Projecting all the top NHL award winners
Anthony Scultore
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As the regular season comes to a close, The Daily Goal Horn projects who the top NHL award winners will be. Voting doesn’t take place for awhile, but you’re not supposed to let the playoffs affect your decision making. Although I am not a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association, here’s how I’d vote on some or predict on others.
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2021 Top NHL Award Winners Predictions
There are several major awards not determined by points like the Art Ross Trophy which already belongs to Connor McDavid. Or like the Rocket Richard Trophy going to Auston Matthews for leading the league in goals. Here’s my prediction on who will win some of the top NHL awards this summer.
King Clancy Trophy (Leadership on and off the ice): Teams have yet to put forth nominees
Mark Messier Leadership Award (Best Leader): Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance and Dedication to hockey): Oskar Lindblom, Philadelphia Flyers
This is an easy and most deserving winner to pick. Oskar Lindblom battled back from bone cancer. A fight that began on December 10th, 2019 and ended when he returned for Game 6 of the Playoffs last season. He finished this season with 14 points in 50 games.
Jim Gregory GM of the Year: Bill Zito, Florida Panthers
Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Lady Byng Trophy (Gentlemanly Player): Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
The Rangers leading scorer registered 58 points in just 42 games. Panarin’s 1.38 points per game was third highest in the league this season. His six penalty minutes are among the lowest for top point getters. Plus the NHL owes him one for assessing him a two minute minor after being body slammed by Tom Wilson to end his season.
Jack Adams Award (Best Coach): Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender): Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
I know everyone thinks Andre Vasilevskiy should win this one easy, but I disagree. Marc-Andre Fleury’s .927 SV% and 2.04 GAA are among the league’s best. He recorded five shutouts and moved into third all-time on the NHL wins list. He deserves it this season.
Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman): Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
This award should go to Adam Fox of the New York Rangers, but the old boy’s club voting won’t have the intestinal fortitude to give him enough first place votes. No Norris winner has ever missed the playoffs, ergo why this goes to the second best defenseman in the NHL this season instead.
Hart Trophy Award (MVP): Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
There isn’t even a question why McDavid wins this…Auston Matthews will get some votes but this is a no contest.
Ted Lindsay Award (Outstanding Player as selected by NHLPA): Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
