The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) announced on Thursday morning the winners of its midseason awards. John Carlson was the only Capital to win an award, garnering the top spot in midseason voting for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.
For Caps fans, it might be worth noting that Ilya Samsonov, who leads all rookie goaltenders in wins (15), and goals against average (2.06/minimum: 200 minutes played), and is second in save percentage (.927 to Florida’s Chris Driedger (.932) was left off the list of three finalists for the midseason Calder award for top rookie.
Others failing to make the list of finalists for their respective awards include Todd Reirden, who was left off the Jack Adams list for top coach, despite piloting the team with the league’s best record, and Alex Ovechkin, who was left off the list of finalists for the Hart Trophy, despite being tied for second in the league in goal scoring (34, with Toronto’s Auston Matthews).
Brian MacLellan, who is the architect of the league’s top team over the five seasons he has been general manager (286-126-47), and who is general manager of the league’s top team this year, was left off the list of finalists for the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award.