The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The oldest, and most recognizable, is the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion First awarded in 1893, the Stanley Cup is awarded to the NHL's playoff champion. The Stanley Cup is the third trophy to be used as the league's championship, as for the first nine years of the NHL's existence, it remained a multi-league challenge cup. [1]
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The NHL's first championship trophy was the O'Brien Trophy, which was created by the National Hockey Association in 1910 and was acquired by the NHL in 1918, after which it was awarded to the playoff champion until 1923. The O'Brien Trophy, or "O'Brien Cup" as labelled on the trophy itself is a retired trophy that was awarded in the National Hockey Association (NHA and the National The National Hockey Association (NHA(officially the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited) was a professional Ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario [2] The O'Brien Trophy was retired in favour of the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1924, which became the league's championship until the demise of the Western Hockey League following the 1926 season, leaving the Stanley Cup exclusively in the hands of the National Hockey League. The Prince of Wales Trophy, or simply the Wales Trophy, is a National Hockey League (NHL trophy awarded to the Eastern Conference (formerly The Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL, founded in 1921, was a major professional Ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada
The Prince of Wales Trophy remains an active award. It is presently awarded to the playoff champion of the Eastern Conference, while the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, created in 1967, is currently awarded to the Western Conference champion. The Eastern Conference (Conférence de l'Est is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League (NHL used to divide teams The Clarence S Campbell Bowl, or the Campbell Trophy, is a National Hockey League trophy awarded to the Western Conference playoff champions The youngest team trophy is the Presidents' Trophy, which has been awarded to the NHL's regular season champion since 1986. The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular
The first individual trophy was the Hart Trophy, first awarded in 1924 to the league's most valuable player. The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey" is awarded annually to the The Lady Byng Trophy followed a year later, awarded to the most gentlemanly player in the league. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited Two years later, the Vezina Trophy was created for the NHL's top goaltender. The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's Goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position" The Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded to the NHL's playoff most valuable player in 1965. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League 's Stanley Cup playoffs Presently, the NHL has 17 annual individual trophies and awards, the most recently created being the Mark Messier Leadership Award, first awarded in 2007. The Mark Messier Leadership Award recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport and as a contributing member of society
| Award | Created | Description | Current holder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Cup | 1893 | Awarded to the NHL playoff champion since 1927. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion Previously it was a challenge cup (1893-1914) and then an interleague championship trophy (1915-1926)[3] | Detroit Red Wings | |
| Prince of Wales Trophy | 1924 | Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion, since 1994. This is a list of Stanley Cup Challenge Games from 1894 to 1914 The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Prince of Wales Trophy, or simply the Wales Trophy, is a National Hockey League (NHL trophy awarded to the Eastern Conference (formerly The 1923–24 NHL season was the seventh season of the National Hockey League. The Eastern Conference (Conférence de l'Est is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League (NHL used to divide teams Previously awarded as the NHL playoff championship (1924-1926), the regular season championship (1927, 1939-1967), the American Division championship (1928-1938), East Division championship (1968-1974) and Wales Conference championship (1975-1993)[4] | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl | 1968 | Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion, since 1994. The Eastern Conference (Conférence de l'Est is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League (NHL used to divide teams The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Clarence S Campbell Bowl, or the Campbell Trophy, is a National Hockey League trophy awarded to the Western Conference playoff champions The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. Previously awarded as the West Division title (1968-1974) and Campbell Conference championship (1975-1993)[5] | Detroit Red Wings | |
| Presidents' Trophy | 1986 | Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points)[6] | Detroit Red Wings | |
| O'Brien Trophy | 1910 | Awarded by the National Hockey Association (1910-1917) and NHL (1918-1923) to the league playoff champion, Canadian Division regular season champion (1927-1938), and Stanley Cup runner-up (1939-1950)[2] | Retired in 1950 |
| Image | Award | Created | Description | Current holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 1924 | Awarded to the league's most valuable player[7] | Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy | 1925 | Awarded to the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability[8] | Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings | |
| Vezina Trophy | 1927 | Awarded to the league's top goaltender[9] | Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils | |
| Calder Memorial Trophy | 1937 | Awarded to the league's most outstanding rookie player[10] | Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| Art Ross Trophy | 1948 | Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season[11] | Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals | |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy | 1954 | Awarded to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position[12] | Nicklas Lidström Detroit Red Wings | |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 1965 | Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs[13] | Henrik Zetterberg Detroit Red Wings | |
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy | 1968 | Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey[14] | Phil Kessel Boston Bruins | |
| Lester B. Pearson Award | 1971 | Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association[15] | Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| Jack Adams Award | 1974 | Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success[16] | Alain Vigneault Vancouver Canucks | |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy | 1978 | Awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game[17] | Rod Brind'Amour Carolina Hurricanes | |
| William M. Jennings Trophy | 1982 | Awarded to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it in the regular season[18] | Dominik Hasek & Chris Osgood Detroit Red Wings | |
| NHL Plus/Minus Award | 1983 | Awarded to the player with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season[19] | Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings | |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy | 1988 | Awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community[20] | Saku Koivu Montreal Canadiens | |
| NHL Foundation Player Award | 1998 | Awarded to the player who applies the core values of hockey to enrich the lives of people in his community[21] | Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche | |
| Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy | 1999 | Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season[22] | Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals | |
| Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award | 2000 | Awarded to the goaltender who has played a minimum of 25 games in the regular season and has the highest save percentage[23][24] | Dan Ellis Nashville Predators | |
| Mark Messier Leadership Award | 2007 | Awarded to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season[25] | Mats Sundin Toronto Maple Leafs |
The league has also given some ephemeral awards over the years, including the NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award Winner, to be awarded to the player who accrued the most road points during the regular season. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular The 1985–86 NHL season was the 69th season of the National Hockey League. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The O'Brien Trophy, or "O'Brien Cup" as labelled on the trophy itself is a retired trophy that was awarded in the National Hockey Association (NHA and the National The 1910 NHA season was the first season of the National Hockey Association men's Ice hockey league The National Hockey Association (NHA(officially the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited) was a professional Ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario The 1950–51 NHL season was the 34th season of the National Hockey League. The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey" is awarded annually to the The 1923–24 NHL season was the seventh season of the National Hockey League. Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7 1987 is a Canadian professional Ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited The 1924–25 NHL season was the eighth season of the National Hockey League. Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk (Па́вел Вале́рьевич Дацю́к (born July 20 1978, in Sverdlovsk, USSR) is a Russian The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's Goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position" The 1926–27 NHL season was the tenth season of the National Hockey League. This article is about the goaltender in Ice hockey. For the similar position in other sports see Goalkeeper. Martin Pierre Brodeur (born May 6 1972 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire The New Jersey Devils are a professional Ice hockey team based in Newark New Jersey. The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League The 1936–37 NHL season was the 20th season of the National Hockey League (NHL Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin (Евгений Влади́мирович Малкин Jevgenij Vladimirovich Malkin, also popularly known as "Geno", The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season The 1947–48 NHL season was the 31st season of the National Hockey League. Point in Ice hockey has two official meanings A point is given to a player who either scores a goal or earns an assist during a game Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin ( AmE ˈælɪgˌzændɚ oˈvɛtʃ For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's top " defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round The 1953–54 NHL season was the 37th season of the National Hockey League. Defence ( defense in the USA in Ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. Nicklas Erik Lidström (born April 28, 1970 in Västerås) is a Swedish professional Ice hockey defenceman who has The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League 's Stanley Cup playoffs The 1964–65 NHL season was the 48th season of the National Hockey League. Henrik Zetterberg (born October 9, 1980, in Njurunda, Sweden) is a Swedish professional Ice hockey player The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance sportsmanship and dedication The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. Philip Joseph Kessel Jr (born October 2 1987, Madison, Wisconsin) is an American professional Ice hockey forward The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. The Lester B Pearson Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association The 1970–71 NHL season was the 54th season of the National Hockey League. Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7 1987 is a Canadian professional Ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success The 1973–74 NHL season was the 57th season of the National Hockey League. Coach in Ice hockey refers to a Head coach or an assistant coach given the responsibility of organizing player offense and defense. Alain Vigneault (b May 14, 1961 in Quebec City Quebec) is a Canadian Hockey coach, as well as a former professional hockey The Vancouver Canucks are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Frank J Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game The 1977–78 NHL season was the 61st season of the National Hockey League. Rod Jean Brind'Amour (born August 9, 1970 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey forward and team The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The William M Jennings Trophy is an annual award given to "to the goalkeeper(s having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it The 1981–82 NHL season was the 65th season of the National Hockey League. Dominik Hašek (ˈdomɪnɪk ˈɦaʃɛk in Czech born January 29 1965 is a Czech retired Ice hockey Goaltender. Christopher John Osgood (born November 26, 1972 in Peace River Alberta) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey Goaltender The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The NHL Plus-Minus Award is a trophy awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the Ice hockey "player having played a minimum of 60 games who leads The 1982–83 NHL season was the 66th season of the National Hockey League. Plus/minus is an Ice hockey Statistic that measures the team goal differential when a specific player is on the ice Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk (Па́вел Вале́рьевич Дацю́к (born July 20 1978, in Sverdlovsk, USSR) is a Russian The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant The 1987–88 NHL season was the 71st season of the National Hockey League. Saku Antero Koivu (born November 23 1974 in Crazytown) is a So-called Ice hockey player who currently plays center for the Montreal Suck-adiens The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The NHL Foundation Player Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player "who applies the core values of hockey – commitment perseverance and teamwork The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st Regular season of the National Hockey League. Joseph Steve Sakic (ˈsɑːkɨk (born July 7 1969 in Burnaby, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, who has The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, also known as the Maurice Richard Trophy is awarded annually to the leading goal scorer in the National Hockey League The 1998–99 NHL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Hockey League. A goal in Ice hockey provides a team with one point A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame Method of scoring Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin ( AmE ˈælɪgˌzændɚ oˈvɛtʃ For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, also known as the MBNA/Mastercard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award is awarded annually to the Goaltender that has played a minimum The 1999–2000 NHL season was the 83rd Regular season of the National Hockey League. Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVP, PCT) is an Ice hockey and Lacrosse Statistic that represents Dan Ellis (born June 19, 1980 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada) is a professional Ice hockey Goaltender currently The Nashville Predators are a professional Ice hockey team based in Nashville Tennessee. The Mark Messier Leadership Award recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport and as a contributing member of society The 2006–07 NHL season was the 89th Regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL Mats Johan Sundin (born February 13, 1971) is a Swedish professional Ice hockey player who most recently played for the Toronto Maple Leafs "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St It was awarded to Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche in 2004 and not subsequently. Joseph Steve Sakic (ˈsɑːkɨk (born July 7 1969 in Burnaby, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, who has The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The 2003–04 NHL season was the 87th Regular season of the National Hockey League.