If the NHL awards were team based, who would win for the Lightning?

Now that we’ve officially hit the NHL All-Star break, The Hockey News is rolling out mid-season awards for each of the 32 teams.

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the break in a pretty good spot, winning eight of their last nine games. They currently sit third in the Atlantic Division, which would give them the playoff spot they’re looking for. 

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY: Nikita Kucherov, 85 points in 49 games

What more can we say about Nikita Kucherov? The 2018-19 Hart Trophy Winner is currently the league’s leading scorer, sitting at 85 points heading into the break. With 32 goals through his first 49 games, Kucherov is on pace to top his career high of 41 points. He is THAT GUY.

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY: Victor Hedman, 50 points in 48 games

Victor Hedman is still doing Victor Hedman things with 50 points and 24:13 in average time on ice per game. He passed the 700-point mark in the last game before the All-Star break, becoming just the 28th defenseman in NHL history to do so.

VEZINA TROPHY: Andrei Vasilevskiy

It took some time for Andrei Vasilevskiy to get back up to speed after returning from back surgery. Before his first season start on Nov. 24 against the Hurricanes, he hadn’t played in a game in almost seven months. Now we’re halfway through the season and he has won eight of his past 10 starts. He’s back to making cat-like saves both early and late in games.

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY: Emil Lilleberg, 2 points in 10 games

Emil Lilleberg entered the lineup due to injuries and quickly began to make a name for himself. He’s only played 10 games so far, but has improved the defense by being there. It's not about points with him, but more so the physicality he’s had in the games he’s played. No one predicted that the 23-year-old defenseman would transition into a veteran-led lineup so seamlessly. 

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY: Anthony Cirelli

Anthony Cirelli is ramping up his offensive game. He’s on pace to set a career high in goals (20) and in points (44), which is where he landed during his fourth-place finish for the Selke in the 2019-20 season. He’s always been steady on the penalty kill, but this year he’s become a key component to the Lightning’s second power-play unit.

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY: Brayden Point, 8 PIM.

The Lady Byng is awarded to “the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”. Brayden Point was a finalist league-wide last year after only recording 7 penalty minutes. This year, he’s sitting at 8 total and while he may have gotten a tad scrappy this year, I still think he earns this one for the team.