DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
Rielly’s early Norris material, and more award frontrunners at turkey day turning point,
Is it too early to decide who’s going to win the Hart Trophy, or the Norris? Can’t be.
U.S. Thanksgiving is this week, a time when NHL general managers traditionally assess whether their team will make the playoffs — and part of the reason why we’ve hit coach-firing season.
It should be called Bleak Friday, not Black Friday, because if a team is on the outside looking in by then it typically doesn’t make it to the post-season. Usually only three teams buck the trend, based on the standings dating back to 1993.
So,13 of16 spots on average are spoken for. If that’s the case, then the players who powered their teams to playoff positions are the real MVPs — giving teams the breathing room they’ll need to hold their spots for the final 60 games.
You could argue that Nikita Kucherov was robbed of Hart consideration last year. His blazing start to the season started Tampa on its way, but it was the finish by others — eventual winner Taylor Hall and Nathan MacKinnon — that won the day. Here’s how the major award races look now.
HART TROPHY Connor McDavid, Oilers
The Edmonton captain is strengthening his grip as the game’s best player, and the one who best fits the description of the trophy: most valuable to his team. Others who might wear that mantle, Sidney Crosby and Auston Matthews, are injured. Crosby’s Penguins are also on the outside of the playoff race, while Matthews’ Leafs look just as strong with him as without. MacKinnon is making a strong case again. Part of the reason for Edmonton’s coaching change was GM Peter Chiarelli’s belief that the Oilers are a playoff team. If they get there, it will have been on McDavid’s shoulders.
NORRIS TROPHY Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs
By a hair over Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot. Funny, but neither of them has ever really been in the conversation before. Chabot is a real find by the Senators, a reason to believe in a post-Erik Karlsson future, but Rielly has stepped up for the Leafs — especially in Matthews’ absence — and his game has reached another level. Among past winners, Brent Burns is having the best season. The voters should have a close look at Calgary’s Mark Giordano as well, or any of Carolina’s blueliners.
ADAMS TROPHY Claude Julien, Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are easily the surprise team of the NHL and legitimate playoff contenders. They’ve done so without their best defenceman, Shea Weber, and with a lessthan-stellar Carey Price in net. Julien is using the team’s newfound speed, while learning the lessons of the Vegas Golden Knights’ success last year by dishing out ice time on merit: Play well, you play. The Habs are responding. All bets are off if Barry Trotz continues to lead the John Tavares-less New York Islanders into contention. At some point, Peter Laviolette and Paul Maurice are going to deserve credit for the Predators and Jets, respectively.
VEZINA TROPHY Pekka Rinne, Predators
He’s won it before, but the Nashville netminder stands out for leading the league in save percentage (.942), and residing among the leaders in high-danger save percentage (.913 according to naturalstat- trick.com). That’s not an official NHL stat, but one that teams pay close attention to. Boston’s Jaroslav Halak (.935/.917) is having a good year on both fronts, too, but will probably cede the crease when Tuukka Rask returns. Calgary’s David Rittich is a long shot putting up spectacular numbers (.931/ .934). Watch out for him if the Flames make the playoffs and he takes the net from Mike Smith. Toronto’s Frederik Andersen (.935) will get some attention, too, but his high-danger save percentage (.835) is low compared to the others.
CALDER TROPHY
Elias Pettersson, Canucks The Vancouver forward has 19 points in 17 games to lead all rookies. He’s overcome a concussion already. There’s a buzz about him that make the Canucks a fun team to keep an eye on. Scoring generally wins over Calder voters, but look deeper and the Senators play better when Brady Tkachuk (10 points in 10 games) isn’t injured, while Dallas defenceman Miro Heiskanen leads all rookies in average time on ice. Don’t forget No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin of the surging Buffalo Sabres.
SELKE TROPHY
Wide open. It’s Patrice Bergeron’s turn because Anze Kopitar won it last year. The two seem to alternate, but Bergeron will miss a month with a rib injury. The defensive forward trophy has increasingly gone to first-line players, an acknowledgement in part that the best defence is a strong offence, and also that first-liners play against much tougher opponents. Boston’s Bergeron fits the bill, still killing penalties. On that front, Detroit’s Dylan Larkin will one day be worthy of consideration. Arizona’s Michael Grabner is a pretty good defensive forward, too, but lacks star appeal. How about Crosby?