As the Stanley Cup Final continues, the National Hockey League is progressively announcing the winners of some of its prestigious awards ahead of the official 2025 NHL Awards ceremony.
Most recently, the league revealed that the Calder Trophy, presented annually to the top rookie, has been awarded to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. Hutson received overwhelming support, earning 165 out of 191 first-place votes. He finished ahead of the other two finalists, Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
Hutson`s rookie season was remarkable. He became only the fourth defenseman in the modern era (since 1943-44) to lead all rookies in points, finishing with 66. The previous defensemen to achieve this feat were Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, and Quinn Hughes. His 60 assists matched the record for assists by a rookie defenseman in NHL history, previously held by Larry Murphy. This Calder Trophy win makes Hutson the third Canadiens player to receive the award in the expansion era (since 1967-68), joining Brendan Gallagher and Ken Dryden.
Earlier, the league also announced that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov won the Selke Trophy for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. Barkov was chosen over fellow finalists Anthony Cirelli and Sam Reinhart following another outstanding two-way season. As captain, he helped the Panthers achieve top-10 rankings in goals-against per contest and penalty-killing percentage.
The winners of the remaining awards are scheduled to be announced at the main 2025 NHL Awards show, which will take place on June 12, just before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Selke Trophy
Awarded to `the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.`
- Winner: Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
- Finalist: Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Finalist: Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers)
This is Barkov`s second straight Selke victory and his third overall. He was a strong favorite, known for taking on challenging assignments, maintaining a plus-13 goal differential at five-on-five, and still contributing offensively with 71 points. Barkov`s dominance in the defensive forward role shows no sign of slowing down.
Calder Trophy
Awarded to `the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.`
- Winner: Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens)
- Finalist: Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames)
- Finalist: Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks)
Lane Hutson might have been considered an outside contender for the Calder at the start of the season, with highly touted prospects like Macklin Celebrini turning pro. However, Hutson excelled, leading all NHL rookies with 66 points (six goals, 60 assists). He became the fourth defenseman in the modern era to lead rookie scoring. Hutson quickly established himself as a key defenseman for Montreal and represents an important part of the young team`s foundation, contributing to their playoff appearance this season.
Jack Adams Award
Awarded to the head coach that `contributed the most to his team`s success.`
- Winner: Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals)
- Finalist: Scott Arniel (Winnipeg Jets)
- Finalist: Martin St. Louis (Montreal Canadiens)
Spencer Carbery claimed the Jack Adams Award in just his second season as the Washington Capitals` head coach. Prior to this role, he served as an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs and was the head coach for the Capitals` AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. Carbery has guided the Capitals to a 91-53-20 record over his first two seasons, leading them to the postseason in both campaigns.
Vezina Trophy
Awarded `to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position.`
Finalists:
- Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)
- Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings)
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Norris Trophy
Awarded to `the defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.`
Finalists:
- Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)
- Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
- Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Ted Lindsay Award
Annually awarded to `the most outstanding player in the NHL` as voted by members of the NHL Players` Association.
Finalists:
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
- Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
Hart Trophy
Awarded `to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team` as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers` Association.
Finalists:
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)
- Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Awarded to `the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.`
Finalists:
- Marc-Andre Fleury (Minnesota Wild)
- Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche)
- Sean Monahan (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Lady Byng Trophy
Annually awarded `to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.`
Finalists:
- Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights)
- Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
- Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning)
