The Hart Trophy race is crowded as the NHL hits the midway point of its season. Adam Vingan explores five players who have a strong MVP case so far.

With every team now having played 40+ games, it’s a great time to reflect on the season so far and look at some of the incredible performances we’ve seen from players around the league.

It’s always a solid bet that the Edmonton Oilers are going to be well-represented at the NHL Awards in the summer. That’s not just because the team boasts the game’s top player in Connor McDavid, a perennial favourite to lead the league in scoring and be voted as the Most Valuable Player.

We’re right around the league’s halfway point which is a perfect time to check in on the major awards races. A lot has changed over the last five weeks. Not everything has changed — Connor Hellebuyck will probably win back-to-back Vezinas and someone from Florida deserves the Selke — but the other races have certainly seen some interesting movement.