The NHL’s break for team strengthening has concluded, with the vast majority of significant unrestricted players having committed to their new squads for the 2025-26 campaign and further. Consequently, the majority of teams now possess their intended rosters for the upcoming training camps in the autumn months.
With the open market period essentially complete, various betting platforms have unveiled their projected win chances for numerous major accolades set to be presented following the 2025-26 season. This presents a chance for fans to declare their confidence in determining which athletes might secure specific awards and potentially identify valuable selections.
Bearing this context in mind, let’s examine several of the main awards, evaluating potential contenders for each this upcoming season.
All win projections are provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Hart Trophy
The Hart Trophy is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player throughout the entire NHL season. Remarkably, no player has claimed this prize in consecutive years since Washington Capitals icon Alex Ovechkin achieved this feat in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Winnipeg Jets’ standout goalie Connor Hellebuyck delivered an exceptional performance and garnered the Hart Trophy in 2024-25. Hellebuyck’s victory marked the first instance since former Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price won the award in 2014-15 that a netminder secured the honor.
Top Choice: Connor McDavid (+200)
Is this truly unexpected? While the NHL showcases a plethora of remarkable players, it is widely acknowledged that Edmonton Oilers’ luminary Connor McDavid distinguishes himself significantly. While McDavid did not secure the Hart Trophy in 2024-25, he has won it twice in the preceding five campaigns. The Oilers’ maestro stands as one of only nine individuals to have earned the Hart Trophy on at least three occasions, joining legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Eddie Shore, and Bobby Orr, among other icons.
The 2025-26 season could potentially represent McDavid’s concluding chapter with the Oilers if he opts against signing a contract extension before the next summer. Regardless, following a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final defeat, McDavid might feel exceptionally driven to compete for the league’s preeminent individual distinction.
Outside Contender: Auston Matthews (+1900)
Apart from Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov, various other prominent players possess the capacity to mount a noteworthy Hart Trophy campaign. With Mitch Marner joining the Vegas Golden Knights during the current summer, Toronto Maple Leafs’ center Auston Matthews could be poised for a monumental season. Matthews will be tasked with carrying a significant share of the offensive burden on Toronto’s primary line, given Marner’s departure.
Matthews has previously hoisted the Hart Trophy, accomplishing this in 2021-22 following a remarkable 60-goal season. The Maple Leafs’ headliner undoubtedly possesses the ability to dictate the flow of games and might be compelled to demonstrate this quality consistently. Consequently, Matthews might readily clinch this prestigious honor.
Dark Horse: Mitch Marner (+6000)
The Golden Knights made a significant move by acquiring Mitch Marner in the current offseason, affording him the chance to perform on the team’s top line alongside star center Jack Eichel. Mirroring his role with the Maple Leafs, Marner should encounter an abundance of opportunities to act as a playmaker for the Golden Knights. It also bears mentioning that Marner is coming off a personal-best 100-point season, having accumulated 27 goals and 75 assists during his last campaign with Toronto. Although Marner would need to compile an extraordinary season to secure the Hart Trophy, the possibility remains considering his participation on a Stanley Cup-contending squad.
Calder Trophy
The Calder Trophy is awarded to the most accomplished rookie across the NHL each year. Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Lane Hutson claimed the honor in 2024-25, amassing 66 points (six goals, 60 assists). This marked the third instance in the previous six campaigns that a defenseman has claimed the award. Typically, there isn’t an exceptional prospect (akin to Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, etc.) entering the NHL immediately following their draft selection. This pattern is likely to continue in 2025-26, as top picks Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are not guaranteed to secure positions on their respective NHL rosters following the training camp.
Top Choice: Ivan Demidov (+280)
The Montreal Canadiens chose winger Ivan Demidov with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and he was given the chance to test the waters in the NHL towards the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Demidov registered a goal and an assist across two games, including scoring during the first period of his inaugural career game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite Demidov only having seven games under his belt (including the Stanley Cup Playoffs), his potential is undeniably captivating. His exceptional insight and hockey sense might elevate him to the forefront of the Calder Trophy discussion in 2025-26, particularly while playing for a Canadiens team poised to contend for a playoff berth following the acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson in the current offseason.
Outside Contender: Michael Misa (+1200)
The San Jose Sharks have been assembling a wealth of attacking talent and bolstered this group by drafting No. 2 overall pick Michael Misa in last month’s draft. Misa stands out as an incredibly talented offensive player, accumulating 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit in 2024-25. The question of whether Misa will be on the Sharks’ roster for the start of training camp remains open, but this prospect is undeniably gifted. If he secures a spot in the NHL lineup next season, it’s difficult to envision Misa not being a factor in the Calder Trophy chase.
Dark Horse: Zayne Parekh (+2100)
Similarly to Ivan Demidov, Calgary Flames’ defenseman Zayne Parekh was afforded the opportunity to gain some experience at the NHL level in the latter stages of the 2024-25 regular season. Parekh quickly illustrated that he belonged in the professional ranks, scoring a goal in his first NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings. The 2024 first-round pick possesses exceptional offensive capabilities, demonstrated during his time with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, including notching 107 points (33 goals, 74 assists) in 2024-25 before joining the Flames. It’s quite possible that Parekh secures a place on the Flames’ roster to start the season, especially if the team trades fellow defenseman Rasmus Andersson prior to the start of the new campaign.
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded each season to the top goaltender in the NHL. Over recent campaigns, this distinction has often been secured by Winnipeg Jets’ netminder Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck captured both the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2024-25, having also secured the Vezina Trophy the previous season. The Jets’ goalie has now secured three Vezina Trophy wins in his career, all within the past six campaigns. Consequently, Hellebuyck is the strong favorite to win the award again, although a talented field of netminders will be attempting to challenge him in 2025-26.
Top Choice: Connor Hellebuyck (+310)
Considering Hellebuyck’s back-to-back Vezina Trophy wins, it’s not surprising that he is considered the frontrunner to win the award once more. Hellebuyck put together a 47-12-3 record alongside a 2.00 goals-against-average and a .925 save percentage. Hellebuyck has been a model of consistency during the regular season and has looked unequivocally dominant at times. Until another netminder demonstrates that they can dethrone Hellebuyck, he remains the benchmark.
Outside Contender: Dustin Wolf (+1500)
Calgary Flames’ goaltender Dustin Wolf finished second in the Calder Trophy race behind Lane Hutson, following an impressive rookie season. Wolf compiled a 29-16-8 record, a 2.64 goals-against-average, and a .910 save percentage as Calgary’s top goaltender in 2024-25 after the team traded Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils during the 2024 offseason. His .910 save percentage was tied for ninth among NHL goaltenders and served as one of the primary factors enabling the Flames’ playoff push last season. Securing the Vezina Trophy in his second full season would be a considerable feat, but Wolf certainly possesses the talent to create significant impact throughout the year.
Dark Horse: Sergei Bobrovsky (+1900)
Florida Panthers’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky continues to defy age expectations. Bobrovsky has amassed an outstanding career and evolved into one of the NHL’s top netminders. The seasoned goalie recorded a 33-19-2 record, a 2.44 goals-against-average, and a .905 save percentage in 2024-25 for the eventual Stanley Cup champions. Bobrovsky’s 2.44 goals-against-average ranked fifth-lowest in the league, while also posting the fourth-most wins. When Bobrovsky is at his best, few goaltenders possess greater skill than the Russian netminder, at least placing him in consideration if Hellebuyck experiences a decline in form.
Norris Trophy
The Norris Trophy is annually awarded to the best defenseman in the NHL. Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar has secured the Norris Trophy in two of the previous four seasons, including winning the coveted award in 2024-25. Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson, and Quinn Hughes have also won the Norris Trophy in recent seasons, indicating that the competition remains fierce despite Makar’s noteworthy success over the previous several campaigns.
Top Choice: Cale Makar (+135)
As the 2025-26 season commences, Makar appears to be a significant favorite among the Norris Trophy contenders. The Avalanche’s defenseman stands as arguably the most electrifying player at his position from an offensive point of view. Makar amassed a career-best 92 points (30 goals, 62 assists) in 2024-25 and led the league in points (92), goals (30), assists (62), and power-play goals (12). He is a defenseman that has registered double-digit goals in five of his six professional seasons and has scored at least 21 goals in three of the last four campaigns. Similar to Hellebuyck, until someone proves they can surpass Makar, he remains the frontrunner in the Norris Trophy race.
Outside Contender: Zach Werenski (+950)
While Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Quinn Hughes possesses the second-best projections behind Makar, it is difficult not to include Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski in the discussion as one of the league’s top defensemen. Werenski posted a career-high 82 points and scored on a personal-best 23 occasions in 2024-25. Following a stint limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury, Werenski has started his ascent to the pinnacle of NHL defensemen, recording 139 points over the past two seasons. Werenski offers strong value at +950 projections and could readily contend for the Norris Trophy if Makar or Hughes experience subpar seasons.
Dark Horse: Evan Bouchard (+3000)
Regarding the Norris Trophy, many metrics can be linked to offensive output, which benefits a player such as Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Evan Bouchard. Bouchard is recognized as one of the more skilled playmakers among defensemen in the league. He has scored 32 goals over the past two seasons, having even finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting in 2023-24. When a defenseman has the chance to pass to players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman, accumulating statistics becomes relatively straightforward. While Bouchard might not have a substantial chance of winning the award, it won’t be surprising if he is in the mix.
