Trophy Tracker weekly division leaders include Fox, MacKinnon

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, 23 points (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 15 (one first-place vote); Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, 6
Others receiving points: Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, 1
Leader last week: Crosby, 20 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Crosby: "He is proving once again why he is such an elite athlete, leading the Penguins in scoring and steering them toward a 15th straight Stanley Cup Playoff berth." -- Mike G. Morreale
Norris Trophy
Leader: Adam Fox, New York Rangers, 19 (two first-place votes)
Runners-up: John Carlson, Capitals, 14 (two first-place votes); Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, 8 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points:Kris Letang, Penguins, 4
Leader last week: Carlson, 16 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Fox:"Fox has elevated himself into contention for the Norris Trophy in the NHL with his production, strong play away from the puck, high hockey IQ and the impact he's making on a game-by-game basis for the Rangers. He's become a focal point of pregame scouting by opponents." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Vezina Trophy
Leader: Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Vitek Vanecek, Capitals, 8; Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, 7
Others receiving points: Tristan Jarry, Penguins, 4;
Jaroslav Halak
, Bruins, 1
Leader last week:Varlamov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Varlamov:"I'm not sure anything is going to move Varlamov from this spot. He's been that good and though I don't think he has a shot at the Vezina this season -- it's Andrei Vasilevskiy's (Tampa Bay Lightning) or Philipp Grubauer's (Colorado Avalanche) race -- he's been the best in the East all season." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Calder Trophy
Leader: Ty Smith, New Jersey Devils, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up: Shesterkin, 6; K'Andre Miller, Rangers, 6
Others receiving points:Vanecek, 5; Oliver Wahlstrom, Islanders, 5
Leader last week:Smith, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Smith: "Smith has shown impressive maturity for a 21-year-old defenseman and has been steady playing in the Devils' top pair with Damon Severson." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

HONDA WEST DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, 17 (two first-place votes)
Runners-up: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 13 (two first-place votes); Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche, 8 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points:Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, 4; Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, 3
Leader last week:Rantanen, 16 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked MacKinnon: "Every time recent Avalanche highlights come on, there's a blur going across my screen and it's usually MacKinnon creating high-danger chances." -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader:Shea Theodore, Golden Knights, 16 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Cale Makar, Avalanche, 9 (one first-place vote); Drew Doughty, Kings, 9 (one first-place vote); Samuel Girard, Avalanche, 9
Others receiving points:Alex Pietrangelo, Golden Knights, 1; Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes, 1
Leader last week:Doughty, 17 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Theodore: "Shea Theodore is blossoming into the Norris Trophy candidate he was expected to become this season." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Grubauer, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights, 15; Cam Talbot, Wild, 4
Others receiving votes:Kaapo Kahkonen, Wild, 1
Leader last week:Grubauer, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Grubauer:"He doesn't get the accolades of some goalies and is hidden by the glut of game-breaking stars on the Avalanche roster, but few goalies have been more sound or dependable than Grubauer, who is the true linchpin of Colorado's success." -- Shawn P. Roarke, director of editorial
Calder Trophy
Leader: Kaprizov, 25 points (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Kahkonen, 9; Gabriel Vilardi, Kings, 6
Others receiving points: Mikey Anderson, Kings, 3; Zach Whitecloud, Golden Knights, 2
Leader last week:Kaprizov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kaprizov:"He is going to win this race in a landslide. He's so confident out there you'd think he's been playing in this league for years." -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 10; Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, 6
Others receiving points:Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers, 4
Leader last week:Kane, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kane:"The Blackhawks are in the playoff race because of Kane. It's hard to find another player in the NHL who has been more impactful to his team's success this season than Kane. If the Blackhawks make the playoffs, this trophy should be his." -- Rosen
Norris Trophy
Leader: Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up: Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes, 15
Others receiving points:Aaron Ekblad, Panthers, 1; Mikhail Sergachev, Lightning, 1; Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars, 1; John Klingberg, Stars, 1; MacKenzie Weegar, Panthers, 1
Leader last week:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hedman:"I feel like I'm a broken record in saying (often) that Hedman is the best defenseman in the NHL right now. But I'll say it again for anyone who hasn't gotten it yet. He's the best. Give him the trophy." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:James Reimer, Hurricanes, 6; Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers, 5
Others receiving points: Chris Driedger, Panthers, 3; Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, 3; Kevin Lankinen, Blackhawks, 3
Leader last week:Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Vasilevskiy:"Vasilevskiy continues to set the standard in net not just in the Central, but the NHL." -- Cotsonika
Calder Trophy
Leader:Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Eeli Tolvanen, Predators, 13 (one first-place vote); Lankinen, 8 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points:Pius Suter, Blackhawks, 3
Co-leaders last week:Robertson, 14 (two first-place votes); Lankinen, 14 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Robertson: "He has been critical for the Stars, who have dealt with injuries, COVID-19, games postponed because of a deadly winter storm in Texas and a very busy schedule." -- Myers

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 13; Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 3; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, 3
Others receiving points:Mitchell Marner, Maple Leafs, 1
Leader last week:McDavid, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked McDavid:"McDavid has been the best player in the NHL from the start of the season and has the Oilers in position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season." -- Gulitti
Norris Trophy
Leader:Darnell Nurse, Oilers, 21 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, 11 (one first-place vote); Tyson Barrie, Oilers, 5
Others receiving points:Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 4; Shea Weber, Canadiens, 3; Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs, 1
Co-leaders last week:Petry, 14 (two first-place votes); Nurse, 14 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Nurse: "Not only is Nurse providing offense for the Oilers, he's providing the defense they so desperately need as the team moves up in the standings. He's eating minutes, moving the puck and helping keep it out of their net. What more do you want?" -- Benjamin
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Thatcher Demko, Canucks, 10; Mike Smith, Oilers, 6
Others receiving points: Frederik Andersen, Maple Leafs, 3; Carey Price, Canadiens, 1
Leader last week: Hellebuyck, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hellebuyck: "Hellebuyck has simply been the most stable, sharp goalie in the division since Day One of the season." -- Campbell
Calder Trophy
Leader:
Tim Stutzle
, Ottawa Senators, 23 points (four first-place votes)
Runners-up: Josh Norris, Senators, 10 (one first-place vote); Nils Hoglander, Canucks, 7
Others receiving points: Alexander Romanov, Canadiens, 4; Juuso Valimaki, Flames, 1
Leader last week:Stutzle, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Stutzle:"The 19-year-old continues to impress with his offensive creativity at even strength and on the power play." -- Morreale