List of National Hockey League awards

Trophies on display at the 2006 NHL Awards Ceremony.

The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players. The oldest, and most recognizable, is the Stanley Cup. First awarded in 1893, the Stanley Cup is awarded to the NHL's playoff champion. The Stanley Cup is the third trophy to be used as the league's championship, as for the first nine years of the NHL's existence, it remained a multi-league challenge cup.[1]

History

Team trophies

The NHL's first championship trophy was the O'Brien Trophy, which was created by the National Hockey Association in 1910 and transferred to the NHL in 1918, after which it was awarded to the playoff champion until 1927. Following the demise of the Western Hockey League after the 1926 season, the Stanley Cup became exclusive to the NHL, and the O'Brien Trophy became the trophy awarded to the NHL Canadian Division champion. After the 1938 season, the league reverted to one division, and the O'Brien Trophy was awarded to the Stanley Cup runners-up, until it was retired in 1950.

The Prince of Wales Trophy was introduced in 1925 as an award for the NHL's playoff champion (alongside the O'Brien Trophy). It soon became the NHL American Division trophy following the 1927–28 season, until the 1937–38 season, when the league reverted to one division. It then became the award for best regular season record, before becoming the East Division trophy in 1967–68. The Prince of Wales Trophy remains an active award. It is awarded to the playoff champion of the Eastern Conference.

The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl was created in 1967 to serve as the Western Division counterpart to the Prince of Wales Trophy. It is now awarded to the Western Conference champion.

The youngest team trophy is the Presidents' Trophy, which has been awarded to the NHL's regular season champion since 1986.

Individual trophies

The first individual trophy was the Hart Trophy, first awarded in 1924 to the league's most valuable player. This trophy was replaced by the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1960 when the original Hart trophy became too unwieldy.[2] The Lady Byng Trophy followed in 1925, a year later, awarded to the most gentlemanly player in the league. Two years later, the Vezina Trophy was created for the NHL's top goaltender. The Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded to the NHL's playoff most valuable player in 1965. Presently, the NHL has 18 annual individual trophies and awards, the most recently created being the NHL General Manager of the Year Award which was inaugurated in 2010.

Out of the original individual NHL trophies that were awarded prior to expansion (which would be followed by the creation of more individual awards), several players are tied with three awards in the same season. Stan Mikita won the Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophies, doing so consecutively in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons.[3] Guy LaFleur and Wayne Gretzky have each won the Art Ross, Hart, and Conn Smythe trophies, as well as the Cup, in 1976-77 and 1984–85, respectively. Bobby Orr won the Hart, Norris, and Conn Smythe trophies, along with the Stanley Cup, in 1969–70 and 1971-72. In 1970, Orr also won the Art Ross which makes him the only player to capture four original NHL awards in a single season (Orr also earned a NHL First Team selection, and the only honor which he was eligible for but did not win was the Lady Byng due to his physical style of play).[4][5]

In addition, the First and Second All-Star Teams have been named since the 1930–31 NHL season to honor the best performers over the season at each position, as well as the NHL All-Rookie Team from 1983 onwards.

Most of the individual trophies and all-star selections are presented at an annual awards ceremony held in late June after the conclusion of the playoffs. Some of these trophies are automatically awarded to players based on their statistics during the regular season. Other individual trophies are voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association or the team general managers.

Team trophies

Image Award  Created Description Current holder
Stanley Cup 1894 Awarded to the NHL playoff champion. Previously it was a challenge cup (1893–1914) and then an interleague championship trophy (1915–1926)[6] Pittsburgh Penguins (20152016)
Prince of Wales Trophy 1925 Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion. Previously awarded as the NHL playoff championship (1925–1927), the American Division Champion (1928–1938), the regular season championship (1939–1967), East Division championship (1968–1974) and Wales Conference championship (1975–1993)[7] It was first awarded to the winner of the first game in Madison Square Garden in 1925.[8] Pittsburgh Penguins (20152016)
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl 1968 Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion. Previously awarded as the West Division title (1968–1974) and Campbell Conference championship (1975–1993)[9] San Jose Sharks (20152016)
Presidents' Trophy 1986 Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points)[10] Washington Capitals (2015–2016)
O'Brien Trophy 1910 Awarded by the National Hockey Association (1910–1917) and NHL (1918–1927) to the league playoff champion, Canadian Division regular season champion (1928–1938), and Stanley Cup runner-up (1939–1950)[11] Retired in 1950

Last winner: New York Rangers

Individual trophies and awards

Image Award  Created Description Current holder
Hart Memorial Trophy 1924 Awarded to the league's most valuable player[12] Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 1925 Awarded to the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability[13] Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings
Vezina Trophy 1927 Awarded to the league's top goaltender[14] Braden Holtby
Washington Capitals
Calder Memorial Trophy 1937 Awarded to the league's most outstanding rookie player[15] Artemi Panarin
Chicago Blackhawks
Art Ross Trophy 1948 Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season[16] Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy 1954 Awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position[17] Drew Doughty
Los Angeles Kings
Conn Smythe Trophy 1965 Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs[18] Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy 1968 Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey[19] Jaromir Jagr
Florida Panthers
Ted Lindsay Award 1971 Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association (called the Lester B. Pearson Award from 1971 to 2009)[20] Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
Jack Adams Award 1974 Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success[21] Barry Trotz
Washington Capitals
Frank J. Selke Trophy 1978 Awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game[22] Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles Kings
William M. Jennings Trophy 1982 Awarded to the goaltender(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it in the regular season[23] Frederik Andersen / John Gibson
Anaheim Ducks
NHL Plus-Minus Award 1983 Awarded to the player with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season[24] Last awarded in 2008
King Clancy Memorial Trophy 1988 Awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community[25] Henrik Sedin
Vancouver Canucks
NHL Foundation Player Award 1998 Awarded to the player who applies the core values of hockey to enrich the lives of people in his community[26] Mark Giordano
Calgary Flames
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy 1999 Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season[26] Alexander Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award 2000 Awarded to the goaltender who has played a minimum of 25 games in the regular season and has the highest save percentage[27][28] Last awarded in 2007
Mark Messier Leadership Award 2007 Awarded to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season (awarded by Mark Messier, himself)[29] Shea Weber
Nashville Predators
NHL General Manager of the Year Award 2010 Awarded to the top National Hockey League General Manager[30] Jim Rutherford
Pittsburgh Penguins
E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence 2015 Awarded to the draft prospect who best exemplifies the commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism (awarded by NHL Central Scouting)[31] Neil Doef
(undrafted)[32]

The league has also given some ephemeral awards over the years, including:

See also

References

  1. "Stanley Cup history". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  2. Podnieks,Andrew (2005), Silverware - Hockey Hall of Fame,p.32 & p.151.Fenn Publishing,Bolton, Ontario.
  3. "Single Season Magnificence". Greatest Hockey Legends.com. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  4. Dryden 2000, p. 72.
  5. Podnieks 2003, p. 33.
  6. "Stanley Cup history". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  7. "Prince of Wales Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  8. McCarthy, Dave, ed. (2008). The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2009. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  9. "Clarence S. Campbell Bowl". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  10. "Presidents' Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  11. "O'Brien Trophy". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  12. "Hart Memorial Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  13. "Lady Byng Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  14. "Vezina Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  15. "Calder Memorial Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  16. "Art Ross Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  17. "James Norris Memorial Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  18. "Conn Smythe Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  19. "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  20. "Ted Lindsay Award". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  21. "Jack Adams Award". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  22. "Frank J. Selke Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  23. "William M. Jennings Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  24. "NHL Plus/Minus Award". statshockey.homestead.com. Stats Hockey. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  25. "King Clancy Memorial Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  26. 1 2 "Maurice Richard Trophy". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  27. "Roger Crozier profile". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  28. "Niklas Backstrom profile". tsn.ca. TSN. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  29. "Chris Chelios receives Messier Leader of the Year Award". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  30. "McPhee, Maloney and Poile in running for GM honor - 2011 NHL Awards". nhl.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  31. "Central Scouting to present E.J. McGuire Award". nhl.com. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  32. Morreale, Mike (2016-06-23). "Ontario's Doef to receive E.J. McGuire Award". nhl.com.

External links

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