NHL Mid-Season Awards: Winners, Honorable Mentions for Each Trophy

Dec 31, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) readies at the face-off circle against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) readies at the face-off circle against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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NHL Mid-Season Awards: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck in the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Oilers 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Mid-Season Awards: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck in the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Oilers 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Mid-Season Awards: Winners, Honorable Mentions for Each Major Trophy in 2016-17 (Hart, Vezina, Art Ross, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Norris, Calder, Selke, Presidents’, Prince of Wales, Clarence Campbell, Stanley Cup)

Welcome to our NHL mid-season awards. With teams having played between 38-43 games, it seems we’ve reached the halfway point of the 2016-17 season. There has been no shortage of surprises thus far and we’re likely in for an exciting second half. We’ve got the trade deadline, playoffs, an expansion draft, all of which should generate some very intriguing headlines.

Today, I’d like to present our NHL mid-season awards. We’ve selected winners for each major trophy along with honorable mentions that could challenge over the course of 82 games. As a bonus, I’ve included long-term predictions for each award/team trophy.

NHL Mid-Season Awards in 2016-17

Dec 31, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Hart Trophy (League MVP)

NHL Mid-Season Awards Winner: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)

If he hadn’t missed time due to a concussion to open the year, Crosby would easily have a comfortable lead in the scoring race. Tied for second with Patrick Kane at 44 points, Sidney sits just four behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid with nine fewer games played. Long story short, Crosby has been the best player on the planet for the past year and a half (Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, World Cup Gold, etc.).

Honorable Mentions: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens), Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Long-Term Prediction Winner: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)

As mentioned, Crosby has 44 points in 33 games after missing the Pens first six games. With 43 games remaining, Sidney is on pace for 109 points in 2016-17. The scary thing; there’s nothing that suggests his production might slow anytime soon.