The 2025-26 NHL season is winding down, but the races for the league's major individual awards are as close as ever. theScore's Michael Bradburn, Kyle Cushman, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman weigh in on who they think will win the Hart, Vezina, Norris, and Calder based on how the campaign has gone so far.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Kucherov has emerged as our favorite, but this race is going to come down to the wire. Three of the game's most dynamic players have legitimate cases. MacKinnon has been in the driver's seat much of the season and is the engine for the league's best team. McDavid is lighting up the stat sheet down the stretch as the current Art Ross leader with Leon Draisaitl out of action. And Kucherov is on a blistering pace for arguably the best team in the East.
Kucherov started the campaign with a modest 16 points in 16 games but has a ridiculous 105 points in 52 contests since. His total and even-strength production over that span leads the NHL and is well clear of McDavid and MacKinnon. It's also worth noting that the Lightning have no shortage of offensive weapons, but Kucherov is 40 points ahead of the next most productive Bolt in six fewer games played.
Vezina Trophy
This could be another close race, but Sorokin has the edge on our ballots as he ranks eighth in save percentage and second in goals saved above expected while leading the league with seven shutouts. As long as the Islanders don't fall out of the playoff race in the final weeks, Sorokin is a lock to be a finalist and likely win the award for the first time in his six-year career.
Though Vasilevskiy has been the steadiest option all season, none of his stats particularly jump off the page. Thompson leads all netminders in GSAx, but goalies rarely win the Vezina without qualifying for the postseason. While Swayman's candidacy will depend on Boston's playoff status as well, there's a case to be made for him being the league's most valuable goalie. He's posted sterling numbers despite facing the third-most shots of any netminder this season and the most expected goals against, per Evolving-Hockey.
Norris Trophy
We have a new leader for the Norris after Makar held the top spot all season. Werenski's role in turning the Blue Jackets into playoff contenders cannot be overstated, and he's going to receive serious consideration after finishing second for the award last year. Columbus' stalwart has leapfrogged Makar in points and ranks second among all blue-liners in average ice time. This vote could be one of the closest in recent memory, but our team is giving Werenski the edge for now.
Dahlin's strong play during Buffalo's in-season transformation from a lottery team to a Cup contender may also yield some votes. The former No. 1 pick is enjoying the best statistical season of his career and is a strong contender to be a finalist over the likes of Hughes and Seider.
Calder Trophy
Schaefer is the unanimous winner for us, and he could receive the same result from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Playing 24 minutes per night against opponents' top competition, the 18-year-old is on the precipice of setting the rookie defenseman goal record.
With all due respect to Sennecke and Demidov, there's a reason this section doesn't have betting odds. Schaefer is a slam dunk.
