2021-22 NHL Season Award Predictions
By Mike Bober
There is always some fun surrounding the NHL awards. There are some favorites and some surprises every year. This is my list of 2021-22 NHL season award predictions.
Team Awards
President’s Trophy
The President’s Trophy is a tight race between the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. With an extra game at hand, I think Florida takes home the President’s Trophy, securing home-ice advantage for the Playoffs.
Prince of Wales Trophy
The Prince of Wales Trophy is awarded to the Eastern Conference champions. Being the best team in the East currently, I think the Florida Panthers will continue in the Playoffs and find themselves in the Stanley Cup Final.
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl is given to the Western Conference champions. This one is a bit of a bolder prediction with Colorado, Calgary, and St. Louis in the mix, but I think the Minnesota Wild will surprise some people and make a trip to the Finals this year.
Individual Awards
Hart
The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player to his team. Connor McDavid has continually proven his value to the Edmonton Oilers, and I think he will collect his third Hart Trophy after this season.
Calder
The Calder Memorial Trophy is given to the rookie of the year. There is a tight race for the Calder between Michael Bunting, Trevor Zegras, and Lucas Raymond. Just because of the flash to his game and his overall personality, I think the Calder is going to Trevor Zegras.
Vezina
The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best goaltender. Igor Shesterkin leads the league in goals-against average and save percentage. I think it should be an easy decision to award the Vezina to Shesterkin.
Norris
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is given to the best defenseman. Roman Josi just became only the second defenseman in Predators franchise history to score 20 goals in a season. In addition, Josi also leads all defenseman in points, with Cale Makkar not far behind. However, I think Josi will secure the Norris the year.
Art Ross
The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the player who totals the most points by the end of the regular season. Connor McDavid currently leads the league in points with Jonathan Huberdeau close behind. Of the remaining games, Florida has one more than Edmonton, and I think Huberdeau can top this list at the end of the regular season.
Selke
The Frank J. Selke trophy is given to the best defensive forward in the league. The Selke race is another tight one. Anze Kopitar, Patrice Bergeron, and Ryan O’Reilly have been tossed around as favorites. I am deciding to go with the unpopular choice and say that Elias Lindholm will win the Selke Trophy.
Jack Adams
The Jack Adams Award is given to the most valuable coach to his team. Darryl Sutter was brought back to the Calgary Flames organization in March of 2021. Calgary was in the middle of the pack in that season, but Sutter turned the team around this year, clinching a playoff spot and currently sitting at sixth place in the league standings. I think Darryl Sutter gets the Jack Adams this year.
Playoff Awards
Stanley Cup
If my predictions for the East and West are correct, the Stanley Cup Final will be Florida vs Minnesota, with Florida having home ice advantage. I think the Minnesota Wild win the series in a bit of an upset. Most importantly, Marc-Andre Fleury will get one last Stanley Cup before he hangs up the skates (which will most likely be within the next two years).
Conn Smythe
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the playoff MVP. I have two options for Conn Smythe on Minnesota. Kirill Kaprizov and Marc-Andre Fleury stand out as favorites. (I almost picked Kaprizov for the Hart Trophy.) If Minnesota wins the Stanley Cup, I would love to see Fleury get the Conn Smythe.