Breaking Down 2026 NHL Awards and Voting Results for All Winners Announced
In some leagues (think: ratings king NFL), an annual awards show is must-see TV. In others, however, it draws minimal viewers, lessening the impact of a unique celebration and career honor.
Unfortunately, NHL awards broadcasts have tended to fall into the latter category, to the point that in 2026, the league is not hosting a traditional live TV show for its annual awards. Instead, the NHL has been announcing winners on a rolling basis, aiming for organic, surprise moments rather than gathering players together in an auditorium and reading off names.
Indeed, this decision has made for some golden social media moments; for instance, Edmonton Oilers center and captain Connor McDavid was surprised with the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted on by the NHLPA, on a golf course by his wife, parents, brother and sister-in-law and childhood friends.
Other major awards have been announced throughout the course of the Stanley Cup playoffs and Final.
Let's take a look at the finalists for each major award and whether or not the winner has been announced.
Ted Lindsay Award
1 of 10
Finalists
Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Winner
Connor McDavid
The Ted Lindsay Award finalists for the league's most outstanding player as voted on by their peers were announced on Tuesday, April 28.
As mentioned previously, McDavid was surprised with the award by family and friends at Magna Golf Club, in Aurora, Ontario.
McDavid has won the award four previous times, in 2023, 2021, 2018 and 2017.
Vezina Trophy
2 of 10
Finalists
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
Winner
Andrei Vasilevskiy
The finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender, as selected by general managers, were announced on Wednesday, April 29.
On June 6, Andrei Vasilevskiy was announced as this season's winner, for the second time in his career and in his sixth season as a finalist.
Vasilevskiy finished atop the league with 39 victories in 58 starts (39–15–4, 2.31 GAA, .912 SV%, 2 SO). He has been instrumental in Tampa Bay's sustained success, highlighted by their nine consecutive postseason appearances, which is tied for the longest in the league.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
3 of 10
Finalists
Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators
Winner
Cole Caufield
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded each year for the player who demonstrates the most sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, as selected by the PHWA. Finalists were announced on Thursday, April 30.
On June 5, Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield was announced as this season's winner. In another made-for-social-media moment, Caufield was led to believe that he was surprising teammate Nick Suzuki with the Frank J. Selke Trophy in the Canadiens' locker room. He didn't realize Suzuki was in turn surprising him with the Lady Byng.
Jack Adams Award
4 of 10
Finalists
Jon Cooper, head coach, Tampa Bay Lightning
Dan Muse, head coach, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lindy Ruff, head coach, Buffalo Sabres
Winner
Jon Cooper
The Jack Adams Award honors the coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success." On June 3, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper finally captured his first Jack Adams.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Cooper, the NHL's longest-tenured head coach, had won the award before. He is a three-time finalist after finishing second in voting in 2018–19 and third in 2013–14.
Cooper was surprised with the trophy at Tampa General Hospital, where he was participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Coop's Catch for Kids Family Lounge.
In 2025–16, the Lightning amassed 50 wins and 106 points, for the fifth and seventh times in Cooper's tenure, respectively.
Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy
5 of 10
Finalists
Rasmus Dahlin, D, Sabres
Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Avalanche
Jonathan Toews, C, Jets
The Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the player who most embodies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. The finalists were announced on Monday, May 4.
This season's winner has not yet been announced. Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan won the award in 2025.
Calder Memorial Trophy
6 of 10
Finalists
Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal
Matthew Schaefer, D, NY Islanders
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim D
Winner
Matthew Schaefer
The Calder Memorial Trophy, better known as the award for the league's top rookie, is voted on each year by members of the PHWA. The finalists were announced on Tuesday, May 5.
This season, Matthew Schaefer became the youngest player to win the award, aged 18 years, 223 days on the final day of the 2025–26 regular season. It's just one day younger than Nathan MacKinnon was when he won it in 2013–14.
The 2025 NHL Draft No. 1 overall pick had 23 goals, 36 assists and a plus-13 plus-minus rating in 82 games.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
7 of 10
Finalists
Anthony Cirelli, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche
Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
Winner
Nick Suzuki
The Selke Trophy is awarded to the forward who demonstrates the most defensive skill by the PHWA. The finalists were announced on Wednesday, May 6.
Suzuki was the top choice for the award on 151 of 198 ballots. The Canadiens captain played all 82 games for the fifth consecutive season. He finished sixth in the league in face-offs. The Canadiens outscored opponents 94–58 at even strength when Suzuki was on the ice. At 61.8%, he not only led the team in that category but posted a career high.
As mentioned previously, Suzuki thought he was surprising teammate Cole Caufield with the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in the team's locker room, not knowing that Caufield was also surprising him with the Selke Trophy.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
8 of 10
Finalists
Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
Cole Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Winner
Zach Werenski
Each season, the James Norris Memorial Trophy is given to the defensive player who demonstrates the most all-around ability over the course of the season, as voted on by the PHWA.
This year's winner, Zach Werenski, has had a memorable season, to say the least. On the ice with the Blue Jackets, he posted 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 75 games. As a member of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he assisted on the golden goal scored by Jack Hughes to give the U.S. the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Off the ice, Werenski and his wife, Odette, welcomed their first child in May. So when an NHL Productions camera crew came by a family gathering at Werenski's house, he thought it was for a father's day feature. Odette and Werenski's brother, Brad, however, knew that he was about to be surprised with the Norris Trophy.
Hart Memorial Trophy
9 of 10
Finalists
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
This is the big one. The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the NHL's most valuable player, as voted on by the PHWA.
This season's finalists were announced on Friday, May 8. The winner has not yet been announced.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck took home the award in 2025, the first of his career.
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award
10 of 10
Finalists
Bill Guerin, Minnesota Wild
Chris MacFarland, Colorado Avalanche
Pat Verbeek, Anaheim Ducks
Voting for the Jim Gregory Award for General Manager of the Year takes place following the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Votes are decided by a 42-member panel comprised of all 32 current NHL general managers, five NHL league executives and five members of the print and broadcast media.
This year's finalists were announced on May 12.
Guerin, who acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes with the Wild in December and who also served as GM of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, is a finalist for the first time.
MacFarland is also a first-time finalist after his Avalanche team led the overall NHL standings every day from November 1 through the end of the season en route to winning the franchise's fourth Presidents' Trophy.
Verbeek rounds out the crew of first-time finalists. His Anaheim Ducks team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017–18.
.jpg?w=600 "A.J. Brown reveals issue with Jalen Hurts")
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Best NFL Running Back Duos for 2026")
