NHL Awards Watch: A goalie for MVP? Competition for Bedard?

> We’ve polled a wide selection of Professional Hockey Writers Association voters anonymously to get a sense of where the wind is blowing for the current leaders. We’ve made sure it’s a cross-section from the entire league, trying to gain as many perspectives as possible.

> Faber, 21, had already started making a push for the Calder before Bedard’s injury. He’s second among all rookies with 29 points (4 goals, 25 assists) in 49 games. He’s averaging 24:51 of ice time per game, first among rookies and 10th among all skaters this season. Faber has been a rock for the Wild, and the voters have taken notice.

> “Minute-muncher Brock Faber is beginning to make things a bit more interesting than many projected,” one voter said.

> “Perhaps I am being contrarian for the sake of being contrarian, but Faber has stepped up in a huge way on an injury-ravaged Wild blue line. It has been 16 years since a rookie averaged at least 24 minutes per game over a full season of work,” another Faber backer said.

> “Brock Faber is pushing him in a way I didn’t think was going to be possible this year. Having a great season in Minnesota and is a very Charlie McAvoy-esque defenseman. But it feels like the Calder is part of the Bedard coronation process in the NHL,” one voter said.

> “If Bedard comes back by March and continues to play the way he did prior to injury, it’s his. Faber has been Minnesota’s best defenseman and was in the Norris conversation for a bit. He’s been nothing short of outstanding at a really tough position. He doesn’t get you out of your seat the way Bedard does,” another voter said.

> “Bedard, Faber — a gap — then Rossi. No one else matters,” one voter said