NHL Trophy Race Heats Up in Season's Final Days

As the 2024-25 NHL regular season reaches its climax, several award races have taken dramatic turns. Our final awards watch reveals shifting landscapes in the battles for hockey's most prestigious individual honors.

Hart Trophy (MVP): A Three-Way Battle

Frontrunner: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)
Contenders: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Draisaitl has surged ahead in the MVP race with a dominant two-way performance:

• Leads NHL with 8-goal margin for Rocket Richard Trophy
• 3rd in league scoring (91 points through 70 games)
• NHL-best 29 goals scored above replacement (Evolving Hockey)
• 4.8 WAR (Wins Above Replacement)

"He's carried the Oilers through McDavid's injury struggles," one PHWA voter noted. "His 16 points in 9 games without McDavid proves his value."

MacKinnon remains in contention, chasing his second consecutive Hart Trophy and battling Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross. Hellebuyck's goaltending excellence (44 wins, .924 SV%) keeps him in the conversation.

Norris Trophy: Makar's Historic Season

Frontrunner: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
Contenders: Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)

Makar's historic campaign features:

• First 30-goal season by defenseman since 2008-09
• League-leading 91 points among blueliners
• +28 rating while averaging 25:14 TOI

"We're witnessing a generational talent," a voter remarked. "His offensive production combined with elite defense makes this an easy choice."

Calder Trophy: Hutson's Late Surge

Frontrunner: Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens)
Contenders: Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames)

The rookie defenseman has been transformative for Montreal:

• Leads all rookies with 64 points
• 25 points in last 27 games during playoff push
• Averaging 22:39 TOI for surprising Canadiens

"Hutson isn't just the best rookie - he's become one of the league's most impactful defensemen," a PHWA member observed.

Other Key Races

Vezina Trophy:

• Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) appears destined for back-to-back wins
• Leads NHL with 44 wins, .924 SV%

Selke Trophy:

• Aleksander Barkov (Florida) seeks third win in five years
• Faces challenge from teammate Sam Reinhart

Jack Adams Award:

• Spencer Carbery (Washington) the clear favorite
• Guided Caps through Ovechkin's record chase and injury

Final Voting Considerations

With ballots due imminently, several factors could sway voters:

• Team playoff implications
• Late-season performances
• Historical context (potential back-to-back winners)

"This might be the most competitive awards year I've covered," a longtime PHWA member commented. "Several races could come down to single-digit vote margins."