NHL Awards Watch: Vezina race suddenly wide open

There's just two-and-a-half weeks left in the regular season, if you can believe it. So time is clearly of the essence for teams, players, and coaches looking to make their mark on the 2015-16 campaign.

But if Jamie Benn has taught us anything, it's that a skater only needs a few weeks to swoop in and rip a major individual award from another superstar's grasp.

Nonetheless, here are the favorites for the five major awards:

Hart Trophy: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Kane has seen his lead in the NHL's scoring race cut down from 17 to 12 over the last month, as he's cooled in concert with the Blackhawks. He's also no longer a lock to hit 100 points, either, as he sits at 92 points with nine games left on the schedule.

Still, it would take a monumental effort - one far greater than his dethroning of John Tavares last season for the Art Ross - for Benn to chase down the shifty winger, who has the edge in goals, assists, points, power-play points, and even-strength contributions.

It should be noted that Sidney Crosby has risen again, and is actually more efficient than Kane at even strength, but is surging for a nomination, not his third win.

Chicago is four points out of first place in the Central and also four from falling into the wild-card wading pool. Should the Blackhawks back into the playoffs, and Kane continue to stumble, the door might be left open. Problem is, the next-best candidate might not have the portfolio to barge through.

Calder Trophy: Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers

The past month brought clarity as to who the three nominees probably should be, but the category remains in flux.

Artemi Panarin is destined to go wire-to-wire, still with a comfortable 14-point lead over Jack Eichel in the rookie scoring race with 25 goals and 38 assists. But, like Kane, he's slowed down, which Panarin detractors will argue only perpetuates the notion that he's leaned on the league's presumed MVP all season.

Gostisbehere has had a couple substandard games over the past week, and at an important time in Philadelphia's postseason chase. But with the Flyers now controlling their destiny in the Eastern conference, it's almost impossible to argue that Panarin has had a greater impact on his club than Gostisbehere.

And then there's Connor McDavid, who's producing at an 86-point pace and who's per-game output trails only Kane, Benn, and Crosby. He's also just nine points behind Eichel in 34 fewer games, which clearly vaults him ahead for at least that third nomination.

This one's still wide open.

Vezina Trophy: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning

As Braden Holtby continues to sag (his adjusted save percentage has fallen below .900 since the All-Star break) it's only illuminated Bishop's remarkable consistency.

The Bolts goalie now leads all featured No. 1s with a .928 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average - numbers that far exceed his Vezina-nominated 2013-14 season. And though his 30 wins rank seventh, he's kept the Lightning in games all season, allowing two goals or fewer in 70 percent of his starts.

Corey Crawford's numbers are very close to Bishop's, and he has five more wins. But, like Holtby, he seems to have hit another valley on his season, having been chased three times over the last 11 games.

Norris Trophy, Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

It appears as though, for the first time in 61 years, the Norris Trophy will be handed out to a defenseman who won't partake in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

With 13 goals and a league-best 60 assists, Karlsson is tied for fourth in NHL scoring, and with a late surge, can become just the third defenseman to finish top three, joining Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey.

Karlsson is eight points clear of Brent Burns in scoring among blue-liners, and has half as many goals. So the divide between Karlsson and the rest of his class, at least offensively, isn't as wide as we're made to believe.

But with a hand in 36 percent of his team's offense, which trails just Kane and Crosby, he has a case for an MVP nomination as well.

Jack Adams Trophy: Dave Hakstol, Philadelphia

This hinges on the Flyers making the postseason, of course. But why not?

The Jack Adams is often handed out to the coach who's team has exceeded expectations the most, and with the playoff bracket housing who we expected, for the most part, that's likely Philadelphia.

But with Hakstol, the improvement from the start of the season is discernible. This iteration, and what we've seen over the last few months, is the best, most exciting from the Flyers in some time.

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