The NHL has begun rolling out the finalists for every of its main awards, with a number of nominees already introduced.
As a first-year member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, Yahoo Sports was not granted an official poll this 12 months, however that does not imply we won’t get in on the enjoyable.
Stay tuned for updates all through the week because the nominees are unveiled, culminating with the Hart Trophy on Friday, May 12.
Connor McDavid might be part of unique firm with one other Ted Lindsay win. (Getty)
Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted on by fellow gamers)
Nominees: Connor McDavid (Rangers), Erik Karlsson (Sharks), David Pastrnak (Bruins)
Though Pastrnak and Karlsson each had ridiculous seasons, this one seems to be like McDavid’s to lose. It can be the Oilers famous person’s fourth Ted Lindsay Award in seven seasons after he gained his fifth profession Art Ross this 12 months together with the Rocket Richard Trophy, main the NHL with 64 objectives, 89 assists and 153 factors whereas suiting up for all 82 regular-season video games.
A win would make McDavid simply the third ever NHLer to say the award no less than 4 occasions, with Wayne Gretzky (5) and Mario Lemieux (4) rounding out the unique listing.
It’s the primary time each Pastrnak and Karlsson have been nominated for the award, which is voted on by fellow members of the NHLPA.
Norris Trophy (Top defenseman)
Nominees: Adam Fox (Rangers), Erik Karlsson (Sharks), Cale Makar (Avalanche)
Yahoo Sports’ poll: Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson, Hampus Lindholm (Bruins), Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres)
We have a bigger breakdown of every main candidate’s season and quite a few Canucks followers took umbrage with the concept we didn’t place Quinn Hughes within the top-five. He was very, excellent!
We haven’t really outlined what this award means and whereas Karlsson grew to become the primary blueliner to eclipse 100 factors in a single 12 months since Brian Leetch in 1991-92, he was additionally on the ice for a league-worst 96 objectives towards at 5-on-5.
Karlsson’s offensive exploits had been unbelievable this 12 months and he ought to be no decrease than second, however in good conscience, he was not the NHL’s greatest defensive participant this season. Fox is one of the best marriage of elite offense and protection, Lindholm was the NHL’s greatest defensive participant, Makar had one of the best physique of labor in too small a pattern, whereas Dahlin, Brent Burns, Jaccob Slavin, Hughes and a handful of others had been only a tier under the highest 4.
Story continues
Calder Trophy (Top rookie)
Nominees: Matty Beniers (Kraken), Owen Power (Sabres), Stuart Skinner (Oilers)
Yahoo Sports’ poll: Matty Beniers, Owen Power, Matias Maccelli (Coyotes), Wyatt Johnston (Stars), Jake Sanderson (Senators)
Beniers ought to be the runaway favourite to win the Calder Trophy. He’s been in pole place all 12 months and led all freshmen with 24 objectives and 57 factors in 80 video games. Seattle led the NHL in objectives scored at 5-on-5 and Beniers’ immersion was a central cause why the Kraken punched a ticket to the playoffs of their sophomore season.
Power might find yourself being one of the best participant from this class when it’s all stated and executed, whereas Maccelli, Johnston and Sanderson are going to be long-term items of their franchise’s foreseeable future. But this was a two-man race the place Power couldn’t shut the hole.
Selke Trophy (Top defensive ahead)
Nominees: Patrice Bergeron (Bruins), Mitch Marner (Leafs), Nico Hischier (Devils)
Yahoo Sports’ poll: Patrice Bergeron, Mitch Marner, Nico Hischier, Jordan Staal, Mikael Backlund
Bergeron is the gold commonplace for all two-way forwards and he might have posted his single-best all-around marketing campaign of his profession at 37, whereas the Bruins soared above the remainder of the league within the common season.
Among forwards with no less than 800 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Bergeron was on the ice for an NHL-low 18 objectives towards at even energy this season regardless of having the tenth most defensive zone begins. He additionally had an NHL-best 61.1 faceoff proportion whereas taking the second-most attracts and performed a key position on the Bruins’ league-best penalty kill.
This is Bergeron’s twelfth nomination for the award, which he has gained an NHL-record 5 occasions with the sixth seemingly being added to his trophy case this summer season.
Marner has been a two-way dynamo the complete 12 months and led the NHL in takeaways at 5-on-5 and all conditions, headlining Toronto’s penalty kill.
Hischier, Staal and Backlund have been three of one of the best gamers at suppressing probabilities within the NHL. Staal and Bergeron are each high 10 in anticipated objectives towards per 60 at 5-on-5, Backlund ranks twenty eighth, Hischier ranks forty eighth, whereas Marner ranks 112th, though that doesn’t consider his penalty-killing excellence or high quality of opponents confronted.
Patrice Bergeron has gained the Selke Trophy an NHL-record 5 occasions. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI through Getty Images)
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the 12 months)
Nominees: Jim Montgomery (Bruins), Lindy Ruff (Devils), Dave Hakstol (Kraken)
Yahoo Sports’ poll: Jim Montgomery, Lindy Ruff, Dave Hakstol.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Most sportsmanlike?)
Nominees: Jack Hughes (Devils), Anze Kopitar (Kings), Brayden Point (Lightning)
Yahoo Sports’ poll: Anze Kopitar, Jack Hughes, Brayden Point, Joe Pavelski (Stars), Aleksander Barkov (Panthers)
NHL Awards finalists announcement schedule
Tuesday, May 9: Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Wednesday, May 10: Ted Lindsay Award
Thursday, May 11: Vezina Trophy
Friday, May 12: Hart Memorial Trophy
When are the NHL Awards?
The NHL Awards will happen Monday, June 26 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It might be broadcast stay at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, and TNT within the United States.
