Superlative awards for the 2024-25 NHL season

The NHL has handed out all the official hardware for the 2024-25 season. While congratulations are in order for the players and teams who brought home a real trophy, we're here to continue our annual tradition of assigning superlative honors to reflect on the season that was.

Let's dive in.

Best fit with new team 🏆

Nominees: Logan Thompson (Capitals), Dylan Holloway (Blues), Brad Marchand (Panthers)

Thompson played a significant role in the Capitals' resurgence this season, winning 31 of 43 starts with a .910 save percentage. He parlayed his strong campaign into a six-year extension. The Blues poaching Holloway from the Oilers was a home run, as he registered a career-high 63 points to help St. Louis to an unexpected playoff berth. Marchand only played 10 regular-season games for the Panthers, but he proved his worth in the playoffs.

And the winner is: Marchand. Small sample size be damned, Marchand transitioned seamlessly into being a Panther and was a legitimate Conn Smythe candidate after 20 playoff points en route to his second Stanley Cup. The championship easily outweighs the strong regular seasons of the other candidates.

Best platform year 🏆

Nominees: Sam Bennett (Panthers), Evan Bouchard (Oilers), Morgan Geekie (Bruins)

The free-agent market is thin this summer, but these three players are poised for big raises after strong campaigns. Bennett notched a career-high 51 points in the regular season before winning the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, and he could command a huge cap hit if he tests the open market. Bouchard is a restricted free agent but will likely be paid among the league's top defensemen after recording 90 points between the regular season and playoffs. Geekie is also an RFA. However, he's fresh off a breakout 33-goal campaign, which came as a huge bargain for the Bruins considering his $2-million cap hit.

And the winner is: Bennett. The Panthers just can't stop winning these days, can they? Even though it seems like Bennett will stay in Florida for less than he could get on the market, no player did more for their stock this season.

Biggest playoff disappointment 🏆

Nominees: Connor Hellebuyck (Jets), Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), Nikita Kucherov (Lightning)

Here, we have a trio of superstars who failed to show up when it mattered most. After his MVP-worthy regular season, Hellebuyck posted an .866 save percentage in 13 playoff games, continuing a troubling trend over the past three years. He went 6-7 overall, but his struggles were dumbfounding. Matthews, a three-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner, scored only three goals in 13 playoff games this spring, including a single tally in the second round. Kucherov failed to score in the first round as the Lightning got waxed by the Panthers for the second year in a row.

And the winner is: Matthews. This was a close one, but Matthews' underwhelming playoff came after a disappointing regular season, too. He was clearly injured but managed a modest 33 goals and never found the extra gear that many expected to see this postseason.

Breakout player of the year 🏆

Nominees: Aliaksei Protas (Capitals), Kirill Marchenko (Blue Jackets), Thomas Harley (Stars)

Protas emerged as an indispensable piece of Washington's offense this campaign, erupting for 30 goals in 76 games after managing only 13 tallies over the first three years of his career. He's a unicorn at 6-foot-6 with elite hockey sense. Marchenko has been on the precipice of becoming a star for a few years, but he put it all together in 2024-25 with a 74-point campaign. Of his 31 goals, 29 came at even strength. Dallas tasked Harley with becoming its No. 1 defenseman after Miro Heiskanen was hurt, and he thrived with 50 points in 78 contests. Harley also fit seamlessly on Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off as an injury replacement to help his coming-out party.

And the winner is: Harley. Another close one, but Harley appears well on his way to becoming one of the best in his league at his position. Protas and Marchenko aren't quite at that level yet.

Sneakiest superstar 🏆

Nominees: Jake Sanderson (Senators), Brandon Hagel (Lightning), JJ Peterka (Sabres)

Fresh off producing a 57-point campaign while averaging more than 24 minutes per night, Sanderson has evolved into the No. 1 defenseman Ottawa envisioned when it drafted him fifth overall in 2020. Hagel placed 12th in league scoring with 90 points, outperforming superstar teammates Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. Peterka ripped 27 goals and was the league's fourth-best creator of even-strength offense according to Evolving-Hockey's goals above replacement metric.

And the winner is: Hagel. He's been recognized as an effective forward for a few years, but his elite campaign flew under the radar as it happened. He earned some praise when the season ended by finishing top 10 in Selke Trophy voting and earning a second-team All-Star nomination.

Messiest coach firing 🏆

Nominees: John Tortorella (Flyers), Pete DeBoer (Stars), Jim Montgomery (Bruins)

NHL coaches routinely get fired every season, but a few stood out this year. Philadelphia let Tortorella go days after he reacted to a blowout loss by proclaiming he was no longer interested in coaching a rebuild. DeBoer led the Stars to three consecutive Western Conference Final appearances. However, he drew heaps of criticism for his comments about goaltender Jake Oettinger after this year's loss. Boston cut ties with Montgomery after a rough start to the season. The Blues immediately scooped him up, and he led them to the playoffs while the Bruins missed out.

And the winner is: DeBoer. The stakes were the highest for the former Dallas coach, and he made a huge mess on his way out. Controversially pulling Oettinger early in an elimination game and calling him out afterward is an easy way to burn bridges within an organization.

Most dramatic saga 🏆

Nominees: Elias Pettersson-J.T. Miller feud, Jeremy Swayman's holdout, Mikko Rantanen traded twice

No hockey season is complete without drama, and this year had plenty. Pettersson and Miller's problems with each other completely derailed Vancouver's campaign and led to the latter being traded. Swayman held out of training camp and signed a long-term deal in the end, but the goalie and the Bruins' front office exchanged public shots as negotiations lingered. And while Rantanen's first trade was a shocker, the buzz around him being flipped again was unequivocally the top story of deadline season.

And the winner is: Pettersson and Miller, easily. Nothing went right for the Canucks in 2024-25, but having to choose between two franchise players who can't get along was childish. Both players, the front office, the former head coach, and captain Quinn Hughes all had to address the issue publicly at different points as losses continued to pile up. The saga wasn't unprecedented, but we're unlikely to see one get as ugly as that again anytime soon.

Most memorable feat 🏆

Nominees: Alex Ovechkin's 895th goal, Crosby's point-per-game streak, McDavid's 1,000th point

Ovechkin's season-long pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record came to an end April 6, and the electrifying race had hockey fans glued to their screens in amazement. Crosby topped a different feat performed by The Great One, setting a new benchmark with 20 straight seasons recording over a point per game. Lastly, McDavid became the fourth-fastest player in league history to reach 1,000 points.

And the winner is: Ovechkin, come on. This one is as easy as it gets. Ovi's record wasn't just one of the best moments of the season, it was one of the biggest in league history.