NHL Awards 2022: Ceremony Date, Start Time, Candidates and Predictions

There's been a ton of thrilling action during the 2021-22 NHL season, and it's not over yet. The Colorado Avalanche currently have a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final heading into Monday night's Game 3, but there's still time for the series to go either way.

Regardless of which team wins Monday, it will be time to reflect the next day. That's because the 2022 NHL Awards are set to take place Tuesday night in Tampa, Florida. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, with comedian Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live serving as the host.

Five major awards will be handed out, including the Hart Trophy, which goes to the player who was most valuable to his team, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Here's a look at the nominees for each of those honors, along with predictions for who will be taking home the top awards.

Hart Trophy

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 12: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) makes a rush to the loose puck during the NHL Hockey game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 12, 2022 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida (Photo by Andrew Bershaw /Icon_Sportswire)

Nominees
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

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Prediction
An Oilers player has won the Hart Trophy each of the past two seasons, after Leon Draisaitl received the honor in 2019-20 and McDavid won it in 2020-21. But it may be time for Edmonton's streak to end.

McDavid had another stellar season and tallied an NHL-high 123 points, while Shesterkin was the top goaltender in the league. But this year, the Hart Trophy will go to Matthews.

The 24-year-old center led the NHL with 60 goals, and he also ranked sixth with 106 points. He powered the Maple Leafs to a 54-win season and will now become their third player to win the Hart Trophy, and the first since Ted Kennedy in 1954-55.

Vezina Trophy

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TAMPA, FL - JUNE 11: New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save during the NHL Hockey Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers on June 11th, 2022 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida (Photo by Andrew Bershaw /Icon_Sportswire)

Nominees
Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

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Prediction
This one should be pretty clear. Markstrom and Saros had strong seasons, but Shesterkin was on another level.

The 26-year-old led the NHL in both goals against average (2.07) and save percentage (.935). So it's hard to create an argument for any other goaltender to be more deserving of the Vezina Trophy than the Russian.

Shesterkin will be the first Rangers netminder to receive the honor since Henrik Lundqvist in 2011-12.

Norris Trophy

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DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 18: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche follows through on his shot for a shorthanded goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Two of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Ball Arena on June 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Nominees
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

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Prediction
Any of these three defenseman could come away with this award, as each has a convincing case. But the pick here is Makar, who also showcased some impressive offensive skills while helping to lead the Avalanche to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

His 28 goals were the most among NHL defenseman, and the 23-year-old also tallied 86 points. He'll now become the first Colorado player to win the Norris Trophy.

This award has gone to a first-time winner each of the previous six seasons, and that streak will continue with Makar.

Calder Trophy

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 29: Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New Jersey Devils on April 29, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)

Nominees
Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs
Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks

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Prediction
This award goes to the NHL's top rookie each season. And like the Vezina Trophy, it should be pretty straightforward this year.

Seider broke onto the scene in a big way this season, playing all 82 games for the Red Wings and tallying seven goals and 43 assists.

The 21-year-old lived up to expectations after Detroit took him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft.

Ted Lindsay Award

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TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck during the Round 1 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 7 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 14, 2022, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Nominees
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

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Prediction
While the Hart Trophy is decided by Professional Hockey Writers' Association, the Ted Lindsay Award is voted on by members of the NHL Players' Association. So a player must impress his peers in order to come away with the honor.

The Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award frequently go to the same player, as has been the case each of the previous three seasons. And there's a good chance that will happen again this year.

Matthews' incredible goal-scoring ability will earn him both awards, capping off his impressive season.