The Stanley Cup is by far the most iconic trophy in North American professional sports. Can you even name the trophies given to the winners of the World Series, Super Bowl, or NBA championship series?* Named for Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, the Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893 to Canada’s top amateur team, and professional teams became eligible in 1906. The cup was named the official NHL championship trophy in 1947, and scenes of champions skating around the ice with the gleaming trophy aloft have become a staple in sports photography.
But the Stanley Cup is by no means the only end-of-season trophy awarded by the NHL. The team with the best overall regular season record in the league is awarded the President’s Trophy; conference champions receive the Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern) and the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western); and there is a slew of individual honors. Here are all the ways an NHL player, coach, or general manager can be honored for his performance throughout the season.
*The Commissioner’s Trophy, Vince Lombardi Trophy, and Larry O’Brien Trophy, respectively.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Named for: Cecil Hart, coach of the Montreal Canadiens (1926-39)
Awarded to: The Most Valuable Player of the regular season. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the regular season. Wayne Gretzky received the Hart Memorial Trophy eight years in a row, in a remarkable stretch from 1980-87.
First awarded: 1923
Recent winners:
- 2018: Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
- 2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy
Named for: Conn Smythe, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1927-61)
Awarded to: The Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the Stanley Cup Finals. The only three-time winner is Patrick Roy, goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, who took the prize in 1986, 1993, and 2001. Five players have won the Conn Smythe while playing for the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals.
First awarded: 1965
Recent winners:
- 2018: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- 2017: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2016: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Ted Lindsay Award
Named for: Ted Lindsay, a legendary left wing for the Red Wings (1944-60) and Blackhawks (1964-65), as well as a founding member of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). The award was originally named after the former Canadian Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, but renamed after Lindsay in 2010.
Awarded to: The league’s most outstanding player for the season, as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA. Wayne Gretzky won the award five times during his career, the most of any player.
First awarded: 1972
Recent winners:
- 2018: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Art Ross Trophy
Named for: Art Ross, coach of the Boston Bruins (1924-45)
Awarded to: The player who leads the league in points at the end of the regular season. Wayne Gretzky won the award 10 times during his storied career.
First awarded: 1948
Recent winners:
- 2019: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2018: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Named for: James E. Norris, owner-president of the Detroit Red Wings (1932-52)
Awarded to: The league’s best defenseman. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the regular season. Bobby Orr of the Bruins won the trophy for eight consecutive seasons, from 1968-75.
First awarded: 1954
Recent winners:
- 2018: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2017: Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
- 2016: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Vezina Trophy
Named for: George Vezina, goalkeeper for the Montreal Canadiens, who collapsed during a game in 1925 and died a few months later of tuberculosis
Awarded to: The league’s best goaltender, as voted by the league’s general managers. Jacques Plante of the Canadiens won the trophy seven times between 1956 and 1962.
First awarded: 1927
Recent winners:
- 2018: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
- 2017: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2016: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
William M. Jennings Trophy
Named for: William M. Jennings, president of the New York Rangers from 1962-81
Awarded to: The goaltender(s) on the team that conceded the fewest goals during the regular season. A goalie must have played in at least 25 games to qualify.
First awarded: 1982
Recent winners:
- 2018: Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, New York Islanders
- 2017: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
- 2016: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Calder Memorial Trophy
Named for: Frank Calder, NHL president from 1917-43
Awarded to: The NHL Rookie of the Year. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the regular season. The team with the most Calder recipients is the Toronto Maple Leafs, with 10.
First awarded: 1933
Recent winners:
- 2018: Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
- 2017: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 2016: Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Named for: Marie Evelyn Moreton Byng, wife of Julian Byng, Governor General of Canada (1921-26)
Awarded to: “[T]he player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the regular season. Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times from 1927-35.
First awarded: 1925
Recent winners:
- 2018: William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017: Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
- 2016: Anže Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Named for: Frank J. Selke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1929-46) and Montreal Canadiens (1946-64)
Awarded to: “[T]he forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the winner at the end of the regular season. Bob Gainey of the Canadiens and Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins are the only four-time winners.
First awarded: 1978
Recent winners:
- 2018: Anže Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
- 2017: Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
- 2016: Anže Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Maurice Richard Trophy
Named for: Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the first player to score 50 goals in one season (1944-45) and first to reach 500 career goals
Awarded to: The player who scores the most goals during the regular season. The award was first given in 1999, and Alex Ovechkin has won it eight times, between 2007 and 2019.
First awarded: 1999
Recent winners:
- 2019: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- 2018: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- 2017: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2016: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
Named for: Francis M. “King” Clancy, a former Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs player, as well as an NHL referee, coach, and general manager
Awarded to: “[T]he player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and the NHL Broadcasters’ Association cast votes at the end of the regular season. Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks is the only two-time winner (2016 and 2018).
First awarded: 1988
Recent winners:
- 2018: Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
- 2017: Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2016: Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award
Named for: Mark Messier, six-time Stanley Cup Winner with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers
Awarded to: “[T]he player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” Fans, teams, and NHL personnel nominate players, and Messier chooses the award winner.
First awarded: 2007
Recent winners:
- 2018: Deryk Engelland, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017: Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2016: Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Named for: Bill Masterton, who played for the Minnesota North Stars and died in 1968 from a head injury sustained during a game
Awarded to: “[T]he National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote at the end of the regular season.
First awarded: 1968
Recent winners:
- 2018: Brian Boyle, New Jersey Devils
- 2017: Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators
- 2016: Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers
Jack Adams Award
Named for: Jack Adams, coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings (1924-1947, general manager until 1962)
Awarded to: The most valuable NHL coach. Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association vote at the end of the regular season. The only coach to win the award with three different teams is Pat Burns, who led the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Bruins.
First awarded: 1974
Recent winners:
- 2018: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2016: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
General Manager of the Year
Awarded to: The most valuable NHL general manager. All the league’s GMs, a panel of NHL executives, and members of the sports media vote at the end of the regular season
First awarded: 2010
Recent winners:
- 2018: George McPhee, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017: David Poile, Nashville Predators
- 2016: Jim Rutherford, Pittsburgh Penguins