Giordano beats Rielly for Norris in Hockey Writers’ mid-season awards

Leafs fans won't be happy about this...

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Published 5 years ago
Giordano beats Rielly for Norris in Hockey Writers’ mid-season awards
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The All-Star break is upon us, which means the Hockey Writers’ association have put together their predictions for the NHL awards. 

And one of their decisions will have a lot of people talking in Toronto. 

Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano came out on top in the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s mid-season awards over Maple Leafs blueliner Morgan Rielly, it has been revealed on Thursday. 

Giordano is currently second among NHL defenseman in scoring with 11 goals and 52 points this season and first in the league with a plus-29 rating. In comparison, Rielly has tallied 13 goals for a total of 50 points, which is good for the third place among blueliners in points this season. The leader, San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns with nine goals and 55 points this season, landed third in voting. He won the Norris Trophy in 2017 while neither Giordano or Rielly have ever been a finalist for the award. 

The Maple Leafs defender also landed in second place for the Lady Byng Trophy, given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov ended up winning the category. 

The Flames have done well in the different categories in the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s mid-season awards as Johnny Gaudreau is just behind Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov for the winner of the Hart Trophy. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid placed third. Kucherov leads the league in points at the All-Star break with 22 goals and 78 points in 49 games and is the winner by the PHWA for the second straight year. 

Flames GM Brad Treliving took the general manager of the Year Award with his team sitting first in the Western Conference after missing the playoffs last year. 

Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson is believed to be the favourite to win the Calder Trophy, while Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson was voted first for the Vezina Trophy. New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz ranked first for the Jack Adams award, over Flames head coach Bill Peters and Jon Cooper of the Lightning.

Here are the full results of the PHWA’s 2018-19 mid-season awards:

Hart Trophy -/to the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team./
1. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
3. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Norris Trophy - /to the defenceman who demonstrates the greatest all-round ability in the position./
1. Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
2. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

Selke Trophy - /to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game./
1. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
3. Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators

Calder Trophy - /to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition./
1. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
2. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
3. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars

Lady Byng Trophy -/to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability./
1. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
2. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames

Vezina Trophy- /to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position./
1. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
2. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
3. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs

Jack Adams Award- /to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success./
1. Barry Trotz, New York Islanders
2. Bill Peters, Calgary Flames
3. Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning

GM of the Year Award - /to the General Manager adjusted to have contributed most to his team’s success./
1. Brad Treliving, Calgary Flames
2. Doug Wilson, San Jose Sharks
3. Lou Lamoriello, New York Islanders

Rod Langway Award - /to the defenseman who best excels in the defensive aspect of the game./
1. Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators
2. Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
3. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Comeback Player of the Year Award - /to the player who returned to a previous high level of performance that was interrupted by subpar play, long-term injury or major illness./
1. Robin Lehner, New York Islanders
2. Jeff Skinner, Buffalo Sabres
3. Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild

Source: TSN