Stamkos, Kucherov are early MVP candidates
Bobrovsky, Pietrangelo look good
The National Hockey League season is not even 50 days old, but history shows that teams not in a playoff position by the end of November, will have a difficult time getting there by the end of the season.
With 309 games already played, we will be at the quarter pole of the season this week.
USA Today Sports NHL columnist Kevin Allen and NHL editor Jimmy Hascup weigh in with their award front-runners.
Hart Trophy (MVP) Allen: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: It’s truthfully a toss-up between Stamkos and his goalscoring-machine linemate Nikita Kucherov, but Stamkos might be playing the best hockey of his career. Runner-up: Kucherov. Hascup: Kucherov, Lightning: He’s the league’s leading goal scorer on the NHL’s top team. Kucherov also ranks second with 33 points and leads the league in points per 60 minutes (3.78) at even strength among players with at least 200 minutes. Runner-up: Jaden Schwartz (Blues).
Calder Trophy (Rookie) Allen: Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes: The 11 goals are impressive, but his most telling statistics are his 71 shots on goal. That ranks 12th in the NHL. Runner-up: Will Butcher (Devils). Hascup: Matthew Barzal (New York Islanders): Barzal’s emergence as a legitimate top-six centre has been vital. He leads rookies in points (19); he has a 54 per cent Corsi (five per cent better than his team without him on the ice) and is 18th in the NHL in primary points (first assist or goal) per 60 minutes. Runner-up: Keller.
Vezina Trophy (Goalie) Allen: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets: In 16 starts, Bobrovsky owns a .933 save percentage and has given up one goal or less eight times. Runner-up: Corey Crawford (Blackhawks). Hascup: Bobrovsky: Among starters, Bobrovsky is first in overall save percentage (.933), first in five-on-five save percentage (.944) and tied for third in wins (11). Runnerup: Crawford. Norris Trophy (Defenceman) Allen: Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues: He has played a major role in the Blues’ 15-5-1 start. Pietrangelo is playing 26:12 per game, and he’s tied for second among defencemen in shots on goal (69). Only 16 defencemen are playing 25 or more minutes, and he leads them all in plus-minus (+9). Runner-up: Victor Hedman (Lightning). Hascup: Pietrangelo: He’s tied for first among defencemen in points (19); he’s a positive possession player and has a 64 per cent goals-for percentage (16 goals for, nine against at even strength). Runnerup: Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators).
Jack Adams Award (Coach) Allen: Mike Yeo, Blues: His team has been the NHL’s best since he took over the Blues last February. Runner-up: John Hynes (Devils). Hascup: John Stevens, Los Angeles Kings: Their puck possession is worse than previous seasons, but the Kings have scored more and look rejuvenated.
Biggest Disappointment Allen: Edmonton Oilers: They were a fashionable pick to reach the Stanley Cup final and this morning they rank 29th out of 31 NHL teams. Runner-up: Canadiens. Hascup: Oilers: This season was supposed to be the start of some more glory years. Runner-up: Canadiens.
Most Improved Team Allen: New Jersey Devils: How many pundits projected the Devils leading the Metropolitan Division? Zero would be a good guess. Runner-up: Golden Knights. Hascup: Devils: They are better, especially on offense. Even though they’ve gone from 28th to seventh in the overall standings, there are questions about sustainability. Runner-up: Kings.
Biggest Surprise Allen: Brayden Schenn, Blues: Schenn is among the scoring leaders. He’s on a 100-point pace after never having more than 59 in his career. Runner-up: Sean Couturier (Flyers). Hascup: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg signed Steve Mason after Hellebuyck’s disappointing 2016-17 season. Now, Hellebuyck (.931 save percentage in 15 games) is the reason the Jets have gotten off to a strong start. Runnerup: Couturier.
Biggest Mystery Allen: Pittsburgh Penguins: The two-time defending champions rank 26th in goals-against average and are strangely inconsistent. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are both minus-12. Phil Kessel (+2) is the only big-name Penguins player who isn’t minus. Their five-on-five scoring average is one of the NHL’s worst. Runner-up: Wild. Hascup: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: He hasn’t played since Nov. 2 and his return date is unclear. Even when he played, he sported a 3.77 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. Runner-up: New York Rangers.