National Hockey League awards
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The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players.
Team trophies
- Awarded to the NHL playoff champion. Previously it was a challenge cup (1893-1914) and then an interleague championship trophy (1915-1926). It was not awarded in 1919 due to an influenza epidemic, and in 2005 because of the labour dispute.
Prince of Wales Trophy (1924 - present)Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion.
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (1968 - present)Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion.
Presidents' Trophy (1986 - present)Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points).
O'Brien Trophy (1910 - 1950)Awarded in the NHA and NHL to the league playoff champion (1910-23), the Canadian Division regular season champion (1927-38), then finally to the Stanley Cup runner-up (1939-50).
Individual trophies and awards
Trophies on display at the 2006 NHL Awards Ceremony.
Listed in order of when first awarded
- Awarded to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1925)Awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Vezina Trophy (1927)Awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at this position.
Calder Memorial Trophy (1937)Awarded to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
Art Ross Trophy (1948)Awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season
James Norris Memorial Trophy (1954)Awarded to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
Conn Smythe Trophy (1965)Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs.
Lester Patrick Trophy (1966)Presented for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Eligible recipients are players, officials, coaches, executives, and referees.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (1968)Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Lester B. Pearson Award (1971)Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association.
Jack Adams Award (1974)Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success.
Frank J. Selke Trophy (1978)Awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.
William M. Jennings Trophy (1982)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.
NHL Plus/Minus Award (1983)Awarded to the player with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season.
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.
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy (1999)Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season.
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.
All-Star Teams
Starting after the
1930-31 NHL season, the NHL announced two All-Star teams based on play in the regular season. The First All-Star Team was composed of the top player at each position: one
goalie, two
defencemen, one
centre, one
left winger and one
right winger. The Second All-Star Team was composed of the next best players at each position.
This award should not be confused with a player being named to compete in the NHL All-Star Game for that year.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Players are eligible to be voted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame three years after their last professional game. In the past, if a player was deemed significant enough, the pending period would be waived. However, only 10 individuals have been honoured in this manner. In 1999,
Wayne Gretzky became the last player to have the three-year restriction waived. After Gretzky's induction, the NHL declared that he would be the last one to have the waiting period omitted.
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