2026-27 NHL Individual Award Winners: Expert Predictions

The NHL’s 2026–27 season is underway, and pre-season award prognostications are in full swing. After outlining divisional forecasts, this piece turns to the league’s individual honors.

These selections are intended to spark lively debate and should not be taken as certainty. With that caveat, here are our projected winners for this year’s individual awards:

Hart Trophy

Finalists: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), M Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)

Winner: Macklin Celebrini

Why? Celebrini finished fourth in Hart voting last season, but at 20 years old, his time appears to have come. No regular-season MVP has been crowned on a non-playoff club since Mario Lemieux in 1987-88, yet we expect San Jose to make a significant playoff leap. Surrounded by elite young talent, Celebrini should dominate and claim the first of likely multiple Hart trophies.

Vezina Trophy

Finalists: Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers), Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild), Mackenzie Blackwood (Colorado Avalanche)

Winner: Jesper Wallstedt

Why? Projecting the 23-year-old Wallstedt as Vezina winner may seem premature given his 40 career regular-season games, but his .911 save percentage and 2.61 GAA last season signal rapid improvement. On a Wild team poised for a higher ceiling, Wallstedt can carry the load—especially with Filip Gustavsson sidelined—and earn his first Vezina.

Norris Trophy

Finalists: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild), Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)

Winner: Miro Heiskanen

Why? Heiskanen remains the only finalist here without a Norris Trophy, but at 27 he is in his prime and rebounded strongly from an injury-plagued 2024-25 with 54 assists and 63 points in 77 games. Dallas needs a big season from him, and his two-way play will finally earn the recognition it deserves against fellow finalists Hughes and Makar.

Calder Trophy

Finalists: Gavin McKenna (Toronto Maple Leafs), Ivar Stenberg (San Jose Sharks), Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers)

Winner: Gavin McKenna 

Why? The 2026 No. 1 overall pick is the straightforward choice for top rookie. Toronto’s spotlight is among the toughest in hockey, but McKenna adapted swiftly in the WHL and NCAA and will do so again. Stenberg and Martone will challenge him, yet McKenna’s playmaking will prove decisive.

Art Ross Trophy

Finalists: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)

Winner: Connor McDavid

Why? McDavid has claimed four of the past six Art Ross Trophies, and there is no reason to expect a slowdown. While Draisaitl remains in contention after posting 97 points in 65 games, McDavid’s health and consistency make him the prohibitive favorite for a seventh trophy.

Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy

Finalists: Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens)

Winner: Auston Matthews

Why? Matthews scored 170 goals across his three Rocket Richard-winning seasons, a pace curtailed only by COVID-shortened campaigns. After a frustrating 2025-26 with 27 goals in 60 games, he is fully healthy and determined to reclaim his goal-scoring throne, earning his fourth Maurice Richard Trophy.

Jack Adams Award

Finalists: Ryan Warsofsky (San Jose Sharks), Martin St-Louis (Montreal Canadiens), Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina Hurricanes)

Winner: Martin St-Louis

Why? St-Louis had a Hall of Fame playing career, but as Canadiens coach he aims for fresh benchmarks. After guiding Montreal to the Eastern Conference final last season, he is projected to push the Habs to the top of the Atlantic Division. That progress should secure his first Jack Adams Award, confirming that he remains a standout bench boss in his second season behind the team.

Source link