NHL Trophy Guide

If you are new to the hockey community or just always wondered, but never knew what the NHL commentators were talking about when they mention particular trophies such as the Hart, Calder and the Art Ross I have made a NHL trophy guide to help you learn the basics.

Team trophies:

Stanley Cup: Originally it was a challenge cup from its creation in 1893 but in 1915 it became an interleague championship trophy until 1926. It is now awarded to the NHL playoff champion.

Current holder: Los Angeles Kings

Prince of Wales Trophy: Is awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion.

Current holder: New Jersey Devils

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Is awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion.

Current holder: Los Angeles Kings

Presidents’ Trophy: Is awarded to the club that finishes the regular season with the best overall record based on points. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins.

Current holder: Vancouver Canucks

Individual trophies:

Hart Memorial Trophy: Each year the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote to determine the player who was the most valuable to his team and the league during the regular season. This is considered the prestigious individual award in hockey.

Current holder: Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Is awarded to the NHL player that exhibits the most sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. The Professional Hockey Writers Association vote and each individual voter rank their top five candidates on a 10-7-5-3-1 points system.

Current holder: Brian Campbell of the Florida Panthers

Vezina Trophy: Is awarded to the NHL’s top goaltender. The thirty NHL general managers vote to determine the winner.

Current holder: Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers

Calder Memorial Trophy: Is awarded to the NHL’s most outstanding rookie player. The winner is decided by a vote of Professional Hockey Writers’ Association members at the conclusion of each regular season.

Current holder: Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche

Art Ross Trophy: Is awarded to the NHL player that leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season. In case of a tie the NHL has three tiebreakers: player with most goals, player with fewer games played and player scoring first goal of the season.

Current holder: Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Is awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. At the end of the regular season the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote to determine the player who was the best defenseman.

Current holder: Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators

Conn Smythe Trophy: Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and based on the whole NHL playoffs not just the championship game.

Current holder: Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association after each team nominates one player in competition. It is often awarded to a player who has come back from career ending or even life-threatening illness or injury

Current holder: Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens

Ted Lindsay Award: Is awarded to the NHL’s outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association. Before 2010 this award was known as the Lester B. Pearson Award.

Current holder: Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Jack Adams Award: Is awarded to the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. The winner is determined at the end of the regular season by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association.

Current holder: Ken Hitchcock of the St. Louis Blues

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Is awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is determined at the end of each regular season by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Current holder: Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins

William M. Jennings Trophy: Is awarded to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it in the regular season.

Current holders: Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak of the St. Louis Blues

NHL Plus-Minus Award: Is awarded to the player the played a minimum of 60 games with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season. It is a commercially sponsored award that has been sponsored by different companies over the years and has had many names as a result. Since the 1998–99 season to the present, it has been known as the Bud Light Plus-Minus Award.

Current holder: Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins

King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. The winner is chosen by a panel of representatives from the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and the NHL Broadcasters’ Association and has never been won more than once by any player.

Current holder: Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators

NHL Foundation Player Award: Is awarded to the player who applies the core values of hockey to enrich the lives of people in his community. The winner is given a grant of $25,000 to help causes that the player supports.The winner is determined by a panel consisting of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL executives Pat Flatley, Bernadette Mansur and Kenneth Martin Jr.

Current holder: Mike Fisher of the Nashville Predators

Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy: Is awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season. The trophy was donated to the NHL by the Montreal Canadiens during the1998–99 season and is named in honor of Montreal Canadiens right winger Maurice “Rocket” Richard.

Current holder: Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning

Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Is awarded to the goaltender that has played a minimum of 25 games in the regular season and has the highest save percentage. The award is presented by the MBNA corporation in memory of Roger Crozier, who worked for the MBNA America Bank after retiring as a player. The winner receives a commemorative crystal trophy and is given $25,000 to donate to a youth hockey or other educational program of their choice.

Current holder: Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues

Mark Messier Leadership Award: Is awarded by Mark Messier  to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season.

Current holder: Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes

NHL General Manager of the Year Award: Is awarded to the top NHL General Manager and is determined by a 40-member panel including 30 general managers, five NHL executives and five media members.

Current holder: Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues

*Due to the shortened season some rules such as the number of games played to receive some trophies may be changed.

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