NHL Awards Update: MacKinnon takes a significant lead in the MVP contest

The narrative of the NHL season up to this point, aside from puzzlingly strange off-ice injuries, has revolved around the phenomenal performances from the league’s emerging stars.

Athletes such as Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Matthew Schaefer are featuring prominently in nightly highlight reels and pushing their teams into surprise playoff contention. Is their playoff flirtation paving the way for end-of-season accolades for these rising talents? Or will the NHL awards remain in the grip of the league’s seasoned stars, like those steering the Colorado Avalanche to a record-breaking start in the standings?

Welcome to the NHL Awards Watch for December. We conducted an anonymous survey among a diverse group of Professional Hockey Writers Association voters to gauge the sentiment regarding the current frontrunners. We ensured a variety of perspectives from throughout the league.

Remember, the PHWA votes for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke, and Lady Byng finalists, while broadcasters choose the Jack Adams, and general managers take care of the Vezina.

All statistics are sourced from Hockey-Reference.com, Natural Stat Trick, and Evolving Hockey.

Jump ahead:
Ross | Richard | Hart
Norris | Selke | Vezina
Calder | Byng | Adams

Art Ross Trophy (points leader)

Click here for the updated goal-scoring standings.

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Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy

Click here for the updated scoring standings.

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Hart Trophy (MVP)

Leader: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Finalists: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks; Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks; Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche is experiencing one of the most remarkable starts to a season in NHL history. After 26 games, they sit at 19-1-6, boasting a .846 points percentage. For comparison, the Boston Bruins recorded a .823 points percentage in 2022-23, achieving an NHL-record 135 points and 38 wins. They kicked off that season with a record of 20-3-0. Colorado has accumulated a 17-1-5 record in its initial 23 games this season.

The core reason for Colorado’s dominance this season, reflected in a staggering plus-50 goal differential, is MacKinnon, who leads the NHL through 26 games with 22 goals, 46 points, and a plus/minus of plus-32. Heading into Wednesday night, MacKinnon amassed more even-strength points (35) than all but six players have total points this season.

MacKinnon garnered 82% of the first-place votes after securing only 10% of the votes the previous month. Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson (35 points in 27 games) and Vegas Golden Knights standout Jack Eichel (32 points in 26 games) are also in the mix, having led this category in last month’s Awards Watch.

«It’s Nathan MacKinnon and then everybody else,» one voter remarked, «despite some younger players shining on bubble teams.»

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Norris Trophy (top defenseman)

Leader: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Finalists: Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals; Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets

Label it «group consensus.» Refer to it as bowing down to the top defenseman on the NHL’s leading team. However you phrase it, Makar was the unanimous pick for the Norris Trophy.

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He was one vote shy of being unanimous last month. (Montreal’s Mike Matheson, who secured that other first-place vote, was absent from this month’s ballots.)

Makar led all defensemen in points (32) after 26 games, just ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski and the currently injured New York Rangers star Adam Fox (both with 26). Werenski was the runner-up to Makar for the Norris last season. Fox claimed the award in 2020-21.

Fox still has a following this season.

«The disdain for Fox because of four underwhelming games in a tournament 10 months ago is so unusual to me. He’s still top-tier,» one voter commented, referring to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

«Fox’s defensive abilities have been notable this year, and the Rangers greatly miss him. However, Makar’s performance makes this a non-issue unless injury strikes,» another concluded.

«There are several intriguing narratives this year, like what Jakob Chychrun is achieving in D.C., but Makar is once more standing out,» a third commented.

Chychrun has tallied 23 points in 27 games, achieving a plus-19 for the Capitals. While that may not rival Makar’s plus-29, it’s still impressive. Even more notable: The Capitals concede only 1.55 goals against per 60 minutes at even strength with Chychrun on the ice. He was the most frequently mentioned defenseman by our voters.

Next up was Josh Morrissey, also a finalist last month. The Jets defenseman maintains his offensive production (24 points in 25 games, plus-11) while Winnipeg averages over four goals per 60 minutes with Morrissey present on the ice. (Having Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor as line mates helps.) The Jets allow just 2.2 goals per 60 minutes with Morrissey in play.

Werenski found himself on a number of ballots. Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and the Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer have also garnered attention from voters. But it’s Makar, by consensus, who leads the Norris race.

«Start the engraving now,» one voter remarked.

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Calder Trophy (top rookie)

Leader: Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
Finalists: Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose Sharks; Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

Islanders sensation Matthew Schaefer leads the Calder voting for the second consecutive month, boosting his proportion from 81% to 88% of the first-place votes.

«Eighteen-year-old defensemen should not come into the league and have this kind of impact,» one voter contended.

«Young defensemen often appear unpolished, but he looks exceptionally good,» another noted.

Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, currently ranks second in rookie scoring with 19 points over 27 games. This includes eight goals, the highest total for any rookie. Remarkably, his average ice time has surged to 23:22 per game, jumping into the deep end immediately with the Islanders. No other rookie averages more than 20 minutes per game. Defensively, the Islanders allow under two goals per 60 minutes with the rookie on the ice.

«He’s logging over 23 minutes nightly and secured a spot on Team Canada’s long list as an 18-year-old. Unbelievable,» a voter quipped.

«This guy has positioned himself for Olympic consideration and is brushing the edges of Norris discussions. We’re quickly nearing a point where a unanimous decision for the Calder race may be a possibility,» another voter stated.

However, it’s not unanimous. Coming in behind Schaefer are two young goaltenders who saw the only other first-place votes from our panel this month.

Minnesota’s Wallstedt earned just under 10% of the first-place votes due to a remarkable initial 10 games for the Wild, where he posted an 8-0-2 record, a .944 save percentage, and a 1.74 goals-against average.

Four of those wins were shutouts. (For perspective, the record for shutouts by a rookie in the expansion era is 15 by Chicago’s Tony Esposito in 1969-70.) Stathletes has Wallstedt leading the NHL in goals saved above expected (10.24) during that span.

It’s a small sample compared to the other two finalists, but «The Wall of St. Paul» is making significant early impressions.

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The last instance of two goaltenders finishing within the top three for the Calder Trophy occurred in 1964-65 when Detroit’s Roger Crozier claimed the honor and Chicago’s Denis DeJordy placed third. It could potentially recur this season with Wallstedt and Askarov on the rise. The only other rookie to garner a first-place vote, Askarov, has performed admirably (.910 save percentage, 2.96 goals-against average) for the surprising Sharks, ranking fourth in goals saved above expected among goaltenders who have played at least 10 games.

«It’s Schaefer, but Askarov is closing in,» one voter noted.

Montreal’s rookie standout Ivan Demidov was prominently mentioned further down the ballot after receiving first-place votes last month. He accumulated 19 points in 25 games, putting him just behind Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks (20 points) for the highest scoring among rookie forwards prior to Thursday night. Sennecke appeared on several ballots. Also attracting attention from the voters was Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin.

«A strong class, but we have some commanding early leaders in award voting this year,» a voter emphasized.

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Vezina Trophy (top goaltender)

Note: The NHL’s general managers vote for this award.

Leader: Scott Wedgewood, Colorado Avalanche
Finalists: Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins; Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Vezina race dramatically shifted last month when Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck, vying for his third consecutive trophy, opted for a minor arthroscopic knee procedure that sidelined him for at least a month (and possibly longer). This development opened the competition for other goaltenders to establish their credentials for the Vezina — including one surprise entrant.

Before his arrival at the Avalanche last season, Wedgewood had played for four different teams. He was a reliable backup to goalies ranging from Antti Raanta to Jake Oettinger, achieving solid statistics in limited games. He had never received a single vote for the Vezina throughout his career.

Now, he stands as the frontrunner for the award, just two months into the season.

Wedgewood claimed 46% of the first-place votes for his outstanding performance with the first-place Avs. Through 19 games, he has registered a 13-1-3 record with a .920 save percentage and a 2.07 GAA. He starred while Mackenzie Blackwood was injured. He also leads the Avalanche in goals saved above expected (5.7), according to Stathletes.

«An unexpected candidate but he deserves it,» one voter stated.

However, with Blackwood returning, Wedgewood’s time as the frontrunner might be short-lived.

«As outstanding as Scott Wedgewood has been this year for the Avalanche, Mackenzie Blackwood has outperformed him in fewer opportunities. It speaks volumes to the comprehensive unit dominating nearly all challengers in Denver these days,» one voter expressed. «Meanwhile, Tampa is struggling to even reach the top of the Atlantic without their number one goaltender.»

Vasilevskiy took home the Vezina in 2019 and has been a finalist five times, including a runner-up finish last season behind Hellebuyck. He currently holds an 11-6-1 record across 19 games, sporting a .917 save percentage and a 2.31 GAA. He has 9.9 goals saved above expected according to Stathletes, which bolsters the belief from many voters that he merits substantial credit for the Lightning’s standing atop the Atlantic.

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«It’s Vasilevskiy… just like the good old days,» one voter remarked.

Vasilevskiy and Swayman each received approximately 14% of the first-place votes. The Bruins’ goalie has excelled amidst Boston’s surprising start, delivering strong traditional figures (11-7-0, .910, 2.80) and leading the NHL with 10.8 goals saved above expected, impressive given that his crease-mate Joonas Korpisalo is struggling (minus-2.38) in goals saved above expected.

Additionally, he is working diligently for those numbers: Only the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin (612) faced more shots than Swayman (554) up to Wednesday’s action.

Shesterkin was among the other goaltenders who received a first-place Vezina vote from our panel. Others included Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks, Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals, who topped this category last month and «should be Team Canada’s guy» according to one voter; and Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders.

«The Islanders rank among the league’s worst defensive teams by expected goals against. The sole reason they remain in playoff contention is Sorokin,» a voter remarked.

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Selke Trophy (best defensive forward)

Leader: Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
Finalists: Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning; Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Much like Hellebuyck’s absence from the Vezina race, Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov’s preseason injury — which is expected to sideline him for the entire regular season — has left the Selke Trophy race wide open. Barkov was aiming for his third consecutive win as the NHL’s best defensive forward and fourth overall.

With Barkov out, Canadiens center Nick Suzuki has emerged as the clear front-runner, capturing the most first-place Selke votes in the NHL Awards Watch for the second consecutive month.

«The tightest race, with Suzuki barely ahead,» one voter determined. «With Barkov’s absence, that was anticipated. To stay number one, Suzuki will have to continually excel as a penalty killer.»

Suzuki received around 43% of the first-place votes from our panel. This is noteworthy since he finished 13th for the award in consecutive seasons. His statistics speak for themselves, whether it’s traditional Selke metrics like winning faceoffs (51.7%) or his analytical on-ice impact, seeing as the Canadiens are permitting merely 1.32 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

He also has 30 points in his first 25 games, and we can say the unspoken truth for the Selke: Historically, players need respectable offensive numbers to win this award.

Cirelli garnered around 14% of the first-place votes to finish second. He finally broke through as a Selke finalist last season after having received votes for six consecutive seasons. Cirelli features significantly more time on the penalty kill (2:44 per game) than Suzuki (0:38). His faceoff statistics are subpar (48.1%), while his goals against at even strength (2.19) are significantly better than his expected goals against (3.42).

The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn currently does not have Cirelli in his top 10 for the Selke based on his model. This indicates a discrepancy between the player’s reputation as a Selke candidate and his actual performance metrics for the Lightning.

Speaking of reputation, Draisaitl’s defensive skills have garnered increased attention recently, as he finished sixth for the Selke last season. He received about 10% of the first-place votes to secure third place in this edition of Awards Watch. Draisaitl excels in the faceoff circle (56.8%) and contributes to the Oilers’ expected goals against of 2.38 when he is on the ice.

Other players to receive first-place votes included:

Others mentioned further down the ballot: Calgary’s Mikael Backlund, Seattle’s Matty Beniers, and Colorado’s Brock Nelson and Nathan MacKinnon.

It is worth noting that two of last month’s finalists — Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils and Jordan Staal of the Hurricanes — were not mentioned by our voters in this survey. Such is the unpredictable nature of the Selke race early in the season.

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Lady Byng Trophy (gentlemanly play)

This is the segment where I indicate that the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play should ideally be decided by the league’s on-ice officials or the NHL Players’ Association instead of the PHWA. Typically, this award is granted to a player who ranks in the top-20 in points while having the lowest penalty minutes among those players.

After 27 games, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars boasted 35 points and merely two penalty minutes, having taken a hooking penalty against the Islanders on Nov. 18. Not an illegal check or elbowing or roughing or fighting or high-sticking—just some gentle obstruction, in our opinion, the most gentlemanly of infractions.

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Jack Adams Award (best coach)

Note: The NHL Broadcasters’ Association votes on this award.

Leader: Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning
Finalists: Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche; Joel Quenneville, Anaheim Ducks

Cooper has a Calder Cup in the AHL and two Stanley Cups in the NHL under his belt. He also guided Team Canada to gold in the 4 Nations Face-Off and will coach Canada again in the 2026 Winter Olympics. In other words, Jon Cooper is among the most accomplished professional hockey coaches, with one glaring omission from his record: the Jack Adams Award.

He has been a finalist twice, losing to Colorado’s Patrick Roy in 2014 and Washington’s Barry Trotz in 2019. His .639 points percentage is the second-best in NHL history for coaches with a minimum of 700 games coached, only trailing Scotty Bowman (.657).

This season, Cooper has navigated a Lightning squad plagued by injuries and underperformance to the top of the Atlantic Division, despite starting the season with a 1-4-2 record. He leads the Jack Adams race thus far, acquiring roughly 46% of the votes.

«He never receives the acknowledgment he deserves, but perhaps now with so many pivotal players missing, people recognize why he’s been in the role for 150 years,» one voter humorously remarked.

«In all seriousness, can we give this man his credit? He’s been missing his top three defensemen [Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, and Erik Cernak] for substantial time. One game in November saw them without 35 percent of their salary cap due to injuries,» another pointed out. «They reversed the worst start in franchise history within less than a month despite all the injuries. It’s time to honor Jon Cooper. He has transformed a poor start into a rise to the top in the East.»

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Of course, other elements are at play for Quenneville, who is coaching for the first time since October 2021 following the NHL’s ban resulting from his «inadequate response after being informed in 2010 of allegations that Chicago Blackhawks player Kyle Beach had been assaulted by the team’s video coach.»

«Quenneville should likely be in the conversation, but I hesitate to give him recognition due to his history,» one voter argued.

Jared Bednar of the league-leading Avalanche was third with approximately 18% of the vote. He was a finalist in 2018, losing to Vegas Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant.

«Significant praise is due to Boston’s Marco Sturm, Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse, and Joel Quenneville for their accomplishments this season — well done, truly. But only one team has a single regulation loss, and none of them are managing that extraordinary operation,» a Bednar supporter boasted.

Muse was in the lead for this award last month. Andre Tourigny of the Utah Mammoth was among the top-three vote-getters. They were in competition with other coaches receiving honorable mentions down the ballots, including Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals), Travis Green (Ottawa Senators), Patrick Roy (New York Islanders), and Rick Tocchet (Philadelphia Flyers).

But at present, it’s Cooper’s to lose.