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NHL awards finalists 2025: Who's up for Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder trophies?
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- NHL awards finalists 2025: Who's up for Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder trophies?
With the NHL playoffs underway, the league has rolled out the names of players who stood out during the regular season.
The three finalists have been announced for the following awards: Vezina Trophy (goaltender), Norris Trophy (defenseman), Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by players), Hart Trophy (MVP as voted by writers), Masterton Trophy (perseverance), Selke Trophy (defensive forward), Adams Award (coach), Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) and Calder Trophy (rookie).
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The rookie announcement was anticipated because there were four strong candidates (finalists below). Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov didn't get enough votes to finish among the top three.
Voting took place at the end of the regular season. No date has been announced yet for when the winners will be revealed.
Here are the finalists for the NHL's major awards and when the finalists will be announced:
Hart Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Leon Draisaitl , Edmonton Oilers ; Connor Hellebuyck , Winnipeg Jets ; and Nikita Kucherov , Tampa Bay Lightning
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Despite missing 11 games, Draisaitl led the league with 52 goals. He set a single-season NHL record with six overtime goals, shared first place in game-winning goals (11) and multi-goal performances (10), ranked second in even-strength goals (36), and tied for second in power-play goals (16). He won the award in 2020.
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Hellebuyck led the NHL with 47 victories, one behind the league record. His nine-win edge over No. 2 Andrei Vasilevskiy was the largest gap since 1990-91. Hellebuyck gave up two or fewer goals in 40 of 63 appearances. He led the league (minimum 25 games played) in goals-against average (2.00) and shutouts (eight), was second in save percentage (.925) and starts (62) and ranked fourth in saves (1,539) and high-danger save percentage ( .845). He's the first goaltender finalist since Igor Shesterkin in 2021-22 and is looking to become the fourth netminder in the expansion era to win, following Dominik Hasek (twice), Jose Theodore and Carey Price .
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Kucherov second 121 points, 31 more than closest teammate Brandon Hagel , to capture his second consecutive and third overall Art Ross Trophy as points leader. He finished first in points per game (1.55), power-play assists (38) and power-play points (46) and third in even-strength points (75). He won the award in 2019 and is the only Hart finalist who's also a finalist for this season's Ted Lindsay Award .
Calder Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically): San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini , Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf
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Celebrini, despite missing 12 games, ranked among NHL rookie leaders in goals (25), assists (38) and points (63). He was the third-youngest rookie in league history to lead his team in scoring.
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Hutson's 60 assists matched Larry Murphy for the most by a rookie defenseman. He led all rookies with 66 points.
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Wolf led rookie goaltenders with 29 wins, 14 more than the next-closest player and one shy of the Flames rookie record held by Mike Vernon. The Flames narrowly missed the playoffs on tiebreakers.
Ted Lindsay Award finalists
Who votes:Players
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Nikita Kucherov , Tampa Bay Lightning; Nathan MacKinnon , Colorado Avalanche ; and Cale Makar , Avalanche
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Kucherov had 121 points to lead the league in scoring for the second year in a row and third time overall. He led the league in points per game (1.55), primary assists (56), power-play points (46) and power-play assists (38). He won the award in 2018-19 and is a two-time finalist.
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MacKinnon, last year's winner, finished second in the league with 116 points. He shared the league lead in assists (with Kucherov at 84), led the league in shots (320) and was second in primary assists (53), even-strength points (78) and power-play points (38).
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Makar set a career high in goals (30) and points (92) to lead all defensemen and rank ninth in league scoring. He's a first-time finalist.
Norris Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Quinn Hughes , Vancouver Canucks , Cale Makar , Colorado Avalanche; and Zach Werenski , Columbus Blue Jackets
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Hughes led the Canucks in assists (60), points (76), shots on goal (192) and average ice time (25:44). He led the Canucks in scoring by 26 points. Hughes reached the 60-assist mark for the fourth consecutive season, the fourth defenseman in NHL history to do that. He won the Norris last season.
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Makar opened the season with a 13-game point streak and went on to lead NHL defensemen in goals (30), assists (62) and points (92). He became the first defenseman to reach the 30-goal mark since Mike Green in 2008-09. Makar is a Norris Trophy finalist for the fifth time in his first six NHL seasons. He won the award in 2021-22.
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Werenski, a first-time finalist, became the first Blue Jackets defenseman to lead the team in scoring. He broke his own franchise records for defensemen in goals (23), assists (59) and points (82), leading the Blue Jackets to a 23-point improvement over 2023-24. He led all NHL players in average ice time (26:45). His 59 assists matched forward Artemi Panarin 's franchise record.
Vezina Trophy finalists
Who votes:General managers
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Connor Hellebuyck , Winnipeg Jets; Darcy Kuemper , Los Angeles Kings ; and Andrei Vasilevskiy , Tampa Bay Lightning
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Hellebuyck, last year's winner, went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and eight shutouts to lead the Jets to the league's best record. The 47 wins tied for second best all-time. He led the NHL in GAA and shutouts and ranked second in save percentage. Hellebuyck, who won in 2020 and 2024, is looking to become the first repeat winner since Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
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Kuemper went 31-11-7 with five shutouts in his second stint with the Kings. He finished first in high-danger save percentage (.863), second in goals-against average (2.02) and third in save percentage. He had a stretch of 15 consecutive starts of allowing two or fewer goals from March 5 to April 10. He's a first-time finalist.
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Vasilevskiy went 38-20-5 and ranked second in 38 wins, tied for first in games played (63), was second in saves (1,581) and high-danger save percentage (.853), tied for second in shutouts (six) and ranked fourth in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.921). He became the fastest goaltender in league history to reach 300 wins, doing it in his 490th career game. Vasilevskiy is a finalist for the fifth time and won the award in 2018-19.
Jack Adams Award finalists
Who votes:NHL Broadcasters' Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically):Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets ; Spencer Carbery, Washington Capitals ; and Martin St. Louis , Montreal Canadiens
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In his first year as Jets head coach, Arniel led Winnipeg to its first Presidents' Trophy as the top regular-season team. The Jets allowed the fewest goals in the NHL while having the league's best power play and goal differential.
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Carbery, in his second season, led the Capitals to the Eastern Conference's top record. Washington rose from the 28th-best offense to the second-best this season and led the league with 25 comeback wins.
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St. Louis , in his third full season, led the Canadiens to their first playoff berth since 2020-21 and their best record since 2018-19. The team's penalty kill has risen from 29th in his first season to ninth this season.
Selke Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Aleksander Barkov , Florida Panthers ; Anthony Cirelli , Tampa Bay Lightning; and Sam Reinhart , Panthers
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Barkov helped the Panthers rank among the NHL's top 10 teams in goals-against per game, penalty-killing percentage and shots against per game. He has been a finalist four times in the last five seasons and won in 2021 and 2024.
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Cirelli led all Lightning forwards in shorthanded ice time for a penalty killing unit that ranked sixth in the NHL at 81.6%. He scored seven shorthanded points, tied for second in the NHL. He's a first-time finalist.
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Reinhart scored five short-handed goals for the second year in a row. He's a first-time finalist.
Masterton Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each chapter nominates a player.
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Marc-Andre Fleury , Minnesota Wild ; Gabriel Landeskog , Colorado Avalanche; and Sean Monahan , Columbus Blue Jackets
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Fleury played his 21st and final season in the league . He went 14-9-1 to finish his career with 575 victories, second in NHL history.
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Landeskog worked his way back from a serious knee injury that required a cartilage transplant. He suited up in the playoffs for his first NHL game since 2022 .
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Monahan, who signed with Columbus on July 1 to reunite with former Flames teammate Johnny Gaudreau , served as a leader after Gaudreau's death in August . His 1.06 points per game was the highest by any first-year Columbus player.
Lady Byng Trophy finalists
Who votes:Professional Hockey Writers Association
Finalists (listed alphabetically): Jack Eichel , Vegas Golden Knights ; Anze Kopitar , Los Angeles Kings; and Brayden Point , Tampa Bay Lightning
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Eichel had a career-best and franchise-record 94 points in 77 games while taking only four minor penalties for eight minutes. He's a first-time finalist.
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Kopitar helped the Kings to franchise records in wins and points while recording only four penalty minutes. He has won the award twice.
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Point had his third consecutive 40-goal season and a league-best 22.2 shooting percentage. He took one major and one minor penalty. He's a two-time finalist.
NHL awards finalists announcement schedule
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Monday, April 28: Vezina Trophy
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Tuesday, April 29:James Norris Memorial Trophy
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Wednesday, April 30:Ted Lindsay Award
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Thursday, May 1:Hart Memorial Trophy
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Friday, May 2:Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Frank J. Selke Trophy, Jack Adams Award and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
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Monday, May 5:Calder Memorial Trophy
The winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Award will be announced on May 12. Finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award will be announced after the end of the second round of the playoffs.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL awards finalists 2025: Hart Trophy MVP, Vezina, Norris, Calderr
