There are only two weeks left in the NHL season, and outside of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, every other piece of hardware is up for grabs, including the Art Ross, Vezina, and Presidents’ Trophies. With so few games left, who’s the front-runner for each award at the beginning of April? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Statistics updated from NHL games played through Apr. 3
Related: 10 must-watch NHL games in final weeks of 2023-24 season
Presidents Trophy (Team with the Best Record)
- New York Rangers (106 points)
The New York Rangers are back at the top of the NHL standings, a spot they have been in and out of most of the second half of the season. The Blueshirts, led by Artemi Panain (110 points), have a deep lineup and could hoist their first Stanley Cup since 1994. However, six teams are within six points of the top spot, meaning every goal and save counts in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
- Other candidates: Dallas Stars (105 points), Boston Bruins (103 points), Vancouver Canucks (102 points), Carolina Hurricanes (101 points), Colorado Avalanche (100 points)
Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year)
- Peter Laviolette (New York Rangers)
The Rangers have had a talented lineup for years, with Panarin, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin, but they couldn’t put it all together under previous head coaches. When general manager Chris Drury brought in Peter Laviolette last summer, the players bought into his system. With Panarin having the best season of his career, this year feels so different on Broadway.
- Other candidates: Rick Tocchet (Vancouver Canucks), Paul Maurice (Florida Panthers), Jim Montgomery (Boston Bruins), Kris Knoblauch (Edmonton Oilers)
Related: Notable NHL head coaches who have been suspended
Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Nikita Kucherov just scored his 130th point, eclipsing his previous career high of 128 and breaking his own franchise record for points in a season. Many wondered if the Tampa Bay Lightning were still contenders, but Kucherov is dragging his entire team into the playoffs, leading his teammates in scoring by 48 points.
- Other candidates: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers)
Ted Lindsay Award (MVP – voted by players)
- Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
The Ted Lindsay Award winner is usually also the Hart Memorial Trophy winner. However, this season, these awards will have a different victor when Nathan MacKinnon takes home his first Ted Lindsay Award. As mentioned, the league’s two awards race does not have a clear-cut favorite and will come down to who performs best in the next two weeks. Although MacKinnon plays for a team near the top of the standings, trying to repeat as Central Division champion, he is saving arguably the best season of his career.
- Other candidates: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers)
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
- Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks)
Connor Bedard fractured his jaw in early January and missed over a month of action. Since his return on Feb. 15, he’s averaging 1.13 points per game and remains the top rookie scorer in the NHL, 15 points ahead of Luke Hughes (New Jersey). Although the Chicago Blackhawks struggled in his absence, not much has changed since his insertion back into the lineup. They remain the 31st-ranked team with the NHL’s second-worst goal differential (minus-94).
- Other candidates: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Luke Hughes (New Jersey), Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild), Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie)
- Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida Panthers)
In 2022-23, Sergei Bobrovsky wasn’t even the starter for the Panthers in the Stanley Cup playoffs and ended up leading them to the Final. Unlike his struggles last season, 24-20-3 with a 3.07 GAA and a .901 SV%, he has been nearly unbeatable this year with a 33-17-3 record and much better statistics at 2.46 GAA and .912 SV%. As the starter for a team battling for the Atlantic Division title, they owe their success to Bobrovsky and his stellar play, which could earn him his third Vezina Trophy win.
- Other candidates: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), Stuart Skinner (Edmonton)
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman)
- Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)
Since the beginning of the season, Quinn Hughes has been the leading scorer among defensemen and remains the favorite to win the Norris Trophy. Of course, he’s got stiff competition in Cale Makar (Colorado), but since Hughes is such a vital part of the recent resurgence of the Canucks, ranking second in the NHL with a plus-39 rating.
- Other candidates: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Noah Dobson (New York Islanders), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators)
Art Ross Trophy (Leading Scorer)
- Nikita Kucherov (130 points)
For most of the season, the scoring race was between Kucherov and MacKinnon, with each player keeping pace with one another every night. However, since the All-Star Game in early February, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (59 points in 29 games) has reinserted himself into the discussion, looking to capture his fourth straight Art Ross Trophy. Ultimately, with these three superstars battling it out every night, the winner for his prestigious honor will come down to the season’s final game.
- Other candidates: Nathan MacKinnon (127 points) and Connor McDavid (126 points)
Related: NHL Power Rankings 2023-24: Dallas Stars get hot ahead of playoff run
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship and Gentlemanly Conduct)
- Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Auston Matthews recently collected his 60th goal of the season, becoming the first skater in the salary cap era (2005) to reach the plateau on two occasions. After 71 games, the obvious Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner had just four penalty minutes. However, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Mar. 30, he earned a two-minute penalty and a 10-minute misconduct, giving him 16 total penalty minutes this season. Realistically, that night shouldn’t hurt his chances, but stranger things have happened.
- Other candidates: Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Seattle Kraken)
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (Top Goal Scorer)
- Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Matthews is the only player in the NHL with 60 goals, maintaining a slim lead over Sam Reinhart (52). Considering that Matthews has been the leader for most of the season, only a handful of players have a chance of catching him, but as of right now, he will capture his third Rocket Richard Trophy at the end of the season.
- Other candidates: Sam Reinhart (52 goals), Zach Hyman (52 goals), Nathan MacKinnon (47 goals), David Pastrnak (46 goals), Artemi Panarin (45 goals)
William J. Jennings Trophy (Lowest Goals Against by Team)
- Connor Hellebuyck & Laurent Brossoit (Winnipeg Jets)
After 75 games, the Winnipeg Jets have given up the fewest goals in the NHL with 186. When we look deep into their results, the duo of Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit have only surrendered four or more in 18 games this year, resulting in a 1-16-1 record in those contests. Moreover, they have combined for six shutouts while leading the league in goals-against average at 2.48.
- Other candidates: Florida Panthers (191), Carolina Hurricanes (194), Los Angeles Kings (194)
Jim Gregory GM of the Year (NHL GM of the Year)
- Patrik Allvin (Vancouver Canucks)
The Vancouver Canucks have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season, thanks to the brilliant coaching of Rick Tocchet. Since general Patrik Allvin hired Tocchet in January 2023, the franchise has been one of the best statistical teams in the NHL, with three top players scoring among the league leaders this year. Allvin has constructed one of the best lineups in professional hockey and, under the proper guidance (Tocchet), has shot up the standings and is a contender for the first time in a decade.
- Other candidates: Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Bill Zito (Florida Panthers), Jim Nill (Dallas Stars)
NHL award winners in 2022-23
- Presidents’ Trophy: Boston Bruins
- Jack Adams Trophy: Jim Montgomery (Boston Bruins)
- Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
- Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
- Calder Memorial Trophy: Matty Beniers (Seattle Kraken)
- Vezina Trophy: Linus Ullmark (Boston Bruins)
- James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (San Jose Sharks)
- Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
- Maurice Richard Trophy: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
- William M. Jennings Trophy: Linus Ullmark & Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
- Jim Gregory GM of the Year: Jim Nill (Dallas Stars)
