MVP (Hart Trophy)
Josh McSwain: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
This is a tough one. But when you consider this is the most valuable player, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane deserves it over Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. If you took Kane away from Chicago, they might be a fringe playoff team because the central is that tough. His 26-game point streak will seal the deal for him. Seguin and Benn have each other and the Dallas Stars would still be good if one of them weren't there. Without Kane, the Blackhawks would look much like the Anaheim Ducks have this season—great defense and goaltending but subpar scoring. Kane wins the MVP but Seguin wins the Art Ross. Right now Kane leads this chase with 56 points, with Benn in second with 52 and Seguin in third with 50. Kane's outrageous streak of 26 straight games with a point is long over, but the fact Seguin and Benn complement each other so well will eventually vault one of them past Kane. Benn currently leads the league in goals scored, but it's honestly a toss up and therefore this writer is going with Seguin.
Braden Desjardine: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Braden Holtby has been playing out of this world this year. His numbers are in the upper echelon of the league and there is not many goalies playing on his level right now. Even when Carey Price was healthy his numbers weren’t as good as Holtby’s are right now. He has stood on his head and has fought his way through names like Pekka Rinne, Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price to get into the conversation. He’s the more under-rated goalie and a dark horse in the race. If Holtby doesn’t win it’ll go to Patrick Kane for the phenomenal point totals he’s put together.
Rookie of the Year (Calder Trophy)
JM: Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
There have been a lot of good rookies this year, making it really hard to pick just one. There are certainly great cases to be made for Chicago's Artemi Panarin, Arizona's Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, but the winner should be Detroit's 19-year-old center Dylan Larkin. He leads the team in goals with 13, is second in points with 25 and has a +/- of 20. While Panarin leads rookies in points, he plays on the same line with Kane, which frees him up to score more. Domi has had a great year so far, with 27 points in 37 games. Certainly deserving. This was a hard selection.
BD: Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes
He and rookie teammate Anthony Duclair are the biggest offensive weapons they have and are carrying the team. For him to succeed at this level and compete with totals similar to Artemi Panarin, who is alongside Patrick Kane, is a pretty big feat. He has fought uphill his whole life with his lack of size, health issues, and not making the team out of camp last year. He is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Max Domi will win the Calder.
Coach of the Year (Jack Adams Trophy)
JM: Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
While consideration has to be given to Lindy Ruff in Dallas and to Barry Trotz in Washington, both well deserved candidates, both of them had excellent rosters coming into this season. For Julien, there were questions if he would be coming back after last season. But he has gotten his team within three points of the division leading Habs with three games in hand. After missing the playoffs last season, getting that group back up near the top of the rugged Atlantic division is worthy of the award.
BD: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
Often criticized for his strictly defensive coaching strategies, he’s turned that on its ear. Coaching a lock down style in Nashville, he’s incorporated that with the offensive prowess of the top end talent in Washington. He’s one of the only older coaches who are adapting and changing styles to increase results. Lindy Ruff has a power house offense. Barry Trotz has a deadly lineup with shut down defense and his goalie is playing outstanding. Trotz has overcome the criticism, evolved his game and deserves the Jack Adams. He’s coached the Capitals into a team that does no wrong. They’re doing everything right and there’s little to no flaws in their game right now.
Best goalie (Vezina Trophy)
JM: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
After struggling some early on in his career, Holtby really took his game to the next level last season. This year, he's taken another step forward. He is second the NHL in goals against average with 1.86 among goalies with over 10 starts, leads in wins with 24, and is fourth in save percentage at .934. Of course Carey Price will still be in the mix once he comes back healthy and James Reimer has broken out in Toronto. But there's is little debate that Holtby has been the main reason the Caps are at the top of the East.
BD: Holtby
You could just copy and paste my MVP statement here. Holtby will mimic what Carey Price did last year if his play keeps up. Leaned on heavily in Washington could be concerning, as Washington can't afford Holtby to be worn down before they look to make a deep run in the playoffs. Holtby is solid and there aren’t many holes in his game. Seemingly getting better game by game, it’ll be exciting to see where this season ends up. Holtby is fundamentally sound and tough to crack. He’s a fierce competitor and his time is now.
Best defenseman (Norris Trophy)
JM: Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
He could win this award almost any year, he's that good. Weber has been the driving force behind a defense that is allowing the second fewest shots against per game at 26.9. It's particularly surprising that the defense has been that good and yet the Predators are middle of the pack in goals allowed because Pekka Rinne has not had his best season. Weber and the rest of that blue line have really picked up the slack. He's second on the team in points at 26, just behind another blue liner, Roman Josi. Both of them are deserving but only one can be chosen, and this writer is going with the captain in Nashville.
BD: John Klingberg, Dallas Stars
Shunned in the Calder voting last year, John Klingberg made a huge splash and impact on a weary Dallas Stars blue-line. He solidified it and was a big part of the turnaround that took place late in the season. He’s competing with Erik Karlsson for top points by all defenseman right now. His all around game is superb. His sophomore slump doesn’t exist. He’s always thinking the game one step ahead and is so creative in the offensive zone. Break out passes are crisp and his head is always on a swivel. He has a play in mind before he gets the puck and can skate with the best of them. Floats across the ice and battles hard along the boards for his small frame.