theScore's picks for the 2024-25 NHL Awards
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, but that doesn't mean it's too late to look back on some impressive individual accomplishments from the regular season. The 2024-25 NHL awards won't be unveiled until June, but the results of theScore's hypothetical ballot are here.
Here's how it worked: Six members of theScore's NHL team - Kyle Cushman, Mike Dickson, Kayla Douglas, Nick Faris, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman - submitted their first, second, and third choices for each of the NHL's six major awards. Three points were awarded for a first-place vote, two for a second-place vote, and one for a third-place vote. Here are the results:
Jack Adams Award
Presented to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success.
| Place | Head coach | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spencer Carbery (WSH) | 18 |
| 2 | Travis Green (OTT) | 6 |
| 3 | Dean Evason (CBJ) | 5 |
| 4 | Jim Montgomery (STL) | 4 |
| 5 | Scott Arniel (WPG) | 2 |
| 6 | Martin St. Louis (MTL) | 1 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Carbery | Evason | St. Louis |
| Dickson | Carbery | Green | Montgomery |
| Douglas | Carbery | Green | Montgomery |
| Faris | Carbery | Evason | Green |
| O'Leary | Carbery | Arniel | Green |
| Wegman | Carbery | Montgomery | Evason |
It's a unanimous victory for Carbery, who guided the Capitals to an impressive turnaround. Washington was the last team to clinch a playoff spot a year ago before finishing first in the Eastern Conference this season.
Selke Trophy
Given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.
| Place | Player | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Reinhart (FLA) | 13 |
| 2 | Aleksander Barkov (FLA) | 11 |
| 3 | Anthony Cirelli (TB) | 9 |
| 4 | Matty Beniers (SEA) | 2 |
| 5 | Jordan Staal (CAR) | 1 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Barkov | Cirelli | Reinhart |
| Dickson | Reinhart | Cirelli | Barkov |
| Douglas | Reinhart | Barkov | Staal |
| Faris | Reinhart | Cirelli | Barkov |
| O'Leary | Reinhart | Cirelli | Barkov |
| Wegman | Barkov | Beniers | Cirelli |
No teammates have finished 1-2 in Selke Trophy voting since the award was introduced in 1977-78. Teammates haven't even been finalists together since Pavel Datsyuk (first) and Henrik Zetterberg (third) in 2008. Reinhart would also be the first winger to win the award since Jere Lehtinen in 2003.
Calder Trophy
Given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
| Place | Player | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lane Hutson (MTL) | 18 |
| T2 | Macklin Celebrini (SJ) | 9 |
| T2 | Dustin Wolf (CGY) | 9 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Hutson | Celebrini | Wolf |
| Dickson | Hutson | Celebrini | Wolf |
| Douglas | Huston | Wolf | Celebrini |
| Faris | Hutson | Wolf | Celebrini |
| O'Leary | Hutson | Wolf | Celebrini |
| Wegman | Hutson | Celebrini | Wolf |
It was a back-and-fourth race for much of the season, but Hutson pulled away by leading the Canadiens to a playoff spot with a historic campaign, resulting in a unanimous first-place finish. Hutson's 66 points were tied for fourth-most ever by a rookie defenseman.
Norris Trophy
Given to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
| Place | Player | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cale Makar (COL) | 18 |
| 2 | Zach Werenski (CBJ) | 10 |
| 3 | Quinn Hughes (VAN) | 8 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Makar | Hughes | Werenski |
| Dickson | Makar | Werenski | Hughes |
| Douglas | Makar | Werenski | Hughes |
| Faris | Makar | Werenski | Hughes |
| O'Leary | Makar | Werenski | Hughes |
| Wegman | Makar | Hughes | Werenski |
A clean sweep for Makar. This would mark his fifth consecutive year as a finalist, and his second time as the winner. He led all blue-liners with 92 points and became the ninth defenseman - and second in the past 30 years - to score 30 goals in a season.
Vezina Trophy
Given to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at this position.
| Place | Player | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) | 18 |
| 2 | Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB) | 11 |
| 3 | Darcy Kuemper (LA) | 7 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Hellebuyck | Vasilevskiy | Kuemper |
| Dickson | Hellebuyck | Vasilevskiy | Kuemper |
| Douglas | Hellebuyck | Kuemper | Vailevskiy |
| Faris | Hellebuyck | Vasilevskiy | Kuemper |
| O'Leary | Hellebuyck | Vasilevskiy | Kuemper |
| Wegman | Hellebuyck | Vasilevskiy | Kuemper |
Yet another unanimous winner, though this one is the least surprising. Hellebuyck's 47 wins were one shy of matching the NHL record shared by Braden Holtby and Martin Brodeur. Hellebuyck also led all netminders in goals-against average, shutouts, and goals saved above expected.
Hart Trophy
Given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.
| Place | Player | Voting points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) | 14 |
| 2 | Leon Draisaitl (EDM) | 11 |
| T3 | Nikita Kucherov (TB) | 4 |
| T3 | Nathan MacKinnon (COL) | 4 |
| 5 | Cale Makar (COL) | 2 |
| 6 | David Pastrnak (BOS) | 1 |
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | Draisaitl | MacKinnon | Hellebuyck |
| Dickson | Hellebuyck | Kucherov | MacKinnon |
| Douglas | Hellebuyck | Draisaitl | MacKinnon |
| Faris | Hellebuyck | Draisaitl | Pastrnak |
| O'Leary | Draisaitl | Kucherov | Hellebuyck |
| Wegman | Hellebuyck | Makar | Draisaitl |
This has shaped up to be one of the tightest Hart Trophy races in recent years. It could go several ways, but our voters veered toward Hellebuyck, who backstopped the Jets to a Presidents' Trophy. Hellebuyck would be the eighth goalie to win the award, and the first since Carey Price in 2015.