Final predictions ahead of NHL Awards ceremony

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As the 2017-18 NHL season concludes, talk of awards is at its peak. Here are some final predictions before the NHL Awards ceremony.

As we enter the final weeks of the NHL season, speculation surrounding awards becomes an inescapable topic. The “pretender-contender” narrative all but fades away and is inevitably replaced by serious — and often heated — debate regarding which players will be recognized for their efforts.

Let’s take a look at some final predictions before the NHL Awards ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 25: Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant speaks to the media following the game against the New York Islanders at T-Mobile Arena on January 25, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Probable Recipients

Jack Adams Award: Gerard Gallant (VGK)

This one is all but confirmed.

I find it hard to believe that any other NHL coach can even remotely challenge Gerard Gallant for the Jack Adams. He’s piloted a team that was expected to be the laughing stock of the league toward winning ways in its inaugural season — an unprecedented accomplishment in not only the world of hockey, but also that of contemporary sport more generally.

The most recent poll conducted by the National Hockey League Players’ Association found that 11.6 percent of 500-plus players expressed a desire to play under Gallant’s watch — the third-most favorable rating of any coach in the NHL. Pretty impressive for a guy who was fired from his former team not so long ago.

A number of these awards will form the subject of many reasonable debates, but the Jack Adams is not one of them. The incomparable circumstances of the Knights’ remarkable season leaves one to wonder if Gallant’s name is already engraved on the trophy itself.

Calder Memorial Trophy: Mathew Barzal (NYI)

For the longest time, the race for the Calder was a dead heat between Mathew Barzal (NYI) and Brock Boeser (VAN). That is, until the latter suffered a back injury earlier in the month from which he is still recovering.

Since then, Barzal has emerged as the frontrunner to take home the trophy awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year. His 20 goals and 58 assists have allowed him to surpass the totals of last year’s Calder recipient, Auston Matthews, as he continues to distinguish himself from other hopefuls.

In a season of disappointment, Barzal continues to serve as a light at the end of the New York Islanders’ tunnel of gloom. His presence is a stark reminder that better days are yet to come.

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