Editor In Leaf Mid-Season NHL Awards: Predators Clean Up

Jun 24, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron poses with the Selke Trophy after being named the NHL

The majority of the National Hockey League teams have hit the mid-season point of the 2014-2015 campaign so the staff at Editor In Leaf have selected the winners of the major NHL awards.

Using the 9-7-5-3-1 point system for awards with five votes and the 5-3-1 point system for awards with three votes, the EIL staff has come to a consensus vote on the Hart, Norris, Vezina, Calder, Byng, Selke, Adams and GM of the Year awards – with one award having co-winners.

There were submissions from five out of the six staff members at Editor In Leaf.

Let’s take a look at who took home the hardware as well as who – other than the winner – received first place votes from our staff.

Next: Lady Byng Trophy

Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks

Dec 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) with the puck during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Kane received two first place votes to go with one third, fourth and fifth place votes to win the Lady Byng Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player through the first half of the year.

Prior to Friday’s games, Kane had only one minor penalty all season while being third in league scoring and playing over twenty minutes per game.

Best of the Rest: Johnny Gaudreau – Calgary (2 first place votes) and Cam Fowler – Anaheim (1 first place vote)

Next: Frank J. Selke Trophy

Patrice Bergeron – Boston Bruins

Jan 7, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) carries the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Boston won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Patrice Bergeron edged Jonathan Toews by three points to win the Selke Award as the league’s best defensive forward.

Bergeron’s two-way play has kept the Bruins afloat while they dealt with a plethora of injuries to their blueline this year.

The Bruins center had one first place vote, two second place votes and one third place vote.

Best of the Rest: Jonathan Toews – Chicago (2 first place votes), Ondrej Palat – Tampa Bay (1 first place vote) and Jakub Voracek – Philadelphia (1 first place vote)

Next: GM of the Year

Co-Winners: Garth Snow – New York Islanders & David Poille – Nashville Predators

Aug 8, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow speaks at a press conference at Yankee Stadium. Two outdoor regular-season NHL games will be played at Yankee Stadium during the 2013-14 season as part of the 2014 Stadium Series. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow has established depth on forward and defence while finding his man in goal in Jaroslav Halak. The result has been the Islanders sitting among the powers of the East through half of a season.

Snow received one first place vote and two second place votes.

David Poille added James Neal, made a key change behind the bench for the Nashville Predators and has watched what could be his greatest move in his history – Filip Forsberg – have a breakout season.

The Predators are one of the best teams in the NHL right now thanks to the work that Poille has done.

The Predators GM received two first place votes and one third place vote to be a co-winner with Snow.

Best of the Rest: Jim Rutherford – Pittsburgh (1 first place vote) and Jim Benning – Vancouver (1 first place vote)

Next: Jack Adams Award

Peter Laviolette – Nashville Predators

Dec 11, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette looks on during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Peter Laviolette has turned the Nashville Predators around from marginal playoff expectations to a Western Conference powerhouse in the span of one half season.

The offensive-minded coach received three first place votes, one second place vote and one third place vote to win the award.

Best of the Rest: Bob Hartley – Calgary (1 first place vote) and Mike Babcock – Detroit (1 first place vote)

Next: Calder Memorial Trophy

Filip Forsberg – Nashville Predators

Jan 6, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Filip Forsberg (9) during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Through 40 games Filip Forsberg sits 16th in the NHL in scoring with 38 points and holds a +23 rating in his rookie campaign.

The former Washington Capitals pick was acquired for Martin Erat and has burst onto the NHL scene with one of the best rookie campaigns in several seasons.

He received 1 first place vote and 4 second place votes to take home Rookie of the Year honors, narrowly edging Florida’s Aaron Ekblad.

Best of the Rest: Aaron Ekblad – Florida (3 first place votes) and Johnny Gaudreau – Calgary (1 first place vote)

Next: Vezina Trophy

Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators

Dec 27, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) makes a save during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Pekka Rinne is widely considered the MVP on the Nashville Predators this season – and rightfully so.

The Predators gatekeeper has a 2.00 GAA to go with a .929 save percentage en route to a 27-6-2 record to have some of the best numbers around the league.

Rinne received 5 first place votes to sweep the voting (the only award to do so) among Editor In Leaf staff.

Best of the Rest: Carey Price – Montreal (4 second place votes)

Next: Norris Trophy

Mark Giordano – Calgary Flames

Dec 31, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano (5) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won in overtime 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Giordano is having a career year in Calgary and is one of the reasons they are still relevant in the playoff race in the Western Conference.

The Flames rearguard is second in scoring among NHL defenders with 35 points in 41 games – including 10 goals – and has a +16 rating.

Long over-due for recognition, Giordano received 3 first place votes, 1 second place vote and 1 third place vote to win the award for the NHL’s Best Defenceman.

Best of the Rest: Shea Weber – Nashville (1 first place vote) and Duncan Keith – Chicago (1 first place vote)

Next: Hart Trophy