Predictions for the 2009 Awards and Standings: Find Out Who Steals the Show

Well it's official now, we're now halfway through the season, which has already has been full of surprises like Claude Lemieux attempting a comeback at the age of 43, someone put down Crosby in the media, and the Boston Bruins look to be one of the best teams in the league.

But I'm writing about that, I'm just going to give a prediction on the following: Individual awards, Division winners, Presidents trophy winner, and what the final look of the standings should look like at the end of this season.

Let's start with the individual hardware:

Art Ross Winner: Alex Ovechkin

This one I really debated with, I couldn't decide whether Ovechkin would in fact pass Malkin who is 11 points ahead of him.

Although Malkin has been playing very well this season, I believe he's going to hit a rough patch around February and into mid-March. Ovechkin already went through his rough patch this season.

He started the season with five points (two goals, three assists) in his first five games and went 9 games without scoring a goal. He went to Russia to visit his ailing grandfather and came back on a scoring tear.

He scored 25 points in 14 games upon his return in November. He caught up to both the leaders in goals and points. While Malkin does have a considerable distance, Ovechkin will catch up to him, but I feel this one will be decided in the final few games.

Honorable Mentions: Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Marc Savard

Hart Memorial Winner: Alex Ovechkin

Now I know people are going to think I'm biased, but if you really look at someone who is an MVP, Ovechkin fits the bill. Alex has revitalized hockey in Washington, he is the first athlete in Washington to win an any major award in all of Washington sports since 1983.

This year, he's currently in third place in scoring, one point behind Sidney Crosby. He's sixth in hits, first in shots, and he's now even playing on the penalty kill unit, which has Ovechkin on the ice in every kind of situation, playing over 23 minutes a game.

He currently has the most T.O.I. average for a forward, and is plus-12. Ovechkin does it all, he scores, he passes, he hits, he kills penalties, he back-checks, and blocks shots.

He'll do whatever it takes to win, and it's showing in the standings as despite inconsistent goal-tending (Washington is currently in the bottom 10 in GA) they're second in the East in points and running away with the Southeast division.

Honorable mentions: Steve Mason, Ryan Getzlaf, Marc Savard, Niklas Backstrom(wild), Patrick Marleau

Vezina Winner: Steve Mason

Many people think Evgeni Nabokov, Mikka Kiprusoff, or Henrik Lundqvist will be up for this award, while I think the writers of the NHL will vote for these three men as the final candidates and give it to Nabokov, I honestly think the best goaltender this year is rookie sensation Steve Mason.

Mason has been giving the Jackets their best chance of making the playoffs in their whole franchise existence. He took over as a starter when Pascal Leclaire got hurt and has since held on to it.

He has excellent stats for a rookie net-minder that resemble one seeing Dominik Hasek or Martin Brodeur having. In 24 games he has 14 wins, 9 loses, and 1 OTL. He's posting a 1.74 GAA and .939 Sv% with 6 shutouts in 24 games.

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