With the 2025–26 NHL regular season complete, the league’s top performers have separated themselves clearly enough to project the likely award races. NHL award voting is a little suspect due to voter bias, so there are usually players who miss out on votes as a result.
Using official NHL.com stats and league leader dashboards, here are the top four finalists and predicted winners for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Vezina, and Jack Adams Awards.
Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
Yes arguments can be made for the top five candidates, however, Connor McDavid once again redefined offense, finishing as the NHL’s points leader with 138 points, while also ranking near the top in goals and power‑play production. Nathan MacKinnon’s 53‑goal season drove Colorado to the best record in hockey, making him a strong challenger. Nikita Kucherov remained elite at age 32, while rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini became the first teenager in decades to surpass 110 points. Make no mistake about it, Connor McDavid is not just the Most Valuable to his team, he is the most valuable to the NHL as a whole.[hockey-reference.com]
Predicted Winner: Connor McDavid – Edmonton
Who should win: Connor McDavid – Edmonton
Finalists Comparison
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS |
| Connor McDavid | EDM | 82 | 48 | 86 | 134 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | COL | 80 | 53 | 74 | 127 |
| Nikita Kucherov | TBL | 76 | 44 | 86 | 130 |
| Macklin Celebrini | SJS | 81 | 44 | 68 | 112 |
Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman)
Offensive dominance from the blue line defined this year’s Norris race. Evan Bouchard led all NHL defensemen in points (92) while playing over 24 minutes per night and quarterbacking a lethal Oilers power play. Zach Werenski’s 81‑point season and Cale Makar’s two‑way excellence keep the race tight, while 21‑year‑old Lane Hutson emerged as a breakout star in Montreal.
Predicted Winner: Zach Werenski – Columbus
Who should win: Evan Bouchard – Edmonton
Finalists Comparison
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS |
| Evan Bouchard | EDM | 82 | 21 | 71 | 92 |
| Zach Werenski | CBJ | 75 | 22 | 59 | 81 |
| Cale Makar | COL | 74 | 20 | 58 | 78 |
| Lane Hutson | MTL | 82 | 12 | 66 | 78 |
Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
The Calder race quickly narrowed to a three‑horse contest. Ivan Demidov led all rookies with 60+ points while playing sheltered minutes for Montreal. Beckett Sennecke scored efficiently for Anaheim, but Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer stood out by producing 58 points from the blue line, logging top‑pair minutes and finishing with a strong plus‑minus.
Predicted Winner: Matthew Schaefer – NY Islanders
Who should win: Matthew Schaefer – NY Islanders
Finalists Comparison
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS |
| Matthew Schaefer (D) | NYI | 78 | 22 | 36 | 58 |
| Ivan Demidov | MTL | 77 | 17 | 43 | 60 |
| Beckett Sennecke | ANA | 77 | 23 | 35 | 58 |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | STL | 64 | 17 | 25 | 42 |
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)
Goaltending depth was strong league‑wide, but Andrei Vasilevskiy stood apart. He led the NHL with 39 wins, posting a .912 save percentage while anchoring a Tampa Bay club that finished among the league’s elite. Scott Wedgewood’s .920 SV% was eye‑catching, but Vasilevskiy’s workload and wins give him the edge.
Predicted Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy – Tampa Bay
Who should win: Andrei Vasilevskiy – Tampa Bay
Finalists Comparison
| Goalie | Team | GP | W | SV% | GAA |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy | TBL | 58 | 39 | .912 | 2.31 |
| Scott Wedgewood | COL | 44 | 30 | .920 | 2.07 |
| Karel Vejmelka | UTA | 63 | 38 | .897 | 2.73 |
| Jake Oettinger | DAL | 54 | 35 | .899 | 2.59 |
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
Colorado’s Jared Bednar guided the Avalanche to the NHL’s best record while managing elite minutes, injuries, and special teams excellence. Rod Brind’Amour and Jon Cooper remain perennial candidates, but Bednar’s separation in the standings is decisive. The one x-factor is Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres. Getting the Sabres back to the NHL post season after missing for a League record 14 seasons is no small feat. Sabres had 108 points no less.
Predicted Winner: Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche)
Who should win: Lindy Ruff (Buffalo Sabres)
Finalists Comparison
| Coach | Team | Points | Division Finish |
| Jared Bednar | COL | 119 | 1st Central |
| Rod Brind’Amour | CAR | 113 | 1st Metro |
| Jon Cooper | TBL | 106 | 2nd Atlantic |
| Lindy Ruff | BUF | 108 | 1st Atlantic |
Final Take
If voting follows historical trends weighted toward production and team success, the 2026 NHL Awards are poised to reward elite excellence over novelty. McDavid and Vasilevskiy remain the league’s gold standard, while Bouchard and Schaefer signal the next generation’s rightful place among the game’s elite.
