Trophy Tracker weekly division leaders include Robertson, Kopitar

NHL.com's weekly Trophy Tracker series is back after going on hiatus last week. Once again, it's looking at leaders for the Hart (MVP), Norris (top defenseman), Vezina (top goalie) and Calder (top rookie) trophies in each division. Five NHL.com writers per division ranked 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: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up: Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, 17 (one first-place vote); Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 3
Others receiving points: James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers, 2
Leader on March 9:Backstrom, 19 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Marchand: "Though the Boston Bruins are shut down with five players in NHL COVID-19 protocol, Marchand's play this season stands out. On a team that is again relying on its top line to provide all its offense, Marchand is scoring 1.21 points per game (34 points; 12 goals, 22 assists) in 28 games." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Norris Trophy

Leader: Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, 21 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:John Carlson, Capitals, 16 (two first-place votes); Adam Fox, New York Rangers, 4
Others receiving points:Kris Letang, Penguins, 2; Ryan Pulock, New York Islanders, 1; Adam Pelech, Islanders, 1
Leader on March 9:McAvoy, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked McAvoy:"McAvoy has shown he's a No. 1 defenseman this season. He's carrying a battered defenseman corps and he's fourth on the Bruins, behind top line forwards Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists). There's little doubt of his value to Boston nowadays." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Vezina Trophy

Leader:Semyon Varlamov, Islanders, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Vitek Vanecek, Capitals, 11; Tristan Jarry, Penguins, 3; Casey DeSmith, Penguins 3
Others receiving points:Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils, 1; Jaroslav Halak, Bruins, 1; Tuukka Rask, Bruins, 1
Leader on March 9:Varlamov, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Varlamov:"Varlamov leads the division in wins (13), save percentage (.923) and shutouts (three). He's a big part of the Islanders resurgence and will continue to be just that in a tandem with rookie Ilya Sorokin." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Calder Trophy

Leader:Ty Smith, Devils, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Vanecek, 9; Oliver Wahlstrom, Islanders, 7
Others receiving points: K'Andre Miller, Rangers, 5;
Pierre-Olivier Joseph
, Penguins, 1
Leader on March 9:Smith, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Smith: "Smith has provided offense, leading NHL rookie defensemen with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists), and been solid defensively playing in New Jersey's top pair with Damon Severson." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

HONDA WEST DIVISION

Hart Trophy

Leader: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up: Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights, 11 (one first-place vote); Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche, 9
Others receiving points:Mark Stone, Golden Knights, 1; Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, 1
Leader on March 9:Kopitar, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Kopitar: "Kopitar continues to rack up points. The Kings have struggled with some inconsistencies, but the forward's play is not part of the problem."-- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Norris Trophy

Leader: Drew Doughty, Kings, 21 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Shea Theodore, Golden Knights, 9 (one first-place vote); Cale Makar, Avalanche, 7
Others receiving points:Alex Pietrangelo, Golden Knights, 6; Samuel Girard, Avalanche, 1; Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues, 1
Leader on March 9:Doughty, 23 (four first-place votes)
Why I picked Doughty:"Doughty's return to elite was not a mirage. Halfway through the season, there are few defensemen in the NHL and none in the West who impact the game as much as Doughty, which is telling when he plays nearly half the game." -- Shawn P. Roarke, director of editorial

Vezina Trophy

Leader: Fleury, 23 (four first-place votes)
Runners-up:Philipp Grubauer, Avalanche, 17 (one first-place vote); Kaapo Kahkonen, Wild, 3
Others receiving votes: Cal Petersen, Kings, 4
Leader on March 9: Fleury, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Fleury:"Fleury has been lights-out for Vegas at a time when he was supposed to have lost the No. 1 job to Robin Lehner, who missed 17 games with a concussion. Where would the Golden Knights be had they traded Fleury?" -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Calder Trophy

Leader: Kaprizov, 25 points (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Gabriel Vilardi, Kings, 8; Kahkonen, 7
Others receiving points:Mikey Anderson, Kings, 3; Zach Whitecloud, Golden Knights, 2
Leader on March 9: Kaprizov, 25 points (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kaprizov: "I know, big surprise that Kaprizov is still atop my Calder rankings, right? (Yes, that's sarcasm). He leads NHL rookies in points (25). The Avalanche held him without a point in two straight games, but they frustrate a lot of players, be it veterans or rookies." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

DISCOVER CENTRAL DIVISION

Hart Trophy

Leader: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, 11; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 8
Others receiving points: Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers, 1
Leader on March 9: Kane, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Kane:"The Blackhawks are starting to slide down the standings, having lost four straight and going 3-6-1 in their past 10 games, but the fault cannot be laid at the feet of Kane, who has scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in those 10 games and 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists) in 32 games this season. Two other players on Chicago's roster (Alex DeBrincat, 31; Dominik Kubalik, 25) have at least 20." -- Roarke

Norris Trophy

Leader:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Aaron Ekblad, Panthers, 13; Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes, 6
Others receiving points:Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets, 1
Leader on March 9:Hedman, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hedman:"I was close to giving Hedman the top spot in my Hart Trophy vote too, but I still went with Kane for everything he does for a clearly shorthanded Chicago team. Hedman is the engine that makes the Lightning go even though he's surrounded by talent and champions. He fuels the Lightning from the back and is best at helping them finish on the other end." -- Rosen

Vezina Trophy

Leader:Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:James Reimer, Hurricanes, 10; Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers, 4
Others receiving points:Chris Driedger, Panthers, 3; Kevin Lankinen, Blackhawks, 2; Jonathan Bernier, Detroit Red Wings, 1
Leader on March 9: Vasilevskiy, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Vasilevskiy: "All Vasilevskiy does is win. He's won 11 in a row and is at the top of that leaderboard with 20, and he's first in save percentage (.933)." -- Compton

Calder Trophy

Leader:Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars, 19 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Lankinen, 13 (two first-place votes); Pius Suter, Blackhawks, 6
Others receiving points: Philipp Kurashev, Blackhawks, 3; Jake Bean, Hurricanes, 3; Eeli Tolvanen, Nashville Predators, 1
Leader on March 9:Suter, 19 (two first-place votes)
Why I picked Robertson:"Robertson has opened eyes with performances like March 9, when he had four assists in a 6-1 win against the Blackhawks, and Sunday, when he played 22:09 and had an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Predators." -- Cotsonika

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION

Hart Trophy

Leader:Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Runners-up:Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 8; Mitchell Marner, Maple Leafs, 6
Others receiving points:Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 4; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, 2
Leader on March 9:McDavid, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked McDavid:"McDavid is on pace for a possible 100-point season in what will be a 56-game schedule. Just another example of why No. 97 is the best player on the planet, not just the Scotia North Division." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Norris Trophy

Co-leaders:Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, 14 (two first-place votes); Darnell Nurse, Oilers, 14 (two first-place votes)
Runners-up:Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 7; Tyson Barrie, Oilers, 5 (one first-place vote)
Others receiving points:Shea Weber, Canadiens, 3; Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs, 2
Leader on March 9:Petry, 16 (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Petry: "Though I still believe in Petry's superiority in the North, Nurse and Rielly (and maybe Barrie) are making a case that he's not the only option. But Nurse and Rielly are playing on teams with dynamic scorers, lessening their burden. Petry, meanwhile, has scored 27 points (18 goals, nine assists), tied with forward Tyler Toffoli for most on the Canadiens. It's hard to top that contribution." - Benjamin
Why I picked Nurse: "Nurse's growth in all facets of the game continues and it's making a difference to the Oilers." -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Vezina Trophy

Leader:Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, 19 (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Thatcher Demko, Canucks, 13 (two first-place votes); Mike Smith, Oilers, 7
Others receiving points:Frederik Andersen, Maple Leafs, 3; Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames, 2; Carey Price, Canadiens, 1
Leader on March 9:Hellebuyck, 25 (unanimous No. 1)
Why I picked Hellebuyck: "Hellebuyck is up there as Jets MVP at this stage in the season. The Jets continue to win and remain among the top four in the division due in large part to his spectacular play in clutch situations. There are several important players contributing to Winnipeg's success, but Hellebuyck remains the one consistent equalizer." -- Morreale

Calder Trophy

Leader:
Tim Stutzle
, Senators, 19 points (three first-place votes)
Runners-up:Josh Norris, Senators, 10 (one first-place vote); Nils Hoglander, Canucks, 7
Others receiving points:Juuso Valimaki, Flames, 5 (one first-place vote); Alexander Romanov, Canadiens, 4
Leader on March 9:Stutzle, 19 points (three first-place votes)
Why I picked Stutzle: "Stutzle is one of the reasons the Senators' future is bright. The highly skilled forward continues to improve each week." -- Gulitti