The top contenders for the 2018-19 NHL awards

You can argue that maybe he shouldn't win because this terrific team is filled with many other all-stars. But that argument would be wrong. Value is still value, no matter how good or bad your team is. Kucherov is running away with the scoring title (39 goals, 86 assists). His showing is one of the best offensive performances in the NHL in more than two decades. 

After averaging 87 points the previous four seasons, Crosby returned to being a top-five scorer. He's also playing defense that might be worthy of the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward). With Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Patric Hornqvist and Bryan Rust suffering injuries, Crosby helped carry a team that had serious depth issues early this season. 

For the second year in a row, MacKinnon is a strong candidate for MVP. One of the most dominant and game-breaking offensive players in the league, MacKinnon is the driving force behind the Avalanche's top line. He helped carry a thin, flawed roster to what will probably be its second consecutive playoff berth. 

Gaudreau is proving once again that skill is more important than size in the NHL. He may be one of the smaller players (5-9, 165)  in the league, but there are few more dangerous with the puck. Gaudreau is the centerpiece of an exciting, young core for the Flames, the top team in the Western Conference.

The "Little Ball Of Hate" will do almost anything to get under your skin, but he is so much more than a pest. He's the best player on one of the league's best teams and one of the best players in the league. Marchand topped the 100-point mark this season for the first time in his career.

The Ducks were lousy, but it wasn't because of their goalie. Gibson is probably the only reason they didn't finish with the league's worst record. He spent most of the season under siege, facing a barrage of shots and scoring chances. But he consistently played like one of the league's top goalies. 

Vasilevskiy. a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, arguably is even better this season. The argument against him will be his team is one of the best assembled. Also, he missed more than a month due to injury and the team never missed a beat. But his overall body of work (2.42 GAA) is as impressive as any other goalie.  

Binnington played only half the season, but there is no denying his impact. His arrival was one of the turning points for a team that was last in the Western Conference more than three months into the season. The Blues head into the playoffs as one of the league's hottest teams. He probably does not much chance to win the Rookie of the Year award over Vancouver's Elias Pettersson, but he should at least be a finalist. 

Andersen, perhaps the league's most underrated goalie, might be the most important player for the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup chances. Their defensive struggles are well-documented; Despite a huge workload, Andersen has consistently played well. 

The Stars, who signed Bishop to a lucrative deal two years ago, have been rewarded for their investment this season. A two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, he might be having his best season. He had three three consecutive shutouts and looked unbeatable at times. 

Goaltending has been the story of the season for the Islanders, the NHL's most surprising team. They signed Lehner to a bargain one-year contract hoping he could shake off a down year in Buffalo. He has responded with the best season of his career, helping the Islanders go from a historically bad defensive team last season to the best in the NHL this season. 

Pettersson, a one-man highlight reel, is the runaway favorite for this award. He made an immediate impact for a team that badly needed a superstar to build around. If he had not been sidelined with injuries, he easily would have 30 goals by now. 

The Flyers finally may have stability at goal, the organization's biggest problem for more than two decades. A hyped prospect for a couple years, Hart has been outstanding.

The Stars liked Miro Heiskanen's potential so much that they reportedly refused to make him available when the team was interested in acquiring Erik Karlsson over the summer. That seems like a wise decision. The 19-year-old, a go-to defender in all situations, has played more than 23 minutes per game. 

He is one of the few bright spots in what has become another lost and forgettable season for the Sabres. Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, has a chance to be a superstar. That would be a welcome development for the Sabres, as a true No. 1 defender has been a huge missing piece in their perpetual rebuild. 

Burns' candidacy for the Norris Trophy is driven largely by his offense. A force with the puck, he's averaging close to a point per game and closing in on 300 shots on goal. Few players in the league are as dominant from the blue line. If he wins, he would be the 14th defender in league history to win the Norris Trophy twice. 

At age 35, Giordano would be one of the older players to win the Norris Trophy.  A workhorse on the Flames' blue line, he provides a lethal mix of top-tier offense and shutdown defense. He might be the favorite for the award. 

Rielly, an overlooked star, is having one of the finest offensive seasons ever for a Maple Leafs defender. Entering his prime years in the league, he had a breakout season. He should be a contender for this award for years to come.  

The last defender to win back-to-back Norris Trophy awards was Nicklas Lidstrom. Hedman aims to join his fellow Swede on the short list of players to accomplish that feat. When healthy, Hedman has played at a high level. He missed 12 games due to multiple injuries, perhaps hurting his chances for the award. 

Carlson, who finished fifth in Norris voting last season, played even better this season, setting a career high in points. The last Capital to win the Norris was Rod Langway, the "Secretary of Defense," in 1984.

What could Barry Trotz do for an encore after guiding the Washington Capitals to their first championship? He took over behind the bench for the Islanders, who had a chaotic offseason, and led them back to the playoffs. The Islanders last played in the postseason in 2015-16. New York lost John Tavares in free agency during the offseason, making this feat even more impressive. 

The Coyotes, who have not appeared in the playoffs since the 2011-2012 season, were the worst team in the Western Conference last season. Plagued by injuries, the Coyotes lost starting goalie Antti Raanta in December but stuck around in the playoff race longer than anybody could have expected. 

The Adams Award typically goes to a coach whose team exceeds preseason expectations. It does not usually go to the coach of the league's best team with the league's best talent. But it still takes a great coach to bring all that talent together. Cooper is one of the league's best. 

The list of injuries to Bruins players this season is an extensive -- Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, Zdeno Chara, David Pastrnak and even their big trade-deadline acquisition, Marcus Johansson, missed significant time. Still, the Bruins remained dominant and a Stanley Cup contender. The Bruins have been an elite team since Cassidy took over in the middle of the 2016-17 season. 

This is the rare instance an in-season coaching change has worked well. Berube took over when the Blues were one of the worst teams in the league. He helped transform them into a Stanley Cup contender, improving the defensive play and giving fans hope the Blues might make a deep postseason run in what is now a wide-open Central Division bracket.