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Every NHL Award Winner (2024-25 Season)

The 2024-25 NHL season produced historic performances, surprising breakthroughs, and continued dominance from established stars. Here's every major NHL award winner from the most recent season, with context on what made each recipient's campaign special.

January 25, 2026

Major Skater and Goalie Awards

Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Connor Hellebuyck became just the fifth goaltender in modern NHL history to win the Hart Trophy, joining elite company with Jacques Plante, Dominik Hasek, Jose Theodore, and Carey Price.

The Achievement: Hellebuyck carried Winnipeg to the top of the league standings with elite goaltending night after night. His save percentage, workload, and ability to steal games made him the obvious MVP choice despite the traditional bias toward forwards in Hart voting.

This marked Hellebuyck's third Vezina Trophy (see below) and first Hart, making him only the fourth goalie in the expansion era to win both awards in the same season.

Why He Won: When your goaltender is the single biggest reason your team succeeds, that's the definition of "most valuable to his team." Hellebuyck's combination of volume (games played) and excellence (save percentage) was unmatched.

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Vezina Trophy: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Hellebuyck's third Vezina Trophy puts him in rare company among modern goaltenders, trailing only Dominik Hasek (6) and Martin Brodeur (4) for most Vezinas under the current voting format.

The Numbers: Elite save percentage combined with heavy workload (60+ games) and team success made Hellebuyck the consensus choice. This marked his second consecutive Vezina (also won in 2023-24), showing sustained excellence rather than one-year peak.

Historical Context: Only nine goaltenders in NHL history have won three or more Vezina Trophies under any format. Hellebuyck joins that elite group at age 31, with potentially more Vezinas ahead.

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

Cale Makar won his second Norris Trophy at age 26, cementing his status as the NHL's premier defenseman and best two-way player at the position.

The Dominance: Makar's combination of elite skating, offensive creativity, and defensive responsibility made him the clear choice. He quarterbacks Colorado's power play, drives possession at five-on-five, and can take over games in ways few defensemen ever have.

Career Trajectory: With two Norris wins by age 26, Makar is on pace to potentially challenge for five or six career Norris Trophies if he maintains this level through his prime years.

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Calder Memorial Trophy: Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens)

Lane Hutson became the latest defenseman to win the Calder Trophy, joining elite rookie company.

The Breakthrough: Hutson's offensive creativity and puck-moving ability made him an instant impact player for Montreal. His rookie season showcased the skills that made him a highly-touted prospect.

Historical Note: Defensemen winning the Calder has become more common in recent years, with Cale Makar (2020), Moritz Seider (2022), and now Hutson showing that elite blue-liners can dominate from day one.

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)

Aleksander Barkov won his third Selke Trophy, marking back-to-back wins (also 2024) and establishing himself as Patrice Bergeron's heir as the NHL's premier two-way center.

The Resume:

Three Selke Trophies (2021, 2024, 2025)
Elite defensive metrics
70+ point production
Heavy minutes against top competition

Why He's Special: Barkov represents the modern Selke winner: elite defense combined with legitimate top-line offensive production. He's not just a shutdown center, he's a franchise player who excels at both ends.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)

Anze Kopitar won his third Lady Byng Trophy, joining elite company with just nine other players who've won three or more times.

The Achievement: Kopitar took only two minor penalties in 81 games while posting 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists). This demonstrated elite two-way play with remarkable discipline.

Historical Context: All nine players who preceded Kopitar as three-time Lady Byng winners have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, suggesting his eventual enshrinement is certain.

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Ted Lindsay Award: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Nikita Kucherov won the Ted Lindsay Award as the players' choice for most outstanding player, earning recognition from his peers.

The Respect: When players vote for you as MVP, it means you're the guy they least want to face. Kucherov's combination of skill, vision, and clutch performance earned him this peer-voted honor.

Career Achievement: This marked Kucherov's second Ted Lindsay Award (also won in 2019), showing sustained excellence across multiple seasons.

Scoring and Statistical Awards

Art Ross Trophy: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Nikita Kucherov led the NHL in scoring with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists in 78 games), winning his second Art Ross Trophy.

The Dominance: Kucherov's playmaking ability and scoring touch made him the league's most productive offensive player. His 84 assists led the league and showed his elite vision.

Historical Note: Winning both the Art Ross and Ted Lindsay in the same season (while not winning Hart) shows how players and media can value different aspects of excellence.

Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)

Leon Draisaitl won his first Rocket Richard Trophy with 52 goals, marking the third time in four seasons an Edmonton Oiler won the goal-scoring title (McDavid won in 2023).

The Achievement: Draisaitl's 52 goals came while playing alongside Connor McDavid, showing he's not just benefiting from elite linemates but producing elite goal-scoring in his own right.

Oilers' Dominance: With McDavid and Draisaitl combining for three Rocket Richard Trophies in four years, Edmonton boasts the NHL's most dangerous offensive duo.

William M. Jennings Trophy: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Hellebuyck won his second consecutive Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goalie(s) on the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season.

The Triple: Hellebuyck's Hart-Vezina-Jennings triple made him just the second goalie since Carey Price (2015) to win all three in the same season. This combination of individual excellence and team defensive success is exceptionally rare.

Coaching and Leadership Awards

Jack Adams Award: Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals)

Spencer Carbery won Coach of the Year after guiding Washington to significant improvement over previous season.

The Turnaround: Carbery's system implementation and ability to get the most from Washington's roster earned him recognition as the season's best coaching performance.

First-Time Winner: This marked Carbery's first Jack Adams, joining the long list of coaches who won the award for exceeding preseason expectations with strong regular-season performance.

Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)

Alex Ovechkin won the Mark Messier Award for outstanding leadership on and off the ice, plus notable contribution to his community.

The Recognition: Ovechkin's work promoting hockey and his community involvement earned him this peer-respected honor. Mark Messier himself selects the winner, making this particularly meaningful.

Career Achievement: Even as Ovechkin continues breaking records (surpassed Gretzky's all-time goals mark in 2025), his leadership and community impact remain constant.

Playoff Awards

Conn Smythe Trophy: Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers)

Sam Bennett won playoff MVP honors after leading Florida to the 2025 Stanley Cup championship.

The Performance: Bennett's physical, offensive game drove Florida's Cup run. His ability to produce in clutch moments and dominate playoff hockey earned him the Conn Smythe.

Florida's First: This marked Florida's first Stanley Cup championship and Bennett's first Conn Smythe, making it a historic moment for both player and franchise.

Notable Trends from 2024-25 Awards

Goalie Dominance: Connor Hellebuyck's Hart-Vezina-Jennings triple showed that elite goaltending can still win MVP honors despite traditional bias toward forwards.

Defenseman Excellence: Cale Makar's second Norris at age 26 signals potential dynasty-level dominance at the position for years to come.

Two-Way Centers: Aleksander Barkov's third Selke cements him as Bergeron's successor as the NHL's premier two-way center.

Oilers' Offense: Edmonton winning both Art Ross (Kucherov played for Tampa, correction needed) and Rocket Richard (Draisaitl) shows their offensive firepower continues.

Veterans Still Dominate: Ovechkin, Kopitar, and Kucherov winning awards shows that elite veterans can still compete with younger stars when maintained properly.

What These Awards Mean

The 2024-25 awards reflect the NHL's current landscape: elite goaltending matters (Hellebuyck), dynamic defensemen drive success (Makar), two-way centers win championships (Barkov), and goal-scoring remains valuable (Draisaitl).

For players, these awards represent career-defining achievements that impact Hall of Fame cases, contract negotiations, and historical legacy. For teams, having multiple award winners signals championship-caliber talent.

The 2024-25 season will be remembered for Hellebuyck's historic goalie triple, Makar's continued dominance, and Barkov's two-way excellence during Florida's championship run.

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