Pucks and Pitchforks
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5 New Jersey Devils Who Can Win Awards This Season

By Nick Villano

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers poses with the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award after the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers poses with the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award after the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Ty Smith of the New Jersey Devils (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Ty Smith – Calder Trophy

This one is another we can absolutely see happening. Ty Smith is coming into his rookie season after he was the last cut in Devils training camp twice. He was unlikely the make it right after he was drafted, but he played so well in the preseason and training camp that the Devils strongly considered it. The next season, the opposite happened. Smith was terrible in camp and even worse in preseason games. They sent him to Spokane each time, and he responded by winning WHL Defenseman of the Year both times (and OHL Defenseman of the Year one time).

Smith is used to winning awards, so why not do it again this year? He’s been interesting to start training camp, but it’s really hard to tell how well he actually looks. Lindy Ruff is putting in a new system that really puts a lot of offensive responsibility on the blue line. This is going to work right into Smith’s advantage.

Smith had 19 goals and 40 assists last season with the Chiefs. If he can translate those numbers to the NHL, he will absolutely get some hype for the Calder Trophy. Last season, it came down to Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar (with Adam Fox also getting some votes) to win the award. A lot of that had to do with how easily those two were able to provide offense from their defensive positions. Makar won it thanks to his 50-point season.

If Smith can put up similar numbers, or even comparable numbers, he will be right in the Calder Trophy consideration.

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