Who says it’s too early for NHL Award Predictions?
NHL training camps are two weeks away, and while there are so many questions about rosters, line combinations, and the longstanding negotiations with an outstanding class of restricted free agents, the league’s superstars are already well-known. Although the season is still a month away, it’s never too early to make bold predictions. With that being said, it’s time to predict who will be contending for the league’s top individual accolades next June.
KJ has some alternative choices for each award as well, just for fun.
Note: This NHL Award Predictions list includes only those awards voted on for individual on-ice performances in the regular season. Not included on this list are the Mark Messier Leadership Award, the Jack Adams Award, the Bill Masterton Award, The King Clancy Trophy, and The GM of the Year Award.
Calder Memorial Trophy
2019 Winner – Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Winner – Cody Glass, Vegas Golden Knights
Glass, 20, was the first draft pick in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights. The 6’2″ center spent two additional seasons in the WHL after being drafted 6th overall in 2017. Over those two seasons, Glass collected 171 points in 102 games with the Portland Winterhawks. Last season he also participated in the World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver, collecting 6 points in 5 games. At the end of the WHL season, Glass joined the Chicago Wolves in the AHL and performed extremely well. 5 points in 6 regular season games, along with 15 points in 22 playoff games is an incredibly strong showing for an AHL rookie.
Glass now has the opportunity to build off his short, yet successful appearance in the AHL. A likely scenario is for Glass to start on Vegas’ third line, alongside Brandon Pirri and Reilly Smith. Glass will also likely see time on the second powerplay unit. That second unit could include Mark Stone and Alex Tuch on the wings, with Max Pacioretty lining up on the point. Vegas has one of the top offences in the league, and Glass has the potential to thrive in this environment. The Knights have a phenomenal mix of talent and experience, and there aren’t many better environments for a rookie centre to begin his career.
Runner Up – Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
The 2019 first overall pick joins a Devils team that struggled mightily to score last season. However, that same team had arguably the best off-seasons in the league. Hughes will see time on a drastically improved powerplay, as well as one of the Devils’ top two lines, with Nico Hischer leading the other.
Despite being among the most sought-after prospects in the last decade, Hughes could take some time to adjust. He will be transitioning directly from the US National Development Team Program to the NHL. But an appearance with the US National team at the World Championship this past spring along with summer skates with the likes of Sidney Crosby have given Hughes some experience to build on. Once he finds his way, he projects to be a top player in the game very soon.
Third place – Erik Brannstrom, Ottawa Senators
Ottawa acquired Brannstrom from Vegas in a deal that sent Mark Stone to the Golden Knights. While Senators fans wanted a first-round pick in exchange for Stone, they got an even better asset. Like Glass, Brannstrom was one of the 3 first-round picks that Vegas selected in their inaugural draft. But with Vegas experiencing success so early in their franchise’s history, they wanted to add an established superstar. Brannstrom was the price they had to pay for Mark Stone.
Ottawa will be getting an excellent skater and puck mover in Brannstrom. He is extremely mobile and has the ability to quarterback a powerplay from the blue line. With Brannstrom on one unit and Thomas Chabot on the other, Ottawa’s well-documented struggles could diminish sooner than expected. Brannstrom already has two years of pro under his belt, one of those in Chicago (AHL). He won’t take long to adjust to the NHL level.
KJ’s pick: Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
Frank J. Selke Trophy
2019 Winner – Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues
Winner – Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Barkov has established himself as one of the game’s elite centers. His offensive numbers have skyrocketed over the past two seasons, and he is one of the most dangerous players in the shootout. But what makes Barkov a complete player is his phenomenal defensive abilities. Barkov constantly finds a way to steal pucks from opposing players, especially in his own end. He is also a master of blocking passes in the defensive zone and turning those blocks into scoring chances the other way. He is truly a 200-foot player that can create a scoring chance from anywhere on the ice, even if that starts with the puck on an opponent’s stick.
Runner-up – Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, but when he is healthy, he’s one of the best two-way players in the game. While he is widely regarded for his elite shooting abilities, Matthews also possesses excellent defensive assets in his game. He has excellent puck protection skills and a long reach that gets in the way of attacking forwards. He is one of the best at making the most of a small amount of space, allowing him to create smooth, controlled zone exits in tight situations.
Third place – Ryan O’ Reilly, St. Louis Blues
O’Reilly absolutely stuffed his trophy case last year, with both individual and team accomplishments. He was the driving force behind St. Louis’ midseason turnaround and took his game to another level in the playoffs during the Blues’ run to winning the Stanley Cup. O’Reilly walked away with both the Conn Smythe and the Selke Trophy, and he is primed to have another big season. O’Reilly is arguably the best defensive faceoff specialist in the game and is called upon often to win big draws. He averaged almost 24 faceoffs per game in both the regular season and the playoffs and was just a hair under 60 percent on those draws. Obtaining possession is key when defending a lead, and O’Reilly is a master of this ability.
KJ’s pick: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
James Norris Memorial Trophy
2019 Winner – Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
Winner – Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks
Karlsson is expected to be fully healthy by training camp, and won’t have to deal with the adjustment to a new team. After signing a massive eight-year extension Karlsson will look to get back to being the dominant force that the league has come to know. If he can get his skating back to the elite level it can be, Karlsson will once again be an absolute nightmare at both ends of the ice.
Runner-up – John Carlson, Washington Capitals
Carlson has elevated his offensive game over the past two seasons, surpassing career-high point totals two years in a row. While Alex Ovechkin lines up in his office at the top of the circle, Carlson quarterbacks the powerplay. Ultimately, Carlson’s job is to help cycle the puck around until Ovechkin is in the perfect shooting position, in which case there is little opposing teams can do to prevent the puck from going in their net. Carlson is one of the premier offensive defensemen on a team that thrives on the powerplay.
Third Place – Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Many felt that it was a crime that Rielly did not crack the top-3 in Norris voting last season. Rielly surpassed 20 goals and 70 points for the first time in his career and was one of the most consistent producers in the league from the blue line. That was while playing mostly with an aging Ron Hainsey. If Rielly is paired up with the newly-acquired Tyson Barrie, he has the potential to produce even more.
KJ’s pick: John Klingberg, Dallas Stars
Lady Byng Trophy
2019 Winner – Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Winner – Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews plays an exceptionally clean game. His career high in penalty minutes is 14, through 82 games in his rookie year. The next two seasons he only amassed 12 minutes each. Given his high-end defensive ability and long reach, it’s impressive that he doesn’t put himself in positions to take more stick penalties.
Runner up – Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
The 2019 winner took only 4 minor penalties last year while also being arguable the best two way forward in the game. He drew 34 minors last season, leading the league with a plus-30 penalty differential. His quick, dynamic game forces defenders to play a very aggressive style against him, and it often results in a drawn penalty.
Third place – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
The concept of the Lady Byng is a player that exemplifies sportsmanship while playing at a high level. Bergeron is a perfect example of that. He plays an extremely hard game, but never dishes out a cheap shot. He competes with extreme intensity but also plays with class. Being on a team like the Bruins, that isn’t easy to do.
KJ’s Pick: Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators
Vezina Trophy
2019 Winner – Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Winner – Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
Bobrovsky has the chance to thrive in a new environment off a fresh new seven year, $70 million dollar deal with the Panthers. He escapes the somewhat dramatic environment of last year’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and joins a team that is a few saves away from being a top-3 team in the Atlantic Division. He’ll be the bona-fide starter in Florida, and he projects to have another Vezina-contending season.
Runner-up – Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Vasilevskiy will begin this season as an incredibly motivated goaltender after his team was swept by the Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs. Fresh off signing an eight year extension, he’ll be looking to build off last year’s Vezina-winning season, and he’ll be looking for revenge.
Third place – Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs
Andersen has been arguably the fourth best goalie in the league in the past two seasons, and this will finally be the year he cracks the top-3. He has been the undisputed MVP for the Leafs since his arrival in 2016, backstopping an abysmal defence core to three straight playoff appearances. With an improved back-end, Andersen will play with even more confidence, and has the potential to be even better than the past two seasons.
KJ’s Pick: Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
Ted Lindsay Award
2019 Winner – Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Winner – Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon’s production has exploded over the past two seasons. He was a Lindsay and Hart finalist in 2017, and had another massive year to follow. The Avalanche are now seen as definite contenders to win a Stanley Cup. That should be an environment that MacKinnon will thrive in. He’s done nothing but win at every level, and this season he’ll look to continue that trend. This award is voted on by the players, and it’s likely that they will see MacKinnon as one of the best in the league.
Runner-up – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Regardless of what dumpster-fire performance the Oilers might churn out this season, one thing will remain constant: Connor McDavid will be a nightmare to deal with every time he steps on the ice. McDavid has won this award twice, the second time during an awful season for the Oilers. He has the ability to take over a game singlehandedly. Regardless of how Edmonton does this season, McDavid is sure to impress his peers.
Third place – Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Kane had a career year on a Blackhawks team that struggled immensely at the beginning of the season. This season, Kane will be even more motivated to get his team back to the playoffs. He’s playing the best hockey of his career, and his team is starting to get back to the form that won them three cups in six seasons. It wouldn’t be a stretch to expect Kane to approach 100 points once again.
KJ’s Pick: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Hart Trophy
2019 Winner – Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Winner – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
If the Oilers have the slightest chance of making the playoffs, its because of number 97. If we’re writing in the context of the Hart going to the player judged to be most valuable to his team, it’s Connor. The Oilers will be better than they were last season, and they might even contend for a playoff spot despite all the internal issues. McDavid will absolutely be a key part of that push, and when everything is one the line, he’ll have all the pressure on his shoulders. Expect him to deliver in the big moments for his team.
Runner-up – Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon is at the point in his career where he will need to be a leader for his team. He’s shown that he can perform in pressure situations, and this year will have plenty. The Central Division is extremely tight, and good teams are going to be battling every night for playoff spots. MacKinnon needs to deliver when push comes to shove for the Avs.
Third place – Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
Like 2017-18, Hall will need to be the difference if the newly improved Devils are going to push for the playoffs. If he is healthy, he has the potential to surpass his career high numbers from his Hart Trophy winning season. Hall is the straw that stirs the drink in New Jersey, and he’ll be expected to be at his absolute best. The pressure is on him personally as well, as this is a contract year. If Hall wants the hilariously large contract that some think he’ll get, he has to perform well.
KJ’s Pick: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Scoring Title Predictions
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
- Leon Draisaitl, 54 goals
- Alexander Ovechkin, 51 goals
- Auston Matthews, 47 goals
KJ’s Pick: Tyler Seguin, 53 goals (Winner)
Art Ross Trophy
- Connor McDavid, 110 points
- Nathan MacKinnon, 103 points
- Patrick Kane, 100 points
KJ’s Pick: Patrick Kane, 118 points (Winner)
