fleury-vgk-action-iso

NHL.com will be running weekly installments of the Trophy Tracker series this season, looking at leaders for the Hart (MVP), Norris (top defenseman), Vezina (top goalie) and Calder (top rookie) trophies. Though there can be only one winner for each award at the end of the season, five NHL.com writers per division will be ranking their top three for each award.
Here are the voting totals (points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis):

MASSMUTUAL EAST DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 15; Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers, 3
Others receiving points:Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, 1; Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, 1
Co-leaders last week:Crosby, 19 (three first-place votes); Marchand, 19 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Crosby: "It's a dead heat between Crosby and Marchand at this point. But the nod goes to Crosby given how well the Penguins are playing." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader: Adam Fox, Rangers, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:John Carlson, Capitals, 14 (one first-place vote); Kris Letang, Penguins, 6
Others receiving points:Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, 2
Leader last week: Fox, 21 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Fox: "His skating and vision on the offensive end jumps out as the best part of his game, but the subtle things he does in the defensive zone to take away chances through angles and stick work and quickly transition the puck through the neutral zone make him a complete player and arguably the favorite for the Norris Trophy on a League-wide basis."-- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, 10; Tristan Jarry, Penguins, 8 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points: Vitek Vanecek, Capitals, 4
Leader last week:Varlamov, 21 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Varlamov: "He played a big part to keep the Islanders on track when they were struggling early in the season and is now playing an instrumental role in their standing in the East. Varlamov, who turned 33 on Tuesday, has shown consistency while gaining the trust of his teammates, two critical components playing with rookie Ilya Sorokin." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Calder Trophy
Leader:Ty Smith, New Jersey Devils, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Shesterkin, 12 (one first-place vote); K'Andre Miller, Rangers 6
Others receiving points:Vanecek, 3; Oliver Wahlstrom, Islanders, 1
Leader last week:Smith, 21 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Smith: "He was standing out as one of the best young defensemen in the NHL before missing the past four games with an upper-body injury." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

NJD@PIT: Crosby forces a turnover and snipes it home

HONDA WEST DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 11 (one first-place vote); Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, 9 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points:Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche, 3; Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, 1
Leader last week: MacKinnon, 21 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked MacKinnon:"The Avalanche come back from their pause because of NHL COVID-19 protocol and MacKinnon resumes producing like crazy. I'm not surprised. Nobody else should be, either."-- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader:Shea Theodore, Golden Knights, 19 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up: Cale Makar, Avalanche, 13 (two first-place votes); Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes, 5
Others receiving points:Samuel Girard, Avalanche, 4; Drew Doughty, Kings, 4
Leader last week:Theodore, 19 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Theodore:"Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Theodore's production is that most of it has come at even strength. He's terrific 5-on-5."-- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Philipp Grubauer, Avalanche, 17 (two first-place votes); Cam Talbot, Wild, 7
Others receiving votes:None
Leader last week: Grubauer, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Fleury:"Fleury leapfrogs back into the lead thanks to a recent strong run."-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Calder Trophy
Leader:Kaprizov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up: Kaapo Kahkonen, Wild, 9; Gabriel Vilardi, Kings, 5
Others receiving points:Zach Whitecloud, Golden Knights, 3; Mikey Anderson, Kings, 3
Leader last week:Kaprizov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kaprizov:"He seems inspired by the Calder challenge being provided by Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. Kaprizov keeps scoring huge goals for the Wild while they march toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the rugged West." -- Shawn P. Roarke, director of editorial

DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, 14 (one first-place vote); Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 4
Others receiving points:Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers, 1; Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes, 1; Joe Pavelski, Dallas Stars, 1; Robertson, Stars, 1
Leader last week:Kane, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kane:"His Hart candidacy is fading with Chicago's playoff hopes. Still, no one in the Central leads his team in scoring by such a wide margin, and the Blackhawks have hung in the race longer than expected." -- Cotsonika
Norris Trophy
Leader: Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Dougie Hamilton, Hurricanes, 15; MacKenzie Weegar, Panthers, 2; John Klingberg, Stars, 2
Others receiving points: Ryan Ellis, Nashville Predators, 1
Leader last week:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hedman: "Producing points on a regular basis? Playing in big situations? Logging strong minutes? Hedman checks all the boxes." -- Myers
Vezina Trophy
Leader: Andrei Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Juuse Saros, Predators, 15; Alex Nedeljkovic, Hurricanes, 3
Others receiving points:Kevin Lankinen, Blackhawks, 1; James Reimer, Hurricanes, 1
Leader last week:Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Vasilevskiy:"He is at or near the top of every statistical category among goalies. In a league where the workload is shared more than it's been in a while, Vasilevskiy is still in there almost every night." -- Compton
Calder Trophy
Leader:Robertson, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Nedeljkovic, 9; Lankinen, 6 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points: Pius Suter, Blackhawks, 4; Eeli Tolvanen, Predators, 2; Ross Colton, Lightning, 1
Leader last week:Robertson, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Robertson:"He is turning into a star in the NHL and he's one of the biggest reasons for the Stars' playoff push. Robertson has been so good and productive that opposing teams now have to focus a portion of their prescout on him." -- Rosen

CHI@DET: Kane fires a drop pass into the back of net

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 15; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, 2
Others receiving points: Mitchell Marner, Maple Leafs, 1; Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 1; Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, 1
Leader last week: McDavid, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked McDavid:"With three weeks to go in the season, McDavid is well on his way to winning his third Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion. And based on his elite play, a second Hart Trophy as League MVP should accompany it."-- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader:Darnell Nurse, Oilers, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Tyson Barrie, Oilers, 6; Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 4; Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs, 4; Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, 4
Others receiving points:Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators, 1; Neal Pionk, Jets, 1
Leader last week:Nurse, 21 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Nurse: "The Oilers are no flash in the pan this season. McDavid is a big reason, but they're also hard to play against, and that's Nurse's department." -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Hellebuyck, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Mike Smith, Oilers, 12; Jack Campbell, Maple Leafs, 4
Others receiving points:Thatcher Demko, Canucks, 3; Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames, 1
Leader last week:Hellebuyck, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hellebuyck: "Though it's been Hellebuyck all season, the race has tightened with the play of Smith and Campbell's surprise performance with Frederik Andersen out. But it's still Hellebuyck by a nose." -- Benjamin
Calder Trophy
Leader:Josh Norris, Senators, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:
Tim Stutzle
, Senators, 19 (two first-place votes);
Alexander Romanov
, Canadiens, 2; Nils Hoglander, Canucks, 2
Others receiving points:Logan Stanley, Jets, 1
Co-leaders last week:Stutzle, 17 (two first-place votes); Norris, 17 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Norris: "Acquired as part of the trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, Norris is playing like he can be a big part of the Senators' promising future." -- Gulitti