2026-27 NHL award predictions: Daily Faceoff staff picks
We’ve made it. The start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season is here, and we have one final window to lay down our predictions.
Our 10-staffer Daily Faceoff panel published picks for the divisional standings, Wildcard berths and Stanley Cup winner earlier this week. Today, we look at the NHL awards.
Here’s who we like for the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Norris Trophy, Selke Trophy, Calder Trophy, Rocket Richard Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Jack Adams Award.
Our panel:
Matt Larkin, DFO managing editor & senior writer
Steven Ellis, DFO associate editor & prospect analyst
Scott Maxwell, DFO editor & writer
Mike Gould, Writer for DFO and Flames Nation
Brock Seguin, DFO managing fantasy editor
Jason Gregor, co-host of The DFO Rundown podcast
Tyler Yaremchuk, host & senior producer of The Nation Network
Anthony Di Marco, DFO contributing writer
Paul Pidutti, founder of Adjusted Hockey & DFO feature writer
Jonny Lazarus, DFO digital reporter & co-host of Morning Cuppa Hockey
Even after Connor McDavid was arguably robbed of the MVP last year, he’s always a lock to be in the mix, and he’s a popular pick among our panel. There is, however, a groundswell for a banner Macklin Celebrini campaign. If he can match or exceed last year’s 115-point breakout and take the San Jose Sharks to the playoffs, he’ll have a strong Hart case.
Nine of 10 Vezina voters believe one of the Washington Capitals’ Logan Thompson or the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin takes the Vezina. With the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin receiving the other vote, we apparently are convinced the best goalie plays in the Metropolitan Division this season.
Where it’s the Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson or the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, the majority of the panel banks on a first-time Norris winner this season, whereas the opposite is true for the Selke Trophy: exactly half the voters believe Aleksander Barkov, fresh off missing last season with a knee injury, will become the third player to win it four times.
Philadelphia Flyers’ man-child Porter Martone is by far the most popular rookie-of-the-year choice. A cluster of us believe Leon Draisaitl takes a second Rocket Richard Trophy in a three-season span, while no one is overthinking the Art Ross. It’s most likely McDavid becoming the second player in NHL history to win seven scoring titles.
The Jack Adams vote is always difficult to predict given it rarely goes to the actual best coach. But the Utah Mammoth’s Andre Tourigny, Islanders’ Pete DeBoer and New Jersey Devils’ Sheldon Keefe earned two votes apiece.
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