With Carey Price injured, and thus not around to claim any and all plaudits he qualifies for, picking winners for the NHL's four major, most-contentious awards proved to be a difficult task.
No thanks to Carey (tongue planted firmly in cheek, Canadiens fans), here's who's worthy of hardware this season.
Hart Trophy
"Player judged most valuable to his team"
1. Patrick Kane
2. Sidney Crosby
3. Jamie Benn
4. Erik Karlsson
5. Joe Thornton
The NHL's most prolific scorer, Kane finished 17 points clear of the field and became the first American to win the Art Ross Trophy. His 106 points were the second-most for a single season over the last five full campaigns, trailing only Evgeni Malkin's 109-point Hart Trophy season in 2011-12.
After a woeful start, Crosby scored a league-best 66 points since Kane's historic 26-game scoring run ended in mid-December. That's obviously a self-serving point of reference, but it is just a few days after the Pens turned to Mike Sullivan, who uncaged his captain when he took control. Pittsburgh scored more goals than any other team from that point on.
Benn was an all-situations megastar for Dallas, but will come up short once again. He's worthy of recognition, of course, being the most proficient point producer over the last two years. Meanwhile, the argument for Thornton is quite compelling. The 36-year-old was a force in all situations, evidenced by an incredible 70.7 GF% at even strength, and a top-five finish in power-play points.
Norris Trophy
"Player who demonstrates ... the greatest all-round ability in the position"
1. Erik Karlsson
2. Drew Doughty
3. Kris Letang
4. Brent Burns
5. Roman Josi
With no hard and fast rules, and with votes cast largely on the basis of what the individual covets from varying functions at the position, the Norris is, and will remain, the most-contentious category.
It's shortsighted to subscribe to the notion that it's the leading point-getter's to lose, and the winner probably shouldn't be pulling more pucks out of their own net at even strength. But Karlsson's all-time great offensive year trumps these factors. He became the first defenseman to lead the league in assists in 42 years, the first to finish top five in scoring in 30 years, and his 82 points were the most at the position in 20 years. All this, with a team devoid of elite talent elsewhere.
Indisputably, Doughty makes sacrifices, performing to the letter in a scheme that wouldn't necessarily cater to the skills of Karlsson. And for that reason, the Senators captain illuminates brighter. But it also contributes to Ottawa being an inferior team, because the Senators can't seem to disengage from the style that only their uber-talented captain can employ efficiently.
What's interesting is that Letang - like Crosby, once the Penguins made a coaching change - became almost the perfect medium between Karlsson and Doughty, blending elite shot-suppression with volume scoring for the final four months of the season.
Lastly and again perhaps unfairly discounting the Sharks, Burns had a truly fantastic year, posting career highs in both goals and assists, and leaping into the upper echelon of defensemen. He was entrusted with the fourth-most ice time among blue liners and the Sharks scored more goals per timed measurement (also allowing fewer) than the Senators did when Karlsson was out.
Vezina Trophy
"Adjudged to be the best at his position"
1. Braden Holtby
2. Ben Bishop
3. Henrik Lundqvist
4. Corey Crawford
5. Cory Schneider
Washington's success will more than likely be the reason that sees Holtby win his first Vezina Trophy, not his raw statistics. His .922 save percentage, 2.20 goals-against average, and three shutouts are a far cry from Price's inimitable numbers of last year. But Holtby's 48 wins, which matched an NHL record, is a historical triumph that stands above individual feats elsewhere.
It's Bishop, though, that has the best case. Anchoring a team that clearly didn't measure up against the Capitals, Bishop had 10 losses in which he surrendered two goals or fewer. Holtby allowed three or more in 13 of the 17 games in which he appeared and Washington lost.
Lundqvist, too, deserves a nomination. He was under siege on a team that was dominated at even strength, forced into making more saves than any other goalie.
Calder Trophy
"Most proficient in his first year of competition"
1. Artemi Panarin
2. Shayne Gostisbehere
3. Connor McDavid
4. John Gibson
5. Jack Eichel
Panarin had a Jamie Benn-like Art Ross end to the most-productive rookie season in nine years, scoring 13 points over his final five games to seize a lucrative top ten finish in NHL scoring. That lasting image of him galloping in celebration of his incentivized 30th goal would make for good footage if his name is called in Las Vegas.
Gostisbehere would have a stronger case if the Calder was given to "most valuable," as his puck-moving proficiency truly turned the Flyers' fortunes. He ignited what was a stagnant power play, likely the difference in making the postseason, and scored four overtime winners.
There's little doubt that over the course of an 82-game season, McDavid, who finished third with 1.07 points per game, would be the runaway winner. Granted, this reasoning doesn't jive with the definition of "most proficient." But unlike Panarin and Gostisbehere, McDavid wasn't able to help his team accomplish something in his 45 games.
And yes, Gibson, the only All-Star here, is still technically a rookie despite seeing three different seasons of NHL competition. He turned in a .920 save rate, 2.07 goals-against average, and four clean sheets in 40 games, helping Anaheim open up the best goal differential since his recall in late November.
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