NHL awards finalists: Who’s in the running for MVP, other honors

With the NHL playoffs underway, the league is rolling out the names of players who stood out during the regular season.

This week and next, the three finalists will be announced for the following awards: Vezina Trophy (goaltender), Norris Trophy (defenseman), Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by players), Hart Trophy (MVP as voted by writers), Masterton Trophy (perseverance), Selke Trophy (defensive forward), Adams Award (coach), Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) and Calder Trophy (rookie).

The winner of the Willie O’Ree Community Award will be announced on May 12. Finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award will be announced after the end of the second round of the playoffs.

Voting took place at the end of the regular season. No date has been announced yet for when the winners will be revealed.

Here are the finalists for the NHL’s major awards and when the finalists will be announced:

Hart Trophy finalists

Who votes: Professional Hockey Writers Association

Finalists (listed alphabetically): Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers; Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets and Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

• Despite missing 11 games, Draisaitl led the league with 52 goals. He set a single-season NHL record with six overtime goals, shared first place in game-winning goals (11) and multi-goal performances (10), ranked second in even-strength goals (36), and tied for second in power-play goals (16). He won the award in 2020.

• Hellebuyck led the NHL with 47 victories, one behind the league record. His nine-win edge over No. 2 Andrei Vasilevskiy was the largest gap since 1990-91. Hellebuyck gave up two or fewer goals in 40 of 63 appearances. He led the league (minimum 25 games played) in goals-against average (2.00) and shutouts (eight), was second in save percentage (.925) and starts (62) and ranked fourth in saves (1,539) and high-danger save percentage ( .845). He’s the first goaltender finalist since Igor Shesterkin in 2021-22 and is looking to become the fourth netminder in the expansion era to win, following Dominik Hasek (twice), Jose Theodore and Carey Price.

• Kucherov second 121 points, 31 more than closest teammate Brandon Hagel, to capture his second consecutive and third overall Art Ross Trophy as points leader. He finished first in points per game (1.55), power-play assists (38) and power-play points (46) and third in even-strength points (75). He won the award in 2019 and is the only Hart finalist who’s also a finalist for this season’s Ted Lindsay Award.

Ted Lindsay Award finalists

Who votes: Players

Finalists (listed alphabetically): Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, and Cale Makar, Avalanche

• Kucherov had 121 points to lead the league in scoring for the second year in a row and third time overall. He led the league in points per game (1.55), primary assists (56), power-play points (46) and power-play assists (38). He won the award in 2018-19 and is a two-time finalist.
• MacKinnon, last year’s winner, finished second in the league with 116 points. He shared the league lead in assists (with Kucherov at 84), led the league in shots (320) and was second in primary assists (53), even-strength points (78) and power-play points (38).
• Makar set a career high in goals (30) and points (92) to lead all defensemen and rank ninth in league scoring. He’s a first-time finalist.

Norris Trophy finalists

Who votes: Professional Hockey Writers Association

Finalists (listed alphabetically): Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

• Hughes led the Canucks in assists (60), points (76), shots on goal (192) and average ice time (25:44). He led the Canucks in scoring by 26 points. Hughes reached the 60-assist mark for the fourth consecutive season, the fourth defenseman in NHL history to do that. He won the Norris last season.
• Makar opened the season with a 13-game point streak and went on to lead NHL defensemen in goals (30), assists (62) and points (92). He became the first defenseman to reach the 30-goal mark since Mike Green in 2008-09. Makar is a Norris Trophy finalist for the fifth time in his first six NHL seasons. He won the award in 2021-22.
• Werenski, a first-time finalist, became the first Blue Jackets defenseman to lead the team in scoring. He broke his own franchise records for defensemen in goals (23), assists (59) and points (82), leading the Blue Jackets to a 23-point improvement over 2023-24. He led all NHL players in average ice time (26:45). His 59 assists matched forward Artemi Panarin’s franchise record.

Vezina Trophy finalists

Who votes: General managers

Finalists (listed alphabetically): Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets; Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning,

• Hellebuyck, last year’s winner, went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and eight shutouts to lead the Jets to the league’s best record. The 47 wins tied for second best all-time. He led the NHL in GAA and shutouts and ranked second in save percentage. Hellebuyck, who won in 2020 and 2024, is looking to become the first repeat winner since Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

• Kuemper went 31-11-7 with five shutouts in his second stint with the Kings. He finished first in high-danger save percentage (.863), second in goals-against average (2.02) and third in save percentage. He had a stretch of 15 consecutive starts of allowing two or fewer goals from March 5 to April 10. He’s a first-time finalist.

• Vasilevskiy went 38-20-5 and ranked second in 38 wins, tied for first in games played (63), was second in saves (1,581) and high-danger save percentage (.853), tied for second in shutouts (six) and ranked fourth in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.921). He became the fastest goaltender in league history to reach 300 wins, doing it in his 490th career game. Vasilevskiy is a finalist for the fifth time and won the award in 2018-19.

NHL awards finalists announcement schedule

• Monday, April 28: Vezina Trophy
• Tuesday, April 29: James Norris Memorial Trophy
• Wednesday, April 30: Ted Lindsay Award
• Thursday, May 1: Hart Memorial Trophy
• Friday, May 2: Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Frank J. Selke Trophy, Jack Adams Award and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• Monday, May 5: Calder Memorial Trophy