Overview
- CBS Sports' halfway picks name Nathan MacKinnon for the Hart, Cale Makar for the Norris, Jared Bednar for the Jack Adams, Matthew Schaefer for the Calder and Jesper Wallstedt for the Vezina.
- MacKinnon's MVP case includes a five-on-five goal differential of plus-42 and a 70-goal, 148-point pace, while The Hockey News notes he leads with 74 points as Connor McDavid closes to within two.
- Makar’s Norris bid is backed by 47 points through 41 games and a plus-25 five-on-five goal differential against top competition.
- Bednar’s coaching nod reflects Colorado’s 31-3-7 start, a 57.3% five-on-five expected goals share, and league leads in goals for (164) and goals against (89), with a pace that projects to 138 points.
- The Vezina race is described as wide open even as Wallstedt gets the nod with 15.5 goals saved above average in 14 appearances and a .926 save percentage, and Schaefer leads the Calder race with 12 goals and 16 assists in 42 games.