NHL Mid-Season Awards Picks, Standings Report and Blues' Surge

The Hockey News Podcast

Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos say who they'd pick for seven NHL awards at the mid-season point, break down the standings, predict the skills competition winner and discuss the St. Louis Blues with Lou Korac:

- Who's the NHL's most valuable player up to this point? The Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews, Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon and the Oilers' Connor McDavid were among the contenders discussed for the Hart Trophy.

- As for the league's top defenseman, Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar are among the top contenders.

- For the Vezina, what about the Jeremy Swayman and the Connor Hellebuyck? Were they picked by Ryan or Michael?

- Connor Bedard had been the front-runner for the league's top rookie award, but with his injury, others may have caught up to him in the race. They also discuss the Selke Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and Jack Adams Award.

- What's the reason for the Blues climbing up the standings?

- Ryan and Michael then address the burning questions in each NHL division before predicting the winners for each challenge in the skills competition, as well as the overall champion.

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