th), .925 save % (7th), 2.43 goals against average (10th) and 3 shutouts (6th). Rinne has been rock-solid going back to the playoffs last season and will be in the Vezina conversation all year if he keeps this play up.
Honourable Mentions: Frederik Andersen (TOR), Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ), Connor Hellebuyck (WPG), Braden Holtby (WSH)
Norris Trophy:
1. Drew Doughty (LAK) - 42 GP: 7 Goals, 23 Assists, 30 Points, +21, 9 PP Points
The 2015/16 Norris Trophy winner is off to a great start with the Kings this season, notching 7 goals and 30 points in his first 42 games. He's on pace to top 60 points for the first time in his career, and leads all players in the NHL with 27:10 icetime per game (playing against every teams top line). Doughty should be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy every year, but there's no doubt he's my pick at the half-way mark this season.
2. Victor Hedman (TBL) - 42 GP: 6 Goals, 27 Assists, 33 Points, +24, 12 PP Points
If Doughty isn't the favourite for the Norris, then Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman would be the next obvious choice. Hedman sits 3rd among defense with 33 points, and plays 25:56 icetime per game (6th most in the NHL). Many argue that Hedman could have won the Norris trophy last season over Brent Burns, so expect the towering Swede to be in conversation all season long.
3. PK Subban (NSH) - 42 GP: 9 Goals, 23 Assists, 32 Points, +6, 16 PP Points
Subban has flown a bit under the radar in Nashville, but he's off to an impressive start this season with the Predators. Subban is 2nd in goals (9) and 4th in points (32) among all defenseman and plays 24:14 icetime a night (21st most in the NHL). PK is on pace to break 60 points for the 2nd time in his career, and is in the running for his 2nd career Norris Trophy at the halfway mark of the season.
Honourable Mentions: John Klingberg (DAL), Erik Karlsson (OTT), Alex Pietrangelo (PHI)
Calder Trophy:
1. Brock Boeser (VAN) - 40 GP: 22 Goals, 18 Assists, 40 Points, -1, 15 PP Points
Boy oh boy do the Canucks have a good one in American sniper Brock Boeser, who leads all rookies in goals (22), points (40) and PP points (15) while sitting at 5th in the entire NHL in goals. Boeser is much watch hockey every time he's on the ice, and despite the Canucks struggles this year Boeser provides a glimmer of hope for their future. In a year full of talented rookies, Boeser tops them all and is my obvious choice for rookie of the year at the halfway point.
2. Mat Barzal (NYI) - 43 GP: 13 Goals, 26 Assists, 39 Points, +1, 14 PP Points
Despite the dominant play of Boeser, another rookie making waves in the NHL this season is speedy center Mat Barzal of the New York Islanders. Barzal leads all rookies with 26 assists, and is 2nd with 39 points and 14 PP points. It's hard to imagine that Barzal fell all the way to #16 overall in the 2015 draft, and his strong play this season is turning heads around the NHL and proving GMs wrong who passed on him. Barzal will be in the Calder conversation all season long.
3. Charlie McAvoy (BOS) - 40 GP: 5 Goals, 16 Assists, 21 Points, +14, 6 PP Points
No rookie in the NHL plays more per game than Charlie McAvoy, as the 20-year old averages 22:53 icetime a night playing on the Bruins top pair with Zdeno Chara (no other rookie averages more than 19 minutes a game). McAvoy is 3rd among rookie defenseman with 21 points in 40 games and has looked far ahead of his age at times for Bruins. The Bruins have a gem in McAvoy and an anchor for their defense for years and years to come, he deserves the recognition at the halfway mark.
Honourable Mentions: Clayton Keller (ARI), Danton Heinen (BOS), Mikhail Sergachev (TBL), Yanni Gourde (TBL), Kyle Connor (WPG)
Jack Adams Trophy:
1. Gerard Gallant (VGK) - 29-10-2, 60 points, 1st in Pacific Division, 2nd in Western Conference
There hasn't been a better story in the NHL this season than the Vegas Golden Knights, the expansion team that no one gave a chance sits in 2nd place in the entire NHL at 29-10-2 at the halfway mark. What a phenomenal job Gallant has done there, taking a group of castoffs from other teams and having them playing as good as any team in the NHL currently. It's still hard to imagine why Gallant was fired in Florida, but fans in Vegas couldn't be happier with their new coach and he's the obvious Jack Adams choice right now.
2. Jon Cooper (TBL) - 31-9-3, 65 points, 1st in Atlantic Division, 1st in NHL
The only team better than the Golden Knights this season has been the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Jon Cooper has his team in prime position for their 1st Prsidents Trophy in franchise history. Despite years of success in Tampa Bay, Cooper has never won a Jack Adams trophy before and if it weren't for Gallant and the Golden Knights he would be the favourite right now. Either way, Cooper deserves the credit and will be in the Jack Adams conversation all season.
3. Paul Maurice (WPG) - 26-11-7, 59 points, 1st in Central Division, 2nd in Western Conference
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the strong play of the Winnipeg Jets, who lead the stacked Central Division with 59 points in 44 games. Head Coach Paul Maurice has the young Jets playing great hockey and in prime position as contenders heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs if they can keep this pace up. Maurice has never won a Jack Adams before and seems like a worthy candidate this year.
Honourable Mentions: John Hynes (NJD), Bruce Cassidy (BOS), Peter Laviolette (NSH)
Breakout Player:
1. Josh Bailey (NYI) - 42 GP: 12 Goals, 38 Assists, 50 Points, +1, 21 PP Points
28-year old Josh Bailey has been in the NHL for over 10 years, so he isn't exactly a new player breaking onto the scene. However the Islanders forward is off to a ridiculous start this season, with 12 goals and 50 points over his first 42 games. Bailey's career-high in points was 56 (in 82 games) last season, he's well on his way to shattering that total. His line of Anders Lee/Bailey/John Tavares is one of the best in the NHL right now and showing no signs of slowing down (despite a minor injury for Bailey).
2. Sean Couturier (PHI) - 42 GP: 23 Goals, 19 Assists, 42 Points, +14, 8 PP Points
Couturier posted back to back 96 point seasons in his last 2 years in junior, but his offensive game has never translated at the NHL level as he's never topped 14 goals or 40 points in a season before. That was until this season, where Couturier already has a career-high 23 goals and 42 points through just 42 games playing on one of the best 1st lines in the NHL with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. That line is one of my favourite to watch in the entire NHL, and Couturier has been a revelation for the Flyers this year.
3. Brayden Schenn (STL) - 46 GP: 17 Goals, 27 Assists, 44 Points, +17, 12 PP Points
Continuing the pattern started with Bailey and Couturier, former Flyer Brayden Schenn is off to a fantastic start in St. Louis since being traded there last summer. Schenn leads the Blues with 44 points in 46 games, and has looked terrific playing on a line with Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. He's well on his way to posting career-high in goals (26) and points (59) if he keeps up this pace in the 2nd half.
Honourable Mentions: Anders Lee (NYI), Mikko Rantanen (COL), William Karlsson (VGK)
Most Disappointing Player:
1. Max Pacioretty (MTL) - 42 GP: 10 Goals, 13 Assists, 23 Points, -12, 8 PP Points
The Canadiens have been one of the worst teams in the NHL this season, and a big reason has been the struggles of Captain Max Pacioretty. Patches has just 10 goals and 23 points in 42 games this season, and is on pace to score below 30 goals for the first time since 2010/11. To make matters worse for Pacioretty, he has to deal with constant trade speculation and seems like he's going through a nightmare in Montreal this year.
2. Cam Talbot (EDM) - 34 GP: 15-16-2, .902 Save %, 3.09 Goals Against Average, 1 Shutout
Much like the Canadiens struggling, the Oilers have been equally disappointing this season and the play of Cam Talbot has been questionable at best. After a career-high 42 wins at 7 shutouts last season, Talbot has just 15 wins in his first 33 starts and 1 shutout only. His goals against and save % are among the worst in the NHL for starting goaltenders, and if the Oilers have any chance of turning it around they need Talbot to return to last years form.
3. Cam Atkinson (CBJ) - 32 GP: 6 Goals, 7 Assists, 13 Points, Even, 1 PP Point
After a career-high 35 goals and 62 points in 82 games last year, Blue Jackets sniper Cam Atkinson has been almost invisible this season with just 6 goals and 13 points in 32 games. The Blue Jackets seem to be getting most of their offense from the Artemi Panarin/Josh Anderson/Pierre-Luc Dubois line, and Atkinson has yet to find his game moving from line to line. It remains to be seen if he can rebound in the 2nd half of the season and get out of John Tortorella's dog house.
Honourable Mentions: Craig Anderson (OTT), Joe Pavelski (SJS), Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF)
Selke Trophy:
1. Patrice Bergeron (BOS)
2. Anze Kopitar (LAK)
3. Sean Couturier (PHI)
Mark Messier Leadership Award:
1. Steven Stamkos (TBL)
2. Ryan Getzlaf (ANA)
3. Blake Wheeler (WPG)
GM of the Year Award:
1. Doug Armstrong (STL)
2. Ray Shero (NJD)
3. George McPhee (VGK)
Rocket Richard Trophy (current):
1. Alex Ovechkin (WSH) - 27 goals
2. Nikita Kucherov (TBL) - 27 goals
3. Anders Lee (NYI) - 25 goals
Art Ross Trophy (current):
1. Nikita Kucherov (TBL) - 60 points
2. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) - 52 points
3. Claude Giroux (PHI) - 52 points
4. Steven Stamkos (TBL) - 52 points
5. Blake Wheeler (WPG) - 52 ponts
4. Steven Stamkos (TBL) - 52 points
5. Blake Wheeler (WPG) - 52 ponts
Joel Forman - The Forman Faceoff
