TROPHY PICKS NOT HALF BAD

Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews found his way onto the Professional Hockey Writers Association mid-season awards list released Friday morning in advance of the NHL’s all-star weekend in Tampa, which starts with Saturday’s skills competition. Matthews finished second to Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau in early voting for the Lady Byng Award, which goes to the player who best exhibits sportsmanship and gentlemanly play, combined with a high level of playing ability. The midseason awards were revived this season, marking their first appearance since 1969. More than 150 writers and broadcasters — and some 2,000 fans recruited through social media — had their say on the early winners of the Hart, Norris, Calder, Vezina, Lady Byng, Selke, Jack Adams and top GM awards. Two new one were also up for voting — the Rod Langway Award for best defensive defenceman, and the comeback player of the year. Here’s a list of the top three in each category:

HART (MVP)

Nikita Kucherov Lightning Nathan MacKinnon Avalanche John Tavares Islanders

NORRIS (DEFENCEMAN)

Victor Hedman Lightning Drew Doughty Kings John Klingberg Stars

SELKE (DEFENSIVE FORWARD)

Patrice Bergeron Bruins Sean Couturier Flyers Anze Kopitar Kings

CALDER (ROOKIE)

Mathew Barzal Islanders Brock Boeser Canucks Charlie McAvoy Bruins

LADY BYNG (SPORTSMANLIKE)

Johnny Gaudreau Flames Auston Matthews Maple Leafs Ryan O’Reilly Sabres

VEZINA (GOALIE)

Andrei Vasilevskiy Lightning Connor Hellebuyck Jets Pekka Rinne Predators

ADAMS (COACH)

Gerard Gallant Golden Knights Jon Cooper Lightning Paul Maurice Jets

GENERAL MANAGER

George McPhee Golden Knights Steve Yzerman Lightning Ray Shero Devils

LANGWAY (DEFENSIVE D-MAN)

Drew Doughty Kings Zdeno Chara Bruins Victor Hedman Lightning

COMEBACK PLAYER

Steven Stamkos Lightning Brian Boyle Devils Claude Giroux Flyers