Trophy Tracker weekly division leaders include Varlamov, Theodore

NHL.com will be running weekly installments of the Trophy Tracker series this season, looking at leaders for the Hart (MVP), Norris (top defenseman), Vezina (top goalie) and Calder (top rookie) trophies. Though there can be only one winner for each award at the end of the season, five NHL.com writers per division will be ranking their top three for each award.
Here are the voting totals (points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis):

MASSMUTUAL EAST DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 21 points (three first-place votes)
Runners-up: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 19 (two first-place votes); Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, 4
Others receiving points:Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, 1
Leader last week:Crosby, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Crosby: "I didn't think the Penguins would make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, but shame on me for underestimating a team led by Crosby, who is still the driving force in Pittsburgh and doing it the past few weeks without the help of longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Norris Trophy
Leader:Adam Fox, New York Rangers, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:John Carlson, Capitals, 14 (two first-place votes); Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, 5; Kris Letang, Penguins, 5
Others receiving points:None
Leader last week:Fox, 19 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Fox:"I thought that Victor Hedman might run away with the Norris Trophy this season, but Fox has made a strong statement with his play that he should contend for the award. For now, he's elevated himself above a strong group of defensemen in the East."-- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Vezina Trophy
Leader:Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Vitek Vanecek, Capitals, 11; Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, 6
Others receiving points:Tristan Jarry, Penguins, 3
Leader last week:Varlamov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Varlamov:"The Islanders goalie and Vanecek are neck and neck in division wins, but Varlamov has been better in all other important goalie categories. His consistency with rookie Ilya Sorokin has helped form one of the top goalie tandems in the NHL." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Calder Trophy
Leader:Ty Smith, New Jersey Devils, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:K'Andre Miller, Rangers 6 (one first-place vote); Vanecek, 5
Others receiving points:
Oliver Wahlstrom,
Islanders, 3; Shesterkin, 2; Janne Kuokkanen, Devils, 1
Leader last week: Smith, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Smith: "His strong season has solidified the Devils' belief the 21-year-old defenseman will be one of their building blocks for the future." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

HONDA WEST DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 13 (two first-place votes); Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche, 4; Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, 4
Others receiving points:Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, 3
Leader last week:MacKinnon, 17 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked MacKinnon: "He's long fueled the Avalanche, and it's no different this season. MacKinnon is just strong, quick and steadily productive." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader:Shea Theodore, Golden Knights, 16 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Cale Makar, Avalanche, 10 (two first-place votes); Drew Doughty, Kings, 10
Others receiving points:Samuel Girard, Avalanche, 7; Alex Pietrangelo, Golden Knights, 1; Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes, 1
Leader last week:Theodore, 16 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Theodore: "He is averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time every night and continues to put up points. He's so effective at both ends." -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Vezina Trophy
Leader:Philipp Grubauer, Avalanche, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden Knights, 15; Cam Talbot, Wild, 4
Others receiving votes: Kaapo Kahkonen, Wild, 1
Leader last week:Grubauer, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Grubauer: "He's been a workhorse for the Avalanche, thriving under one of the heaviest workloads in the NHL. Now with the trade for Devan Dubnyk, perhaps Grubauer can be spotted a bit more judiciously, which should make him even more effective. A scary proposition for those trying to chase down the Avalanche for first place." -- Shawn P. Roarke, director of editorial
Calder Trophy
Leader: Kaprizov, 25 points (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Kahkonen, 7; Gabriel Vilardi, Kings, 4
Others receiving points:Mikey Anderson, Kings, 3; Zach Whitecloud, Golden Knights, 3
Leader last week: Kaprizov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kaprizov:"The 23-year-old forward continues to be the runaway favorite in the Calder race despite the strong play of contenders like Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader:Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up: Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 10; Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, 7
Others receiving points: Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers, 3
Leader last week:Kane, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kane: "The Blackhawks are still in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the No. 1 reason is Patrick Kane, who leads them in scoring by a large margin. No one else has more points outside of the Scotia North Division." -- Cotsonika
Norris Trophy
Leader:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes, 15; MacKenzie Weegar, Panthers, 2; John Klingberg, Stars, 2
Others receiving points:Miro Heiskanen, Stars, 1
Leader last week:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hedman:"I love the play of Fox for the Rangers, but Hedman is still the gold standard for defensemen in the NHL. I marvel at how it doesn't matter who coach Jon Cooper pairs with him, Hedman continues to regularly be the most effective and best player on the ice whenever he's out there." -- Rosen
Vezina Trophy
Leader: Andrei Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:James Reimer, Hurricanes, 9; Kevin Lankinen, Blackhawks, 4; Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, 4
Others receiving points:Chris Driedger, Panthers, 3
Leader last week:Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Vasilevskiy:"Yes, Vasilevskiy plays on a very good team with a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman in front of him (Hedman), but part of the reason the Lightning are so good is the supreme confidence they have in their goalie.." -- Roarke

Calder Trophy
Leader:Robertson, Stars, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Lankinen, 8 (one first-place vote); Eeli Tolvanen, Predators, 6; Alex Nedeljkovic, Hurricanes, 6
Others receiving points: Pius Suter, Blackhawks, 2
Leader last week:Robertson, 21 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Robertson: "The Stars rookie is definitely going to give voters something to think about. He's been outstanding with Dallas trying to gain a playoff spot." -- Myers

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION

Hart Trophy
Leader: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 15; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, 3
Others receiving points:Mitchell Marner, Maple Leafs, 1; Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 1
Leader last week:McDavid, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked McDavid: "We've reached the point where it's easy to think the NHL-wide vote with McDavid in the lead isn't going to be all that close." -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
Norris Trophy
Leader: Darnell Nurse, Oilers, 21 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, 8 (one first-place vote); Tyson Barrie, Oilers, 7
Others receiving points:Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 4; Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs, 3; Shea Weber, Canadiens, 1
Leader last week:Nurse, 21 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Nurse:"He leads NHL defensemen in goals (13) and is fourth in average ice time per game (25:42). He plays against the opposition's top offensive players on Edmonton's top defense pair with Barrie and is a dedicated shot blocker." -- Morreale
Vezina Trophy
Leader: Hellebuyck, Jets, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Thatcher Demko, Canucks, 9; Mike Smith, Oilers, 5
Others receiving points: Frederik Andersen, Maple Leafs, 3; Jack Campbell, Maple Leafs, 3
Leader last week:Hellebuyck, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hellebuyck: "The North and its goalies have gone through a lot of ups and downs this season. Hellebuyck has not, and he's been a big reason the Jets are 7-3-1 since March 22." -- Benjamin
Calder Trophy
Leader:
Tim Stutzle
, Ottawa Senators, 23 points (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Josh Norris, Senators, 10 (one first-place vote); Nils Hoglander, Canucks, 7
Others receiving points:Alexander Romanov, Canadiens, 4; Logan Stanley, Jets, 1
Leader last week:Stutzle, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Stutzle: "Stutzle has been impressive as a 19-year-old, justifying why Ottawa selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft." -- Gulitti