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.