Were one quarter of the way through the season, so its not too early to think about superlatives -- and to highlight some surprising folks who have shouldered their way into the awards discussion. These folks arent necessarily all household names (yet), but theyd be my picks for the major hockey hardware if the season ended today.Hart Trophy (MVP)Yeah, Connor McDavid is pretty special. The Edmonton Oilers?captain is just 19 and leads the NHL in scoring. But the guy who has impressed me most is Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov. Coming off a career-best 30-goal season in 2015-16, a bit of a step back would have been understandable for the 23-year-old winger, especially after Lightning captain?Steven Stamkos went down with a knee injury.Nope. Kucherov has been one of the catalysts for a resurgent Tampa Bay team that has not only survived Stamkos absence but has actually thrived without him. Through Tuesday, Kucherov was second in the league in scoring -- and just three points back of McDavid, despite having played one fewer game. So he deserves the quarter-season Hart Trophy nod.Norris Trophy (top defenseman)From afar, this looks like a two-person race between Shea Weber and Brent Burns, the latter having just signed an eight-year contract extension. But when I dug a little deeper,?Ryan Suter?stood out. Yes, his minutes are down from last season, but the smooth-skating?Minnesota Wild?veteran is still averaging 27:34 a night in ice time, second in the NHL. And he continues to log those minutes mostly against opposing teams top offensive units while having to line up with three or four different defensive partners because of the Wilds injury issues.Suter is also producing slightly ahead of last seasons pace, with 0.67 points per game, and his 14 points are tied for ninth in the league. Most impressive is that the Wild lead the league in goals allowed per game and are the only team with a goals-against average under 2.00. Suter is a key part of coach Bruce Boudreaus defensive game plan.Vezina Trophy (top goaltender)No one is disputing that Carey Price remains the top goaltender in the world. But his?Montreal Canadiens?are less one-dimensional than they have been in the past -- specifically, less dependent on Price being Price every single night. And Minnesotas?Devan Dubnyk has been a key part of the stingiest team in the NHL. But for me, the early Vezina nod goes to Craig Anderson?in Ottawa.First, what Anderson is dealing with on a personal level, with his wife battling cancer, is formidable enough. But for the 35-year-old to be playing at such a high level for the surprising Ottawa Senators given his personal circumstances is more than a little mind-boggling. Anderson has faced the third-most shots in the league and boasts a .936 save percentage and 2.03 goals-against average. Hes 7-3 in November as the Senators have clawed their way into second place in the Atlantic Division. Who saw that coming?Calder Trophy (top rookie)You thought last seasons rookie-of-the-year race was hard to handicap? This seasons is going to be nuts. Patrik Laine might win the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in the league -- before he turns 19. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner?and?William Nylander?are all on the list of exceptional first-year players.But my pick -- and Im sticking by it -- is?Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Is there a bigger surprise than the Blue Jackets, who hit the quarter mark of the season sitting in a playoff berth? Not to me. And has there been a player of more impact, regardless of age and experience, for the Blue Jackets than Werenski, a 19-year-old Grosse Point, Michigan, native? Nope. Werenski leads all rookies in average ice time per game, and his 16 points are two off the rookie scoring lead. He sits sixth among all defenders.?Its not just the offense that has been so impressive. The Blue Jackets are sixth in the league in goals allowed per game while rolling out the games most deadly power play. Werenski is a huge part of what has become one of the most unlikely storylines in the NHL.Jack Adams (top coach)The coaching hardware, more often than not, goes to someone whose team overachieves. I dont have a problem with that, and its why youll hear John Tortorellas name in the mix given his work for the Blue Jackets. Alain Vigneault has done a masterful job with the league-leading New York Rangers, as has the?Chicago Blackhawks?Joel Quenneville.But my quarter-mark vote goes to Darryl Sutter. There was grumbling that the window was closing on the hard-as-nails veteran coach after his?Los Angeles Kings?missed the playoffs two springs ago and were bounced in the first round by the?San Jose Sharks?last spring.But after losing three in a row to start the season, the Kings have rediscovered their identity. Los Angeles has gone 12-6-1 in its last 19 games, is tied with San Jose for second place in the Pacific and is just one point out of first place. The Kings have done all that without former Vezina Trophy winner and playoff MVP Jonathan Quick?-- and, until very recently, veteran winger Marian Gaborik. Cheap Air Force Ones For Sale . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Nike Air Force 1 Clearance . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.airforceforsalecheap.com/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Cheap Air Force 1 . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals exercised club options on All-Star closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar on Friday, while designated hitter Kendrys Morales and starter Edinson Volquez declined their mutual options.Davis will make $10 million next season and Escobar will earn $6.5 million.The Royals also declined their mutual option on Kris Medlen after the right-hander exercised his portion of it. Medlen will join Morales and Volquez in free agency beginning Tuesday.In other procedural moves, the Royals reinstated pitchers Tim Collins and Mike Minor and third baseman Mike Moustakas from the 60-day disabled list. That leaves their 40-man roster at 39 players.The decision to retain Davis was expected despite two trips to the disabled list in July for a flexor strain in his right forearm. But the two-time All-Star was still among the most dominant closers in baseball, going 2-1 with a 1.87 ERA and 27 saves in 45 appearances.Davis will be eligible for free agency next season.Escobars option also expected, though its possible he coulld be traded away.dddddddddddd Hes a solid defensive shortstop and hit .261 with seven homers and 55 RBI, but the Royals are also keen on Raul Mondesi Jr. at the position and have several other needs with a payroll that is already close to being maxed out.Morales will leave a gaping hole in the lineup if the Royals are unable to lure him back in free agency. His average dipped to .263 in part because of a slow start last season, but he still showcased his power with 30 homers and 93 RBI while playing in expansive Kauffman Stadium.Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez were the only other Royals with at least 20 homers last season.Volquez, who helped pitch the Royals to the World Series title last season, also seemed to backtrack this season. He went 13-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 2015 but was just 10-11 with 5.37 ERA this season.Medlen was 1/3 with a 7.77 ERA in six starts, spending the bulk of the year on the disabled list. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '