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Montreal Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov Sep 25, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov (93) plays the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

2025-26 NHL Award predictions: Daily Faceoff staff picks

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 8:36 AM ET

Puck drop is upon us for a highly anticipated 2025-26 NHL season. During such a rich era for superstar players, the competition for major individual hardware is fierce, and this season should be no exception, especially with the likes of Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel in contract years. Three of the past four Hart Trophy recipients as league MVP were first-time winners, and no player has won the award in consecutive campaigns since Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Predicting the votes for the Hart and other major awards thus isn’t an easy exercise. But we’re here to try it anyway, with a 10-staffer panel.

The prognosticators:

Matt Larkin, DFO managing editor & senior writer
Steven Ellis, DFO associate editor & prospect analyst
Scott Maxwell, DFO editor & writer
Jeff Marek, host of The Sheet podcast & co-host of The DFO Rundown podcast
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

The Awards for which we made predictions:

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)

We also made some bonus “versus” predictions for fun.

Via The Nation Network

– While the vote is pretty split on the Hart, a large contingent has McDavid leading the league in scoring and Leon Draisaitl winning the goals race. They only played 67 and 71 games, respectively, last season. That didn’t stop Draisaitl from taking the Rocket Richard, but it will be interesting to see if the Edmonton Oilers punt the individual award chases in favor of load-managing their superstars, who, don’t forget, will also be competing at the 2026 Olympics.

– Has the playoff recency bias steered us too far away from Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck? Despite his consecutive Vezina Trophy wins, just one of 10 voters predicts he’ll three-peat. Several of us believe the Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger will capture his first Vezina.

– With Aleksander Barkov out of the equation, four voters have the New Jersey Devils’ Nico Hischier taking the top defensive forward mantle, but several also believe Barkov’s Florida Panthers linemate and 2024-25 Selke Trophy runner-up Sam Reinhart will get his due.

– Shea Theodore, as many Norris votes as Cale Makar? Interesting.

– Most of us believe the Montreal Canadiens will land a second consecutive Calder Trophy, with Ivan Demidov following Lane Hutson.

– Andre Tourigny of the Utah Mammoth received a whopping six votes for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. The Mammoth jumped from 77 to 89 points last season, and many of us expect they’ll earn a playoff berth this time.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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