NHL Mid-Season Award Winners

As we have just passed the mid-way point off the season we thought that we would share our picks for the NHL awards based on the first half performance.  We have also included our list of the top 10 disappointments for teams and players in the NHL lockout, shortened season.

Here is a look at some of the disappointments thus far.  Before we get to our picks, here is a reminder as to what skills the respective NHL awards are presented for:

Hart Memorial Trophy Awarded to the league’s most valuable player
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Awarded to the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability
Vezina Trophy Awarded to the league’s top goaltender
Calder Memorial Trophy Awarded to the league’s most outstanding rookie player
Art Ross Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season
James Norris Memorial Trophy Awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey
Ted Lindsay Award Awarded to the NHL’s outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association
Jack Adams Award Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success
Frank J. Selke Trophy Awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game
William M. Jennings Trophy Awarded to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it in the regular season
NHL Plus-Minus Award Awarded to the player with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season
King Clancy Memorial Trophy Awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community
NHL Foundation Player Award Awarded to the player who applies the core values of hockey to enrich the lives of people in his community
Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award Awarded to the goaltender who has played a minimum of 25 games in the regular season and has the highest save percentage
Mark Messier Leadership Award Awarded to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season (Awarded by Mark Messier, himself)
NHL General Manager of the Year Awarded to the top National Hockey League General Manager
Award Mid-Season Winner Team
Hart Memorial Trophy Sidney Crosby PGH
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Patrick Kane CHI
Vezina Trophy Craig Anderson OTT
Calder Memorial Trophy Cory Conacher TB
Art Ross Trophy Sidney Crosby PGH
James Norris Memorial Trophy Kris Letang PGH
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Sidney Crosby PGH
Ted Lindsay Award Sidney Crosby PGH
Jack Adams Award Joel Quenneville CHI
Frank J. Selke Trophy Patrice Bergeron BOS
William M. Jennings Trophy Craig Anderson OTT
NHL Plus-Minus Award Chris Kunitz PGH
King Clancy Memorial Trophy Andrew Ladd WPG
NHL Foundation Player Award Steven Stamkos TB
Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy Steven Stamkos TB
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award Craig Anderson OTT
Mark Messier Leadership Award Johnathan Toews CHI
NHL General Manager of the Year Stan Bowman CHI

A lot of Chicago and Pittsburgh players dominating the mid-season awards.

Top 10 Disappointing NHL Teams

  1. New York Rangers
  2. Philadelphia Flyers
  3. Edmonton Oilers
  4. Washington Capitals
  5. Tampa Bay Lightning
  6. Buffalo Sabres
  7. Nashville Predators
  8. San Jose Sharks
  9. Calgary Flames
  10. Los Angeles Kings

Top 10 Disappointing Players

  1. Cory Schneider – Vancouver Canucks
  2. Mike Richards – New York Rangers
  3. David Booth – Vancouver Canucks
  4. Shea Weber – Nashville Predators
  5. Jordan Eberle – Edmonton Oilers
  6. Danny Briere – Philadelphia Flyers
  7. Cam Ward – Carolina Hurricanes
  8. Brian Campbell – Florida Panthers
  9. Mike Richards – Los Angeles Kings
  10. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers

Top 10 Most Surprising Players

  1. Jakub Voracek – Philadelphia Flyers
  2. Sam Gagner – Edmonton Oilers
  3. Nazem Kadri – Toronto Maple Leafs
  4. Chris Stewart – St. Louis Blues
  5. Francois Beauchemin – Anaheim Ducks
  6. Jeff Carter – Los Angeles Kings
  7. Patrick Elias – New Jersey Devils
  8. Marc-Andre Fleury – Pittsburgh Penguins
  9. Saku Koivu – Anaheim Ducks
  10. Craig Anderson – Ottawa Senators

We will see what the second half of the season beholds, but there is bound to be some players that step it up and a few that disappoint.  Anything can happen in a shortened season.