NHL Awards watch: At the halfway point

At the halfway point of the 2017-18 campaign, theScore's NHL team identifies the front-runners to bring home some hardware. This installment was put together by editors Cory Wilkins and Craig Hagerman.

Hart - John Tavares

Previously: Steven Stamkos

The New York Islanders captain hasn't cracked under the pressure of being just months away from a big payday in free agency. In fact, he's done just the opposite.

Not only is Tavares on pace for a 100-point season, he's also transformed linemates Anders Lee and Josh Bailey from solid players into elite scoring threats. Like Tavares, they're both on pace for career years - Bailey is just six points back of his previous best.

That sort of production has allowed the Islanders to hold down a playoff position for most of the year in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division, despite being backstopped by the questionable duo of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. If the Islanders make the postseason, thank Tavares. - Wilkins

Vezina - Andrei Vasilevskiy

Previously: Sergei Bobrovsky

The Tampa Bay Lightning could walk away with multiple awards at year's end, including a Vezina Trophy for Vasilevskiy.

The 23-year-old has had no trouble shifting into the starter's role in the post-Ben Bishop era. Among netminders with a minimum of 30 games played, he stands atop the league in both wins (26) and save percentage (.937). - Wilkins

Norris - Drew Doughty

Previously: Erik Karlsson

The competition for the NHL's defenseman of the year is stiff, but the leader of the pack at the halfway point is the Los Angeles Kings' star blue-liner.

On pace to match his career high in production, Doughty has revived a Los Angeles squad that many pundits picked to finish outside the playoff picture. Instead, the Kings stand second in the West and look like the same Stanley Cup contender that won it all in 2012 and 2014.

Even more impressive, Doughty is getting it done on a defensive corps that has little help to speak of outside of Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez. - Wilkins

Calder - Brock Boeser

Previously: Will Butcher

He may be a rookie, but Boeser is already one of the purest goal-scorers in the game.

The Vancouver Canucks forward paces all rookies with 21 goals, leads his team in scoring with 38 points, and has been named rookie of the month in both November and December. He sits fourth overall in goals and is on pace to score 44, which would be the seventh-most by a rookie in NHL history - and the most since Alex Ovechkin tallied 52 in 2005-06. - Hagerman

Selke - Patrice Bergeron

Previously: Mark Stone

It's just too hard to knock Bergeron off his perch as the league's best two-way forward.

Bergeron's put up a respectable 12 goals and 26 points in 33 games, but once again is proving to be a stud in his own end. He's rocking a Corsi For rating of 57.75, has won 57 percent of his faceoffs, and, most impressively, his line (with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) has allowed just one goal against at five-on-five in 25 games.

One day, this award might be named after the Boston Bruins forward, who's on his way to capturing it for the fifth time and fourth in five years. - Hagerman

Jack Adams - Gerard Gallant

Previously: Gerard Gallant

This year's Jack Adams Award looks to be a slam dunk.

Gallant has taken an expansion team constructed mostly of second- and third-line players and turned it into the second-best squad in the NHL. That's no easy feat, and barring a collapse of cataclysmic proportions, the Vegas Golden Knights should host some playoff hockey this spring.

Florida Panthers management must be kicking themselves. - Hagerman

General Manager of the Year - David Poile

Previously: Doug Armstrong

The Nashville Predators have proven that last year's run to the Stanley Cup Final was no fluke.

The club sits two points out of top spot in the Central Division and is once again thriving thanks to Poile's work.

Kyle Turris is making the Preds look like the winners of the three-team Matt Duchene swap. More subtle moves in the offseason, such as signing Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell and trading for Alexei Emelin, have given the team great depth. Meanwhile, first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen looks like he could be the steal of the 2017 draft.

All of this has set the Predators up for prolonged success. - Hagerman

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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