NHL Hands Out Hardware

We have hit that time of the year. The time to honor the best of the best. Honoring the individual accomplishments in a great team sport of hockey. Earlier this week, the NHL handed out the hardware for its induvial awards for the 2024-25 regular season.

These awards were handed out based on play during the 82 game regular season.

Before diving into the individual awards, here's the All Rookie and NHL All Star teams for 2024-25.

All Rookie Team:
Goalie: Dustin Wolf (Calgary)
Defense: Lane Hutson (Montreal), Denton Mateychuk (Columbus)
Forwards: Matvei Michkov (Philadelphia), Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim), Macklin Celebrini (San Jose)

All Star Teams:
1st Team:
Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg)
Defense: Cale Makar (Colorado), Zach Werenski (Columbus)
Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay), Kyle Conor (Winnipeg)

2nd Team:
Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay)
Defense: Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver)
Forwards: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton), David Pastrnak (Boston), Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay)

Now then, onto the actual hardware. Here's the award winners in the NHL for the 2024-25 season.

Mark Messier Leadership Award: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication): Sean Monahan, Columbus Blue Jackets

King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Leadership and Humanitarian Contribution): Alexander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Frank J Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Alexander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship and Excellence); Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

Ted Lindsey Award (MVP Voted by Players): Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year): Spencer Carbery, Washington Capitals

This one was an easy pick. Carbery turned the Caps from a team last year that barely got into the playoffs and got swept in the first round, to this year winning the division and having the best record in the East. Only team that had a better year was Winnipeg. Impressive turn around in the nations capital and a very deserving winner of the award. 

Calder Trophy (Rookie Of The Year): Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

Hutson becomes the 56th Canadien to take the award and the first to do it since Ken Dryden in 1972. 66 points from the Montreal Back End is a pretty good first year. His 60 assists lead the team and his 66 points were third on the club. The assists and points led all rookies in scoring this year and helped power Montreal to the final playoff spot in the eastern Conference.

Norris Trophy (Leagues Best Defenseman): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

For the 2nd time in his career, Makar walked away as the best defenseman in the entire league. Makar lead all defenseman in scoring with 92 points. He also became the first blue liner to score 30 or more goals in a season since Mike Green did it in 2009. Oh and those 92 points mark back to back 90 point seasons, the fifth time in league history that's ever happened. He has a solid all around game and winning this trophy for the 2nd time proves that.

Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie): Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Its the second year in a row and third time in his career that Hellebuyck has walked away with a Vezina. And why not with the year he had. Led the league wins with 47 (only goalie to win more than 40 games this year), ,925 save % (2nd in the league), 2.00 GAA (led league), 8 shutouts (led league). His play between the pipes led the Jets to the best record in the entire league. Most nights, he was on his game and the numbers reflect that. He was better than any other netminder this year.

Hart Trophy (League MVP): Conor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

For the 4th time ever, and first time since 2015, a goalie walked away with the MVP award. Hellebuyck beat out Leon Draisaitl for the award. Nothing against the years Leon or Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning had, but Hellebuyck was playing at an altogether different level this season. One that was head a shoulders above others on the ice this year.