Awards Watch: Carey Price takes over top spot in Vezina Trophy race
Every two weeks from now until the end of the season, theScore will examine the leading candidates for five of the NHL Awards.
Hart Trophy: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Kane is suddenly vaulting up the points leaders list and now sits third in the NHL with 51 in 46 games. He has nine points in his last six games, and while the Blackhawks have lost five of their last nine, they remain in the top half of the Western Conference playoff picture.
Honorable mention: Tyler Seguin is tied for the league lead in goals (28) and ranks second in points (52). The Stars are four points out of a playoff spot and if they can squeeze in, Seguin will be a nominee. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain in the mix.
Vezina Trophy: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard will have a difficult time winning the award now, due to their respective injuries, so that thrusts the spotlight on Price. Among healthy goaltenders with at least 23 games played, Price leads the pack with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
Honorable mention: Rinne still deserves a nomination if he returns on schedule and continues to excel. We've been banging the Michael Hutchinson drum for a while, but he'll be a tough sell even after earning the bulk of the starts in Winnipeg.
Jack Adams Award: Paul Maurice, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have won four in a row and five of their last six games. Maurice's team has been the most surprising of the squads in playoff positions through the first half. They are 17th in goals for per game (2.7), but they allow the seventh-fewest in the league (2.4).
Honorable mention: Jack Capuano's Islanders have made the most impressive turnaround, but it was expected after general manager Garth Snow's offseason additions. Capuano deserves a nomination if the second half plays out like the first.
Norris Trophy: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
The Kings were shorthanded on the back end for much of the first half and Doughty carried the load almost single-handedly, logging at least 30 minutes in 22 of 46 games. Doughty's time-on-ice average of 29:23 is second in the NHL to Ryan Suter, and his 28 points are tied for 8th among blue-liners.
Honorable mention: Kevin Shattenkirk and Mark Giordano still sit atop the list of points by defensemen and Shattenkirk is tied with Claude Giroux for the league lead among all skaters with 24 power-play points.
Calder Trophy: Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Forsberg leads all rookies with 40 points in 45 games and he's been the front-runner for the balance of the season. He's slowed down a bit, with one goal in his last 11 games, but he's still at the head of the rookie class.
Honorable mention: Eighteen-year-old defenseman Aaron Ekblad has 25 points in 44 games for the Panthers and Johnny Gaudreau is second to Forsberg in rookie scoring with 34 points in 45 contests.