NHL Awards Predictions for 2024
The NHL Awards finalists are being announced and the Awards will be handed out at the end of the playoffs in June 2024. There are many excellent candidates in all categories and it will be difficult to predict who will win each trophy. We have made our own predictions, all listed below.
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Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best goaltender of the season as voted by the general managers of the NHL teams. The finalists in 2024 are:
- Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
- Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks
- Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Bobrovsky recorded 36 wins and tied for the NHL lead with six shutouts in 58 games. His goals-against average was 2.37 and save percentage .915, ranking 3rd and tied 7th in the league, respectively. Bobrovsky is seeking his third Vezina trophy.
Hellebuyck played 60 games with a 37-19-4 record and five shutouts. His 2.39 goals-against and .921 save percentages ranked him fourth and second in the league, respectively. He won the Trophy in 2020.
Demko is a finalist for the first time after helping Vancouver win the Pacific Division for the first time in 10 years. His stats in 51 games were 35-14-2, 2.45 GAA, .918 save percentage, and five shutouts; Demko missed 14 games during the regular season due to a knee injury.
Prediction: Although both Bobrovsky and Demko put up very respectable campaigns this season, the clear winner is Hellebuyck. The Jets were dominant during stretches of the regular season and he is a big reason why; too bad the playoffs ended so quickly.
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Trophy is awarded to the best rookie of the year. The finalists have been chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The 2024 finalists are:
- Connor Bedard, F, Chicago Blackhawks
- Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild
- Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils
Bedard entered the league with nearly as much hype as Connor McDavid. The teenager rose to the occasion with 61 points in 68 games, leading Chicago.
Faber and Hughes tied second in points among rookies with 47 points. Faber played all 82 games and led the league rookies in ice time per game (24:58) and blocked shots (150).
Hughes also appeared in all of New Jersey’s 82 games and topped the rookie defensemen in power-play points (25) and power-play goals (4). He was second in shots (135) and ice time per game (21:28).
Prediction: We all know it’s going to be Bedard.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
The Norris Trophy is awarded to the top defenseman in the league by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The finalists this year are:
- Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
- Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
- Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Another Hughes is up for an award! Quinn Hughes led the NHL’s defensemen in points with 92 (17+75) and had the most even-strength points (54). Hughes would be the first Canuck to win the award.
Josi played all 82 games and was first in goals (23) and shots on goal (268) among defensemen and third in points (85). Josi is seeking his second Norris Trophy having won in 2020.
Makar finished first in points per game with 1.17, missing five games during the regular season. He was second in points (90), goals (21) and assists (69), and first for Colorado in blocked shots (148) and takeaways (70). Makar is nominated for the fourth time in four years.
Prediction: This is a difficult one since all three had excellent seasons and their teams advanced to the playoffs. Since this award tends to do to the player who gets the most points, we are leaning towards Hughes for Norris.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Masterton Trophy is not given directly for performance, but to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey”. The finalists in 2024 as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association are:
- Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
- Connor Ingram, G, Arizona Coyotes
- Oliver Kylington, D, Calgary Flames
Andersen faced a massive hurdle early on when he was diagnosed with a blood clot just five games into the season. He ended up missing 50 games, returning on March 7, 2024.
Ingram struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder and lingering depression and nearly ended his career. In 2021, he sought help from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and this season, Ingram tied for the NHL lead in shutouts with six.
Kylington missed the entire 2022-2023 season to work on his mental health. Returning this season, he played in 33 games and scored eight points with Calgary.
Prediction: Not going to predict a winner for this one, as each of the finalists is very deserving of the award and on his own journey. Wishing you gents the best!
Jack Adams Award
This award is given to the league coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success”. The National Hockey League Broadcasters’ Association votes on the Jack Adams Award. The 2024 finalists are:
- Rick Bowness, Winnipeg Jets
- Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators
- Rick Tocchet, Vancouver Canucks
Bowness led Winnipeg to a 52-24-6 record and second place finish in the Central Division. The team gained 15 points from last season and allowed the fewest goals. Bowness missed 15 games during the season for personal reasons and the Jets went 10-5 in his absence. Bowness announced his retirement from the league after the Jets fell out of the playoffs in the first round.
Brunette led Nashville to the playoffs after the team didn’t make it last season; the team ended the regular season with a 47-30-5 record. Brunette improved Nashville’s both goals per game (from 2.72 to 3.24) and the power play (from 17.6% to 21.6%) when comparing to the 2022-2023 season.
Tocchet coached Vancouver for the first full season and made big impact on the team. The Canucks finished first in the Pacific Division for first time in 10 years and added 26 points more than last season. The biggest improvement was in penalty kill, where the Canucks rose from last in the league in 2022-2023 to 17th this season.
Prediction: While it would be a lovely way to end Bowness’ career, we suspect the trophy is going to Tocchet. If anyone had Canucks even making the playoffs in their preseason predictions, we are seriously impressed. Tocchet brought the sparkle back to Vancouver and who knows how far they will go in the playoffs.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
The Lady Byng Trophy is given to the player with the highest level of sportsmanship and gentlemanly play together with high standard of ability, as voted by Professional Hockey Writers Association. The finalists are:
- Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Elias Pettersson, F, Vancouver Canucks
- Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Matthews took only six penalties all season and led the entire league in goals, scoring a total on 107 points.
Petterson played all 82 games and scored 89 points, taking only six penalties as well. Petterson played on both power play and penalty kill and led Vancouver’s forwards in ice time.
Slavin took just four penalties all season, being among the top of NHL in this category. He also ranked third in the Hurricanes in ice time per game with 20:56.
Prediction: Slavin, who won the award in 2020-21, is the winner in our books. He plays against the top players from every team in every game and defends well without going overboard.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
The Selke Trophy is awarded to the forward with the best defensive skills; the Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on this award as well. The finalists in 2024 are:
- Aleksander Barkov, F, Florida Panthers
- Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Jordan Staal, F, Carolina Hurricanes
Barkov is up for the award for the third time in four seasons, having won in 2020-21. He topped the Panthers roster with +33, was first in takeaways with 61, and led the team in SAT percentage.
Matthews was nominated for the award for the first time but for good reason. He placed second in the entire league in blocked shots (93) and takeaways (85), and stepped up in the penalty kill with 57:44 of ice time (up from 3:29 last season).
Staal ended the regular season in 7th place in face-off percentage with 58.1% (of players to take at least 500 face-offs) and ranked second in SAT percentage (61.9%). He also was second in Hurricanes with 41 blocked shots.
Prediction: Staal is looking strong for the Selke, but we are still going to go with Barkov. Not only is the Florida captain defensively skilled, he is a top point-scorer as well and one of the best all-around players in the league.
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Trophy is given to the most valuable player to his team as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The finalists are:
- Nikita Kucherov, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche
- Connor McDavid, F, Edmonton Oilers
Kucherov led the league in points with 44+100=144 in 81 games. He topped his own previous highest point total which was the most points in Tampa Bay’s history. He is seeking his second Hart Trophy, having won in 2019.
MacKinnon placed second in points (51+89=140). He led Colorado in goals, assists, and points, and reached over 100 points for the second time in his career. MacKinnon also had a 35 home game point streak, the second longest streak after Wayne Gretzky’s 40 games in 1988-89.
McDavid also reached 100 assists and 132 points. Kucherov and McDavid are the first players to reach 100 assist in a season since Gretzky in 1990-91. McDavid played just 76 games with a 1.88 points per game average and is seeking his fourth Hart Trophy.
Prediction: We can’t overlook Kucherov’s dominant performance this year even though the Lightning didn’t look like Cup contenders most of the season. Kucherov was the difference maker for Tampa Bay this year and a very deserving winner.
Ted Lindsay Award
The Ted Lindsay award is given to to the best player in the league as voted on by the NHL Players’ Association members. The award finalists for 2024 are:
- Nikita Kucherov, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche
- Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
As we have discussed all of these gents already, let’s get straight to the prediction.
Prediction: We’ll go with Kucherov for this one as well, his season was that good. Also, he won both the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award in 2019 after another excellent season.
Bonus Award: Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals to the most valuable player of the playoffs. This player is usually selected from the Stanley Cup winning team; only five players have received the Conn Smythe after being in the losing team in the Finals.
Jonathan Marchessault is the most recent winner after the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023. The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on this award.
You can bet on the Conn Smythe Trophy winner on several of the best sportsbooks in the U.S., such as BetMGM Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook. Currently, Igor Shesterkin from the New York Rangers has the lowest odds with +450 to win.
