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With the NHL playoffs in full swing, so too come the award nominees, handed out to the league's best overall and most influential off the ice.
Finalists are being released for 10 major awards beginning Tuesday, April 28 and stretching through May 11. The winners are typically announced after the season concludes.
With several shake-ups at the top this year's standings and some notable injuries, these award races are sure to be interesting as the playoffs continue.
Here are the finalists as each category is officially announced.
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2026 NHL Award finalists
Ted Lindsay Award
Finalists
- Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks
- Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
The finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award were announced on Tuesday, April 28. The award goes to the league's most outstanding player of the season, voted on by the NHLPA.
The Lightning's Nikita Kucherov took home the award in 2025.
The Ted Lindsay Award finalists are here! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA. pic.twitter.com/Nq7SeY7SDK
Vezina Trophy
Finalists
- Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders
- Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
The finalists for the Vezina Trophy will be announced on Wednesday, April 29. The award goes to the league's top goaltender of the season.
— NHL (@NHL) June 6, 2026Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Finalists
- Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens
- Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
- Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators
The finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy will be announced on Thursday, April 30. This award is given for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
Last year, Anze Kopitar of the Kings won the honor ahead of his last NHL season.
2026 Lady Byng Trophy finalists, as voted by @ThePHWA: Cole Caufield (MTL), Anze Kopitar (LAK) and Jake Sanderson (OTT). pic.twitter.com/LPnpIiAJke
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 30, 2026Jack Adams Award
Finalists
- Jon Cooper, head coach, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Dan Muse, head coach, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Lindy Ruff, head coach, Buffalo Sabres
The finalists for the Jack Adams Award were announced on Friday, May 1. The award honors the coach who has "contributed the most to his team’s success."
Jon Cooper’s winning margin (three voting points) for his first Jack Adams was the second-narrowest all-time, behind the one-point win by Lindy Ruff over Peter Laviolette in 2005-06. #NHLStats #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/fjBRKc5hqh
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 3, 2026Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy
Finalists
- Rasmus Dahlin, D, Sabres
- Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Avalanche
- Jonathan Toews, C, Jets
The finalists for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy were announced on Monday, May 4. The award goes to the player who most embodied perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.
Here are the finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 🏆 #NHLAwards
The Trophy is awarded annually by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. pic.twitter.com/i01Cc6Sh4H
Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan won the award in 2025.
Calder Memorial Trophy
Finalists
- Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NY Islanders
- Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim D
The finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy were announced on Tuesday, May 5. This award goes to the best rookie of the 2025-26 NHL season.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 13, 2026NHL awards 2026: Updated list of finalists for the Hart,
Last year's winner was Lane Hutson, the Montreal Canadiens' defenseman.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Finalists
- Anthony Cirelli, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche
- Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
The finalists for the Selke Trophy were announced on Wednesday, May 6. The award is given to the "forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game."
Panthers' captain Aleksander Barkov won his second Selke in a row in 2025.
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Finalists
- Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
- Cole Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
- Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
The finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy were announced on Thursday, May 7. The award is given to the top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability" over the course of a given season.
Makar took home the prize in 2025, his second career Norris Trophy.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Finalists
- Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
- Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
The finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy were announced on Friday, May 8. This award is the NHL's MVP award, given to the league's most valuable player.
Connor Hellebuyck won this award in 2025, the first of his career.
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award
Finalists
- Bill Guerin, Minnesota Wild
- Chris MacFarland, Colorado Avalanche
- Pat Verbeek, Anaheim Ducks
Your 2025-26 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, an award that should be renamed for Lou Lamoriello.
Kevyn Adams was robbed! pic.twitter.com/z5Jf2mZQrB
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