Which award race is the most interesting so far this season?
As we dive further into the second month of the 2025-26 campaign, there are several players making a claim that they should be in the running to take home some hardware when the season’s well and done.
The easiest ones to look at, because they are based on statistics, are the Art Ross and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies. Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon sits a few points ahead of both Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini. MacKinnon’s 14 goals also puts him ahead of both Celebrini and Chicago Blackhawks youngster Connor Bedard.
There are also a couple of interesting races brewing in some of the other awards, especially the Vezina Trophy. Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck has been solid this year, but is he good enough to win a third straight Vezina?
On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton give their thoughts on which NHL Awards race is the most intriguing so far.
Tyler Yaremchuk: There’s a couple of awards that are already runaways. The Calder Trophy, [that’s Matthew Schaefer’s]…They’ve basically already handed the [Norris Trophy] to Cale Makar on the odds boards…is there an individual awards race at a quarter into the season you’re looking at with a raised eyebrow?
Carter Hutton: I think the Vezina conversation is in there, and then I think the goal scoring. Who is going to put up the most goals? We have such a field of guys that are putting the puck in the back of the net. There’s so many young guys in that hunt and When I look at those other trophies and you talk about betting the field, I just think the biggest thing that comes into play is the injury bug and what goes on.
I think, for the first time right now, we’re seeing Connor Hellebuyck, in my personal opinion, be bypassed by Logan Thompson at this current stage. I think Logan Thompson, right now, is the guy that would be the Vezina Trophy winner. I don’t know if it stays that way. There’s still a lot of runway left, and I don’t know if Logan Thompson has the sustainability to do what Connor Hellebuyck seems to do every single year. So, that is one for me that I definitely watch.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…