NHL Mid Season Awards

With the NHL All Star Game this weekend, it is time to take a look at my mid season favorites for the NHL's major individual awards. So without any more waiting, here we go!

Hart Trophy (NHL MVP): Rick Nash: New York Rangers

Now although Rick Nash is not leading the league in the major individual categories, he has been the prime reason for the success the Rangers are having this season. Nash is 15th in the NHL with 43 points, tied for the NHL lead in goals at 28, and 10th in the NHL in plus/minus at a +18 rating. The Rangers are sitting third in the Metropolitan Division just five points back of division leader, and in state rival, the New York Islanders. It is easy to say Nash is the catalyst to the Rangers first half success and will continue being that for the Rangers as the season continues down the stretch towards the playoffs.

James Norris Memorial Trophy (NHL Top Defenseman) Mark Giordano: Calgary Flames

Well, I think it is safe to say nobody expected the Flames to have as much success this season as they are right now and much of that is due to the outstanding defensive play or Giordano. Not only is he a factor of keeping opposing teams off the scoreboard, his +21 rating shows that he is a force when it comes to scoring goals too. He leads NHL defensemen in points (39), third in assists (28), tied for fifth in goals (11) and is second in plus/minus, only behind teammate TJ Brodie. I think it is safe to say Mark Giordano has earned this honor at the mid season point. 

Vezina Trophy (NHL Top Goalie) Pekka Rinne: Nashville Predators 

Pekka Rinne has been amazing between the pipes for Nashville in the first half of the season. Although he recently has been sidelined with injury, he still holds four more victories than any NHL goaltender with 29 in 37 games played this season. He is also second in goals against (1.96), which is also the only other goalie in the NHL below a GAA of 2. Rinne is third in save percent (.931) and sixth in shutouts (3). The numbers speak for themselves, now lets see if he can keep it up once he returns from injury.

Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Forward) Jonathan Toews: Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are one of the top teams in the NHL once again this sesaon and their defense is one of the main reasons for their success, and Jonathan Toews is leading the defensive charge with all forwards. The Hawks as a whole are one of the top defensive teams in the league this season, just allowing 105 goals on the season. Captain Jonathan Toews, with a +15 rating always does the little things right and is not afraid to battle below the goal line and in the corners. He also is a top penalty killer for Chicago and a big part of that is because of his ability to win key faceoffs. 

Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) Filip Forsberg: Nashville Predators
Forsberg leads every major category for skaters among all rookies. The kid has turned heads of the entire NHL and has instantly become a major part of the Nashville line-up. His 40 points have him six points ahead of Johnny "hockey" Gaudreau in Calgary. Forsberg is the future face of the Predators and will be among the top scorers in the NHL for many years to come if he can keep this dynamic style of play up. 

Jack Adams Award ( Coach of the Year) Peter Laviolette: Nashville Predators 

After the departure for the only coach in Nashville Predators history, Barry Trotz, Nashville was put up to the task of finding a replacement for the long tenured coach and Peter Laviolette was that answer. Last season, Nashville was one of the worst teams in the NHL, and with some off-season additions, or trades last year by gaining James Neal, the light at the end of the tunnel was near. Peter Laviolette has turned this ship around, at least for now, and has this team at number one in the NHL. Even with the falling of Pekka Rinne, the Predators continue to roll, and much of that is the players have the trust in Laviolette's system and trust him in his methods.

NHL Quarter Awards

With the season already a quarter over, lets take a look at who should win the Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder, and Jack Adams trophies if the season were to end right now.

Hart: Sidney Crosby
Well no surprise here as Crosby is tops in the NHL in Points and second in assists. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is leading the charge in the NHL and showing off the superstar like player we have all come to know very well, like him or hate him. Crosby is on pace for 119 points this season, scoring at 1.45 points per game. Scoring at this rate, Crosby, and Pittsburgh will be very tough to beat.

Norris: Ryan Suter
The league's top work horse is proving once again on why he is one of the elite NHL defenders. Suter leads all defenders in plus/minus at +13, which is also third in the NHL, and is a +6 in his last five games. Even though Mark Giordano leads all NHL defenders in points, Suter's 11 is still nothing to sneeze at for a defenseman at the quarter point. Give it time and the points will come for Ryan Suter.

Vezina: Pekka Rinne
Probably on one of the biggest surprise teams this season, Rinne is putting up the best numbers between the pipes in the NHL this season. He tops the
league with 14 wins. His 1.97 goals against average and .927 save percent also find him in the top five in the NHL among his fellow goalies. In 18 games played, Rinne is 14-3-1 and looks to remain among the NHL elite goaltenders for the remainder of the season.

Calder: Filip Forsberg
The 2012 first rounder for Nashville has turned heads in the early season and has become a big part to the Preds success so far. His +18 rating is tops in the NHL and his 22 points find him leading all NHL rookies as well, this is also good enough for 12th in the NHL too. Forsberg is in the top 20 in all major statistical categories in the NHL and leads all rookies in them as well.

Jack Adams: Jack Capuano
The Islanders coach has had one of the toughest coaching jobs since taking over a sinking New York Islanders in 2010 and last season was no different. Making the playoffs just one time since taking over, 2012-2013 first round loss to Pittsburgh, the Islanders have established their young talent and have found themselves sixth in the NHL in total points right now. Capuano has done a wonderful job turning this team around this season, and if the
success continues, look for a nice playoff run for the boys on Long Island.

(Video) David Backes wipes out Pekka Rinne

St. Louis forward David Backes runs over Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.  Depending on your perspective. Nothing like going hard to the net. The boxscores reads after the play was over (see below).

12:27 NSH Mike Fisher Roughing - 2 min against David Backes
12:27 STL David Backes Roughing - 2 min against Mike Fisher
12:27 NSH Mike Fisher served by Viktor Stalberg Roughing - 2 min against David Backes

Datsyuk scores a pretty goal off of thievery...

In a day that was filled with thuggery and some good hockey fights, the Detroit Redwings star forward Pavel Datsyuk scored a really nice goal and displayed some thievery. The Detroit Redwings still lost the game to the Nashville Predators 3-2. Datsyuk has a goal and two assists in three playoff games for the Redwings.

Pekka Rinne's amazing save in O.T.

This is one of the reasons why Pekka Rinne's is a finalists for the Vezina Trophy this season. Check out this amazing game saving stop in overtime of last night's game with the Vancouver Canucks. The Predators won the game 2-1 in double overtime. The Vancouver Canucks' fan base is now in full meltdown mode.

Yahoo.com --- Roberto Luongo led the Canucks to the league’s best record and the lowest team goals-against average (2.20). Luongo was 38-15-7 in 60 appearances, and his goals against average was 2.11.

Pekka Rinne was 33-22-9 with a 2.12 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and six shutouts.

Tim Thomas rebounded from offseason hip surgery, and the ’09 Vezina winner was 35-11-9, with a .938 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average. He had nine shutouts.