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Soak it in, hockey fans. We’re smack in the middle of an offensive boom era, full of superstars and milestones to celebrate. Just last season, the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov became the fourth and fifth NHL players to record 100 assists in single campaign, while the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ Auston Matthews scored 69 goals, the most of any player in 28 years.
It’s thus a particularly fun exercise when projecting the NHL award winners these days. From 150 points by a forward to 100 points by a defenseman, name the jaw-dropping milestone and it’s been accomplished in recent seasons. It takes an epic performance to land yourself an NHL award in the current era, so when we make our trophy predictions, the generational talents pop up repeatedly.
That said: Our panel of voters at Daily Faceoff hasn’t simply peppered the ballot with McDavid and Matthews. There were some surprises in the process.
The prognosticators:
Anthony Di Marco, DFO contributing writer
Steven Ellis, DFO associate editor & prospect analyst
Jason Gregor, co-host of "The DFO Rundown" podcast
Matt Larkin, DFO managing editor & senior writer
Jonny Lazarus, DFO writer & co-host of "Morning Cuppa" Hockey
Brock Seguin, DFO managing fantasy editor
Frank Seravalli, DFO president of hockey content and co-host of "The DFO Rundown" podcast
The Awards we voted on:
Hart Trophy (most valuable player)
Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)
Norris Trophy (best defenseman)
Selke Trophy (best defensive forward)
Calder Trophy (best rookie)
Rocket Richard Trophy (leading goal scorer)
Art Ross Trophy (leading points getter)
Jack Adams Award (coach of the year)
Plus, we added a few bonus statistical predictions for fun.
The results:
| LARKIN | SERAVALLI | ELLIS | SEGUIN | LAZARUS | GREGOR | DI MARCO | |
| Hart Trophy | Auston Matthews | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Jack Hughes | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid |
| Vezina Trophy | Juuse Saros | Juuse Saros | Igor Shesterkin | Jake Oettinger | Jake Oettinger | Igor Shesterkin | Igor Shesterkin |
| Norris Trophy | Quinn Hughes | Cale Makar | Cale Makar | Roman Josi | Cale Makar | Roman Josi | Miro Heiskanen |
| Selke Trophy | Roope Hintz | J.T. Miller | Roope Hintz | Jordan Staal | Mitch Marner | Alesander Barkov | Elias Lindholm |
| Calder Trophy | Matvei Michkov | Lane Hutson | Logan Stankoven | Matvei Michkov | Cutter Gauthier | Matvei Michkov | Matvei Michkov |
| Rocket Richard Trophy | Auston Matthews | Auston Matthews | Auston Matthews | Auston Matthews | Jake Guentzel | Auston Matthews | David Pastrnak |
| Art Ross Trophy | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid | Connor McDavid |
| Jack Adams Award | Sheldon Keefe | Sheldon Keefe | Lindy Ruff | Pete DeBoer | Craig Berube | Jon Cooper | Sheldon Keefe |
| Connor McDavid PTS | 137 | 141 | 139 | 143 | 139 | 148 | 135 |
| Auston Matthews GOALS | 63 | 61 | 56 | 62 | 52 | 71 | 57 |
| Macklin Celebrini PTS | 51 | 62 | 57 | 62 | 55 | 56 | 58 |
– Most of us weren’t overthinking McDavid for MVP. He’s always going to be a top scorer in the league when healthy, and he’s the best player on the planet, so he’s the safest bet.
– The New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin got the most Vezina Trophy votes with three, but there’s momentum for the Nashville Predators’ Juuse Saros and Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger. The former could have a career year as a workhorse on an improved team that spent lavishly in free agency, while the latter could be trending toward a superstar level-up similar to Shesterkin’s in 2021-22.
– Could we see a Norris Trophy tug-of-war between the Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar for the next decade? Each guy has one to his name, with Hughes holding the 2023-24 honor. Makar, a four-time finalist, got the most Norris nods on the 2024-25 panel.
– The Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov arriving two years ahead of schedule changed the Calder Trophy debate completely. More than half the panel expects him to outshine every other rookie this season.
– Redemption in New Jersey? Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs’ coaching castoff, earned the most Jack Adams Award votes as he embarks on a journey to bring the talented Devils back to the postseason following their miss in 2023-24.
More must-reads:
- Every Hart Trophy winner of the NHL's Expansion Era
- Phillies superstar may be building Hall of Fame case
- The 'NHL goals leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Canadiens’ Deficiencies on Defense Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Any suggestion the Montreal Canadiens’ defense will be one of the best in the NHL in 2025-26 should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism. At the other end of the spectrum, rumours of the Habs’ ending up one of the worst teams in the league from a defensive standpoint, to the point it might cost them a playoff spot, have been greatly exaggerated. Sure, the Canadiens gave up the ninth-most shots per game (29.0) last season. And, while that’s of course far from a recipe for long-term success, there are extenuating circumstances as to why prognosticators should look past that and other admitted red flags (like them being one of the worst offenders in terms of expected goals against per 60 minutes). It goes well past how the Canadiens overcame those admitted deficiencies on defense to for all intents and purposes shock the hockey world by clinching a postseason berth, one year after finishing fifth from last in the NHL. Generally speaking, there are of course ebbs and flows in performance from year to year to the point a team in a playoff spot one year won’t necessarily make them the next. That’s just the nature of sports. So, the Habs just having finished in the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot can understandably be construed as a sign they’re vulnerable. Canadiens Replace Savard with Dobson However, to lean into that line of thinking would be to dismiss the linear growth up the standings (points-wise) the Canadiens have experienced each season since finishing dead last in 2022. This is, according to some sources, the youngest team in NHL history to have made the playoffs that is also poised to be the youngest in the league to start 2025-26. So, the team’s defense, which is anchored by the likes of Calder Memorial Trophy-winner Lane Hutson, is far from at risk of declining. In truth, the Canadiens should only get better, especially when you take into consideration the indisputable fact they’re transforming into more of a rush-capable team by effectively replacing the retiring David Savard with Noah Dobson. Critics may point to Savard’s stay-at-home style and defensive awareness as something they’ll miss out on, while Dobson being among the league leaders in turnovers, with one less than Hutson coincidentally enough, could be seen as a drawback. A few points of contention, though: Turnovers tend to depend on the amount of time you have the puck. So, it’s probable a high amount of turnovers is just a reflection of how valuable you are to your team, with Dobson having led the New York Islanders in ice time in each of the last two seasons. Hutson, who had the same amount of turnovers as Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild, isn’t all that bad defensively. Hutson only really showed poorly from a statistical perspective when he played with Savard, which was a recurring trend, as no pairing at all comprising the latter had a positive shot share. Ultimately, in Dobson, regardless of how you feel about him defensively, the Canadiens are getting a top-pairing defenseman. They’re losing a third-pairing one, which only increases their depth to the point it’s entirely possible they play Mike Matheson, a 31-year-old one season removed from having scored 62 points, there instead. No one should have any illusions that Matheson is an incredible defensive defenseman, but his leadership remains valuable, and, despite a single year remaining on his deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, he could realistically stay its length as a Hab, considering he’s the type of player teams with an eye on a long playoff run tend to pursue at the trade deadline. The Canadiens may just be in a position to keep him around as a smooth-skating, minute-munching, veteran presence who just so happens to come from the area. General manager Kent Hughes’ vision should be clear with a corps that comprises Dobson, Hutson and Matheson and to a lesser extent Alexandre Carrier and Kaiden Guhle. He’s moving away from the (David, not Serge) Savardian archetype of a defenseman that became so common in the Marc Bergevin years as a presumed way to insulate Carey Price. He’s moving toward more of a transitional offense some may associate with the Morgan Rielly-led Toronto Maple Leafs, who, not for nothing, gave up more shots per game than the Habs (29.3). So, why should it work for their historic rivals, who led the Atlantic Division, and not them, especially with the Leafs having lost 100-point-man Mitch Marner? Canadiens a Legitimate Playoff-Calibre Team Obviously the depth in the Atlantic is an issue. This isn’t a piece on how the Canadiens stack up against their competition. That’s been done. However, it is interesting some may envision the New York Rangers overtaking the Habs as a likelier bet to return to the playoffs at the latter’s expense after having imploded last season. If the debate between the two is a referendum on the strength of the Canadiens’ defense, it’s worth noting the Rangers also gave up more shots per game (29.9). So, who improved more this past offseason? To which team does your vote go? Ideally, it’s true: Goalie Sam Montembeault shouldn’t have to save as many goals above expected as he did. However, his performance last season showed goaltending can be a strength for the Canadiens instead of a weakness. In truth, the one glaring (potential) hole the Habs have is down the middle on the second line, but they still managed to reach the postseason without a working one at even strength. The arrivals of Ivan Demidov and Zachary Bolduc should negate any notion that the Habs lack depth up front. The offense should actually be seen as neutral territory at the very least, especially with Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki having formed one of the best lines in the league. Honestly, if defense the is Habs’ “weak” point, they’re in good shape. Is it possible the Canadiens miss the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs? Sure. Many in the know might disagree though, ironically in similar fashion to how the general consensus had been they’d miss them last season. So, things like these are hard to predict and analysts who believe they won’t are definitely entitled to their opinions. However, just know they’d be betting against a team that has only been getting better over the last few years, including on defense… especially with the acquisition of Dobson this offseason. That’s the difference, in that analysts who had bet against them making the postseason this past spring had seemed to acknowledge the team was still poised to improve and trending in the right direction. Going completely against the grain here is certainly a bold move.
Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
Nuggets Receive Huge Russell Westbrook News During NBA Offseason
It has been a busy offseason for the Denver Nuggets as they have reshaped their roster around their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon after being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Denver began their offseason by trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson in a trade that not only landed them a three-point sharpshooter in Johnson but also helped free up cap space. With the extra cap space, the Nuggets signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and they also acquired Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. By making these moves, the Nuggets have been able to upgrade their bench, which was a massive issue for them last season. While the Nuggets clearly had the goal to upgrade their depth this offseason, one of their key players from last season will reportedly not be returning next season. Russell Westbrook not expected to return to Nuggets According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Russell Westbrook is set to sign with a new team this summer in free agency as he will not be returning to Denver. “It appears that Westbrook, who spent the first 11 years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will play for his sixth franchise in seven seasons. He won't be returning to the Denver Nuggets after a roller coaster season in which Westbrook finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting,” MacMahon wrote. This is a massive report by MacMahon, but also one that is not a major surprise as it appeared as though the Nuggets were not interested in bringing back the former NBA MVP. Of course, Westbrook played a key role for the Nuggets last season both off the bench and in the starting lineup, though his minutes were cut at the end of the season after Denver fired former head coach Michael Malone and replaced him with David Adelman. With Westbrook now unlikely to return to Denver for next season, MacMahon mentioned in his report that the Sacramento Kings are viewed as the favorites to sign him, though there should be other teams that also show interest in adding the veteran guard to their roster next season.
Cubs catcher lost to horrific-looking injury on same day he returns from IL
After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
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