Will Florida fill its trophy case in 2022? A midseason awards case for six key Panthers
The Florida Panthers are only focused on one trophy this season, but their thrilling chase for the Stanley Cup in 2022 may well come with a host of other trophies for its loaded roster.
Last year, the Panthers’ best regular season in franchise history led to Aleksander Barkov winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, and Joel Quenneville and Bill Zito being finalists for major trophies, too.
This year, Florida (32-10-5) is even better and boasts contenders for arguably each of the league’s six biggest awards.
From All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau to rookie center Anton Lundell, the Panthers are in the thick of hockey’s awards race at midseason.
Hart Memorial Trophy: Jonathan Huberdeau
Huberdeau entered the All-Star break as the NHL leader in points and assists, so he’s of course in the hunt for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given out annually to the league’s most valuable player.
Huberdeau’s case is about more than just counting stats, though. Florida entered the break with the most points in the league, so Huberdeau can stake a claim as the best player on the best team in the league. Although he quibbles and still stumps for Barkov as the Panthers’ best player, Huberdeau has played in all 47 games this season, while injuries have limited Barkov to just 34. The Panthers have taken on Huberdeau’s creative passing identity and have the highest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference — and one of the highest scoring in the NHL in more than 20 years.
He’s even having the most valuable defensive season of his career, contributing on the penalty kill to make himself available in all situations.
Midseason favorite: Connor McDavid, C, Oilers
Other contenders: Juuse Saros, G, Predators; Alex Ovechkin, LW Capitals; Leon Draisaitl, C/LW Oilers
Norris Memorial Trophy: Aaron Ekblad
Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been one of the best comeback stories in the league this year after fracturing his leg last season and seemingly not missing a beat in his return. In his comeback, he has returned right to the race for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, given annually to the league’s top defenseman.
Ekblad’s value mostly stems from his offense. He and lineman MacKenzie Weegar have both been on the ice for 53 5-on-5 goals this season, the most in the NHL, and he’s tied for third among NHL defensemen with 10 goals, with the league’s fourth best plus-minus. By design, Florida sacrifices some defense for offense and Ekblad, because of how skilled he is as a scorer and creator when he jumps up into the attack, makes the aggressive system work.
Midseason favorite: Cale Makar, D, Avalanche
Other contenders: Roman Josi, D, Predators; Victor Hedman, D, Lightning; Adam Fox, D, Rangers
Vezina Trophy: Sergei Bobrovsky
In the last few weeks, star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has started to pop up on a few watch lists for the Vezina Trophy, which is given out annually to the NHL’s top goaltender. Although Bobrovsky’s save percentage and goals against average don’t quite stack up against the best in the league, some of the advanced metrics look favorably upon the 33-year-old Russian, and the heavy workload he has taken on for the top team in the league adds additional value.
Bobrovsky ranks third in the league in goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck.com, and he ranks fifth in the league in high-danger save percentage, which is crucial because only three teams have given up more high-danger chances than Florida.
It’s an unusual case and makes him nothing more than a dark horse right now, but he has a chance to get into the thick of the race if he can continue his bounceback season and earn trust — and fear — across the league.
Midseason favorite: Jack Campbell, G, Maple Leafs
Other contenders: Juuse Saros, G, Predators; Igor Shesterkin, G, Rangers; Tristan Jarry, G, Penguins; Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning
Calder Memorial Trophy: Anton Lundell
Lundell stormed into the race for the Calder Memorial Trophy in the last month, logging five goals and 15 assists in his 20 games since the season resumed after its COVID-19 pause around Christmas. He also plays on the first penalty-killing unit for the best team in the league, while most of his peers in the race for the rookie of the year award are playing for teams teams on the fringe of the playoff picture or worse, like the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings.
As a rookie, Lundell ranks eighth in the league in plus-minus and he’s tied for second among all rookies in points, while also ranking in the top 10 in shots and shots blocked, and second in takeaways.
Midseason favorite: Trevor Zegras, C/LW, Ducks
Other contenders: Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Red Wings; Moritz Seider, D, Red Wings; Michael Bunting, LW, Maple Leafs; Lucas Raymond, LW/RW, Red Wings
Jack Adams Award: Andrew Brunette
Sure, the Panthers were expected to be one of the best teams in the league this year and the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year usually goes to the coach of a team that exceeded expectations, but Brunette is in a unique position after taking over as interim coach just seven games into the season when Quenneville resigned in disgrace.
Last year, Quenneville led Florida to its best regular season ever, and his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2010 mishandling of sexual assault allegations, which were reported on in the first month of this season, could have derailed a possible dream season for Florida. Instead, the Panthers are even better than they were last year and Brunette has been a steady hand for one of the league’s most loaded rosters, even making smart decisions to change up lines on the fly, which has helped Florida pull off 15 come-from-behind wins this season.
Midseason favorite: Rod Brind’Amour, Hurricanes; John Hynes, Predators
Other contenders: Dallas Eakins, Ducks; Dean Evason, Wild; Darryl Sutter, Flames
Jim Gregory Award: Bill Zito
Maybe this will be the year Zito gets his due for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award after he was snubbed last year. The 10-plus offseason additions he made before last season helped the Panthers go from 15th in the league’s standings to fourth and the addition of forwards Sam Reinhart, Joe Thornton and Lundell have taken them to another level.
He hasn’t struck out on any transaction he has made yet.
Midseason favorite: Bill Zito, Panthers
Other contenders: Joe Sakic, Avalanche; Doug Armstrong, Blues; Don Waddell, Hurricanes; Rob Blake, Kings; Steve Yzerman, Red Wings
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 4:20 PM.
