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Winnipeg Jets Award Candidates at the Halfway Mark

By Kyle McCarthy

WINNIPEG, MB - DECEMBER 3: Head Coach Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets points out a play to Assistant Coach Charlie Huddy during third period action against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell MTS Place on December 3, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets shutout the Senators 5-0. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - DECEMBER 3: Head Coach Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets points out a play to Assistant Coach Charlie Huddy during third period action against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell MTS Place on December 3, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets shutout the Senators 5-0. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets stand at 23-11-7 (53 points, 1st in Central) at 41 games in. A first place team with the third highest goal differential in the conference must have some difference-makers. Let’s take a look at who might take home some hardware:

The Vezina – Steve Mason probably has zero chance of getting any consideration. And if we’re looking at the first half, Andrei Vasilevskiy is a shoo-in. He paces the NHL with a .937 save percentage, 26 wins, 1.95 GAA and six shutouts. He’s been nothing short of incredible, and it would take quite a slide to lose the award. That being said, he’ll probably make another 30 starts or so.

Also, there’s three finalists for the award. As it stands, Connor Hellebuyck is probably on the outside looking in. He’s third with 21 wins and sixth in save percentage, tied with Henrik Lundqvist and John Gibson. The field gets muddled after Vasilevskiy, so the second half is definitely going to sort out the other finalists. I would put a few guys over Hellebuyck, but he can rally.

Calder Trophy – Kyle Connor is really the Jets only rookie regular, but his chance at the Calder is pretty slim at this point. His 13 goals and 25 points are really inspiring, and a rookie with .71 points per game is a fine player to have. Brock Boeser of Vancouver leads all rookies with 38 points and 21 goals. The next guy on the goal leaderboard is Clayton Keller, at 13. Not even 2/3 of Boeser’s total.

Connor is a top 5 rookie this season, though it’s conceivable a great rush in the second half propels him. I wouldn’t bank on a player this young getting stronger as the season wears on, but hey, you never know.

Hart Trophy – The Big One. I’m going to lump the Art Ross and Rocket Richard awards in with this category, as much of the same statistics will be used. Blake Wheeler sits sixth in the league with 47 points, but only 13 goals. Not really the kind of flashy numbers you look for in an MVP candidate.

Patrik Laine is tied for eighth with 18 goals, but he’s your best bet to rip off more than 20 more and contend for the Rocket Richard trophy. Alex Ovechkin predictably leads the league with 26. Nikita Kucherov of Tampa is currently the front runner for the Hart. He’s six ahead of everyone else with 56 points, and he’s a close second at 25 goals. A great season for Tampa’s Russian players, it seems.

It’s hard to envision a world where anyone on the Winnipeg Jets comes home with the Hart.  That’s okay. There’s only one piece of hardware the team is after this year, anyway.

We’ve covered most main awards, but things like the Norris Trophy and Selke are too difficult for me to predict, or are too far out of reach.

A few things to note, however. Paul Maurice has a decent shot at the Jack Adams award. Bringing a team from 87 points and out of the playoffs to first in the Central Division halfway through is no small feat. If the Jets can continue their success, he’s as good a candidate as any. Coaching awards are usually “perceived overachiever” awards. The team that most exceeds expectations, more often than not, comes away with these.

Players like Kyle Connor (six penalty minutes) and Adam Lowry (same) are capable of winning the Lady Byng, but I don’t know that anyone cares about that. Tell me who won it last year? Without looking it up. It was Johnny Gaudreau, apparently.  Mark Scheifele had a decent shot before his injury, I suppose.

Next: Winnipeg Jets: Looking ahead at the Trade Deadline

What about our shot at the Presidents Trophy?

Another thing to consider, the President’s Trophy! The Winnipeg Jets trail only the Golden Knights (!!!) and Tampa Bay Lightning in points. There’s a route there. I’m sure they would be thrilled to win that, and secure home advantage in the playoffs. That will help them secure the trophy that matters.

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