Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

For those of you who may not be aware (I'm looking at the man in the mirror), the NHL season is in-progress and, in fact, just about halfway over. So here handing out midseason awards is the oft-excellent Off Wing Opinion:

Hart Trophy - Most Valuable Player
"I can't see how you can deny [the Senators' Daniel] Alfredsson... Alfredsson is part of a murderer's row in Ottawa, so I can see how that might disqualify him there. Sorry Mr. Jagr, but folks who don't backcheck can't get my vote for MVP. "

Calder Trophy - Rookie of the Year
"Playing against the opposition's best players all the time with a target on his back, [the Caps' Alex] Ovechkin has delivered the goods and more. He scores, he hits and plays defense. He's practically unstoppable in the shootout."

Norris Trophy - Top Defenseman
"[Ottawa's Zdeno] Chara should have won it in 2003-04, and he's only gotten better since then."

Vezina Trophy - Best Goaltender
"Mikka, Mikka, Mikka. Best combo of performance, most games played and most pressure dealt with. Everyone else is having a great year, but none of their teams lean on them as much as Calgary leans on Mikka [Kiprusoff]."

Off Wing goes on to list a bunch of non-traditional award winners as well (see: Jerk of the Year -- Sean Avery, see also: Tough Guy of the Year -- Brian McGrattan). So, you know, if you're into ice and pucks and sticks and goons and toothless wonders, head over and check it out.

And go Caps! "Ice breakers! Goal shakers! The Caps! The Washington Capitals!"

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this