As the NHL heads into the Winter Olympic break, the awards races are sharpening up nicely. Leaders have emerged for key trophies like the Hart and Norris, while others remain wide open. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski polled Professional Hockey Writers Association voters to gauge the current favorites, revealing clear frontrunners in several categories.[1]
The Olympic pause could influence outcomes, much like Ryan Miller’s Vezina win in 2010 after a strong showing for Team USA. With stars like Macklin Celebrini potentially starring for Canada, halo effects might come into play. Stats through February 3 highlight standout performances amid tight races.[^1]
Hart trophy (MVP)
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche holds a firm lead in the Hart race. He has guided the Avs to the NHL’s top spot, with projections for 117 points. Personally, he’s on pace for 56 goals, eyeing franchise records.[^1]
MacKinnon earned 59% of first-place votes, up from last month. His even-strength points lead the league, and he’s plus-44. Voters praise his dominance, with one noting, “Most even-strength points in the league, plus-44 rating. Yeah, still good.”[^1]
Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is a strong finalist at 24% of votes. The rookie sensation has 81 points in 54 games, far ahead of teammates. He leads forwards in ice time at 21:12 and has 28 goals.[^1]
Celebrini’s case hinges on playoff positioning, however. Voters hesitate if the Sharks miss out: “Celebrini is lingering, but Sharks need to be more securely above the playoff line.” Still, his star power draws Sidney Crosby comparisons.[^1]
Nikita Kucherov rounds out the top three with 12% of votes. He’s exploded for 58 points in 27 games, at 2.15 points per game. Despite trailing Connor McDavid in total points, he leads in points per game.[^1]
McDavid lurks close, with 95 points and strong play since December. The race is tight, as one voter said: “This isn’t a Nathan MacKinnon slam dunk anymore… Connor McDavid is doing McDavid things.”[^1]
Norris trophy (top defenseman)
Cale Makar remains the Norris frontrunner for Colorado. His 56 points in 54 games, plus-27 rating, and 25:05 average ice time make him indispensable. He’s a five-time finalist, winning twice.[^1]
Makar took 53% of first-place votes, down from prior unanimity. Voters see him as the benchmark: “It’s still Cale Makar, but objects in the rearview mirror are closer than they appear.”[^1]
Zach Werenski of Columbus challenges strongly with 61 points in 51 games, including 19 goals. His 26:27 ice time is second league-wide. The Blue Jackets’ rise under Rick Bowness boosts his case.[^1]
Werenski garnered 35% of votes. Playoff contention matters: “If the Blue Jackets were in a playoff position, then Zach Werenski deserves serious consideration.”[^1]
Quinn Hughes, now with Minnesota after a trade from Vancouver, has 55 points overall. Since joining the Wild, he’s posted 32 points in 25 games at 28:16 ice time. He’s the only other with first-place nods.[^1]
Moritz Seider of Detroit earned mentions for defensive prowess, though his 37 points may not dazzle. The debate rages on offensive vs. shutdown defensemen.[^1]
Calder trophy (top rookie)
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders is the unanimous Calder leader. The 18-year-old top pick has 39 points in 57 games, plus-7, and logs 24:05 ice time.[^1]
He’s nine goals and 17 points ahead of peers, running power plays and killing penalties. Voters are awed: “Ridiculous how good he’s been as a teenager at the toughest position.” He swept 85% last month, now 100%.[^1]
Ivan Demidov of Montreal leads rookie scoring with 46 points in 56 games. His hype and recent surge make him a threat: “Demidov has been great lately, but Schaefer is still playing major minutes.”[^1]
Jesper Wallstedt anchors Minnesota’s net as third choice. He’s 14-5-4 with .914 save percentage. Among deep rookie goalies, he stands out despite sharing starts.[^1]
Beckett Sennecke (44 points, 18 goals) and Fraser Minten (29 points) trail. Schaefer’s historic pace as an 18-year-old defenseman sets him apart.[^1]
No other rookie matches his impact. He’s the heaviest favorite across all awards.[^1]
Vezina trophy (top goaltender)
Andrei Vasilevskiy leads the Vezina for Tampa Bay with 59% of votes. He’s 26-7-3, .918 save percentage, 2.14 GAA in 36 games, second in goals saved above expected.[^1]
His 2026 heater: 11-0-1, .926 save percentage. Voters love it: “Leads the league in GAA, save percentage… by far the best goalie pugilist.”[^1]
The race flipped dramatically from last month. Vasilevskiy, a five-time finalist, powers the Atlantic leaders.[^1]
Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders follows at 35%, with 19-13-2, .915 save percentage, league-best 26 goals saved above expected, and six shutouts.[^1]
John Gibson of Detroit got the rest, 22-11-2, .905 save percentage. He’s hot lately but trails analytically.[^1]
Logan Thompson and others faded. It’s a two-horse race now.[^1]
Selke trophy (best defensive forward)
Nick Suzuki dominates Selke for Montreal with 53% of votes. The Habs allow 1.91 goals per 60 with him on ice; he wins 49.4% faceoffs.[^1]
His third straight lead-up, never a finalist. “Suzuki is still above and beyond… heir apparent to Barkov and Bergeron.”[^1]
Roope Hintz of Dallas and Sam Reinhart of Florida tie at 12%. Hintz’s Stars shine defensively at his side.[^1]
Reinhart logs penalty-kill time amid Florida’s struggles. Aleksander Barkov fades due to injury.[^1]
Others like Anthony Cirelli and even MacKinnon got nods. Jack Eichel mentioned down ballot.[^1]
Suzuki’s two-way evolution shines.[^1]
Other awards
Lady Byng candidates include Reinhart (54 points, 8 PIM), Suzuki (65 points, 10 PIM), and Eichel (64 points, 10 PIM). Officials or players should vote, argues Wyshynski.[^1]
Jon Cooper leads Jack Adams for Tampa, 82% votes. Overcoming injuries, his Stadium Series flair helps.[^1]
Lane Lambert (Seattle) and Dan Muse (Pittsburgh) follow for turnaround stories.[^1]
Looking ahead
Olympics could sway voters, especially for Celebrini or others. Playoff pushes will decide many races, like Celebrini and Werenski. MacKinnon and Makar hold edges, but challengers abound.[^1]
Keep eyes on standings via ESPN NHL stats. With half the season left, shakeups loom.[^2]
Frequently Asked Questions
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.