The end-of-season NHL Awards can often bring some surprises, but this year, major injuries and bounce-back years could be enough to earn some players their first major individual awards while others could add more hardware to their trophy cabinets. Here are my picks for the 2025-26 NHL Awards.
The Rocket Richard Trophy: Auston Matthews
Runners Up: Connor McDavid, Sam Reinhart
For me, this year is the year that Auston Matthews can bounce back after a tough string of injuries, and it could be the year he finally cracks the 70 goal-tally. Matthews, who only played 67 games last season, had a massive fall off after scoring 69 goals during the 2023-24 season and is destined for a big season.
Matthews is still arguably the NHL's best scorer, and despite having a down year, this season is a critical year for the Leafs and one where he will have to be at his best, and I think he will. With some fresh talent like Mattias Macceli, and some existing elite playmakers like William Nylander and John Tavares, Matthews is bound to find his scoring touch once again. Especially with the Olympic Games coming up, he will want to be at his best.
I think there can be arguments to be made that Connor McDavid could push for the Rocket Richard, and even those who had big years last year like Tage Thompson and David Pastrnak, however it looks like following his new contract McDavid could look to become a sharpshooter for the Oilers once again, and will not hold back on what we know is a lethal release.
The Vezina Trophy: Jake Oettinger
Runners Up: Igor Shesterkin, Connor Hellebuyck
The sole reason I believe that Jake Oettinger will win the Vezina is due to the rapid improvement he is having in goal, and with the new coaching appointment of Glen Gulutzan, his role in between the posts will be super important in their hopes to win the cup this season.
Oettinger is a young goalie who will definitely be in the running considering how good the Stars will be this season, and despite finishing outside of the top five in terms of goaltending stats last year, as his performances progress, so could his Vezina chances. Having competition like Igor Shesterkin and Connor Hellebuyck isn't an easy job, however if he keeps working on his game, and is a key part once again for the Stars, there is no reason Oettinger can't win it all, and I truly do believe he could be the one.
The Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid
Runners Up: Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner
After signing his extension, it was made clear that for the next three years that Connor McDavid may be entering a new level of his game, and could somehow be even better than he is now. Having been an Art Ross winner before on five different occasions, and being a 100+ point scorer for the last five seasons, this year could be an even bigger year for the best in the game, and as far as points go, McDavid could easily reach the 120-130 point mark.
He has done it before, and he has proved that he is the best in the game, and with winning being the only thing that's in his mind, this year he could really turn the gears up to a new level. Who knows how high of a level he can reach? After scoring 100 points last season, which was a dropoff from previous years, improvement is something that is indubitably on the way for McDavid. He's a man on a mission, and not only him, but Edmonton could be onto another monster season.
The only few I think that could get close to him is the likes of Nathan MacKinnon who is poised for another massive contending year with the Colorado Avalanche, and Mitch Marner who after securing his first 100 point season last year is only going to get better in Vegas. But for me, nothing is stopping the point-scoring freight train that is Connor McDavid this season.
The Norris Trophy: Cale Makar
Runners Up: Zach Werenski, Rasmus Dahlin
For the third time in his career, it is hard to see Cale Makar not winning the Norris Trophy again this year, and it isn't crazy to believe he can go levels up. Makar, who is arguably the best defenseman in the NHL, has one of the most elite outlets in Nathan MacKinnon, and is one of the best offensive and two-way defensemen in the league, and that doesn't seem to be slowing him down.
As a point-scoring machine, but more importantly as an insanely good defender, Makar is a player who the Avs can lean on when things go wrong, a player who can change the game with the puck on his stick, and a player who is so reliable on the breakaway that the Avs don't ever have to worry when he is on the ice. He will have some competitors with the likes of Werenski and Dahlin getting better every day, but nobody comes close to Makar, and it is really hard to see anybody beating him to that Norris again this season.
The Selke Trophy: Nico Hischier
Runners Up: Sam Reinhart, Anthony Cirelli
This year's Selke trophy is way up for grabs following Alexander Barkov's ACL injury, and as far as defensively solid offensive talent goes, Hischier is growing to be one of the best in the game, and as he adapts further as a captain and defensively minded leader, Hischier has the world at his feet, and the Selke is his to win.
With the likes of Sam Reinhart, a very solid two-way player, and Anthony Cirelli who are growing as some of the best two-way talent in the league, it will be close. But with how the Devils are lined up, and how well Hischier is becoming as a two-way guy, the Selke looks like the goal for him this season, and over the last couple of years, his game has leveled up and adapted to the level as two-way guy needs to be worthy of the Selke award.
The Lady Byng Trophy: Anze Kopitar
Runners Up: Nick Suzuki, Cale Makar
In his final NHL season, it would be rude not to give Anze Kopitar the honour of winning his second Lady Byng trophy in a row, and with how he plays the game, and how he will continue to play the game in his final year, he is the model player, and most sportsmanlike player in the NHL, and it looks like his award to lose. Players like Nick Suzuki and Jacob Slavin have seemed like his successors, and players who have modeled their playing philosophy around Kopita'rs game, however as far as the Lady Byng trophy goes, it is Anze Kopitar all over.
Who better to award the trophy to a guy who has stuck by his game for the last 20 seasons, a guy who has and will continue to be a role model, and a guy who will go on and play the game the right way for one last year, the Lady Byng is a trophy made for guys like Kopitar, and in his final year, it seems like it will be the one he has deserved the most.
The Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid
Runners Up: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Cale Makar
Just like the Art Ross Trophy, it looks like a career year could be pending for McDavid given how driven he will be this year, and with how his perfomances have seemed to be improving over the offseason with his training and camps, it looks like he is properly about to turn up the heat, and it will be harder for hiom not to win the MVP awards rather than win it. I do think he will have rivals, I think if Matthews lives up to the hype and manages to net 70, and I do think if the likes of Mitch Marner and Nikita Kucherov manage to have 100+ point season it will be a closer MVP race than expected, however with what is promised and expected of McDavid's game this season, a trip back up to the big stage at the NHL awards is on the horizon for McDavid.
The Calder Memorial Trophy: Ivan Demidov
Runners Up: Zeev Buium, Isaac Howard
After seeing what Ivan Demidov could do during the preseason and definitely the rookie showcase, Ivan Demidov looks like what he was once projected to be. A stud. After he burst onto the scene in his debut game against the Blackhawks, scoring his first NHL goal, and earning himself an assist, Demidov's skill looks unmatched, and that time in the KHL looks like it has prepared him for NHL speed already.
He's not only a quick and tricky winger, but he is a smart and calculated player who will not only be an amazing goal scorer, but an amazing provider on the ice. Among all of the rookies we got a glimpse of at the end of last season, Demidov already looked like a major part of the Canadiens offense from the get go, and if he can continue that form and keep improving, it will be his Calder before the season even ends. But, there will be competition.
The likes of the Minnesota Wild's Zeev Buium looked really solid during the Wild's short playuoff campaign last season, and this year as his first year in the NHL could mirror the game of the likes of Lane Hutson and Co. As a shutdown D-man, with the ability to get the puck forward, Buium will give Demidov a challenge, but will definitelty have more emphasis on being an avid NHL starter rather than a flashy headline guy. Also players like Isaac Howard who are coming straight inot the NHL after years of experience of college hockey will surprise a lot of people, adn looks like an NHL ready prospect who could even get a lot of reps with the lies of Connor McDavid and Leon Draiaitl. The Calder race will have a lot of competitors, but with what he has shown so far, and the promise he has, it's hard to see anyone hut Ivan Demidov winning it all.