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Hellebuyck Was My Choice For NHL MVP. Who Was Yours?

2025 NHL MVP & Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) fends off Seattle's Shane Wright. - James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

As a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association, I was privileged to be asked to nominate NHL players in certain awards categories for the 2024-25 season. My task was to select a top five for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Lady Byng and Selke Trophies, plus the All Star 1st Team and All-Rookie team.

Now that the winners are known, see how my choices matched up with yours and with the eventual selections (in bold italics).

HART TROPHY – Most valuable player to his team.

  1. Connor Hellebuyck
  2. Nikita Kucherov
  3. Leon Draisaitl
  4. Nathan MacKinnon
  5. Alex Ovechkin

NORRIS TROPHY – Top defenseman with greatest all-around ability.

  1. Cale Makar
  2. Josh Morrissey
  3. Zach Werenski
  4. Jake Sanderson
  5. Lane Hutson

CALDER TROPHY – Most proficient in his first year of competition.

  1. Macklin Celebrini
  2. Lane Hutson
  3. Matvei Michkov
  4. Logan Stankoven
  5. Dustin Wolf

LADY BYNG TROPHY – Sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with high standard of playing ability. (The winner was Anze Kopitar.)

  1. Brayden Point
  2. Jack Eichel
  3. Nick Suzuki
  4. Frederick Gaudreau
  5. Colton Parayko

SELKE TROPHY – Forward with most skill in defensive component.

  1. Aleksander Barkov
  2. Adam Lowry
  3. Mitch Marner
  4. Nico Hischier
  5. Anthony Cirelli

NHL ALL-STAR TEAM – Best players at each position.

Center

  1. Nathan MacKinnon
  2. Leon Draisaitl
  3. Jack Eichel

Right Wing

  1. Nikita Kucherov
  2. William Nylander
  3. David Pastrnak

Left Wing

  1. Alex Ovechkin
  2. Kyle Connor
  3. Jesper Bratt

Defense

  1. Cale Makar
  2. Josh Morrissey
  3. Zach Werenski
  4. Jake Sanderson
  5. Lane Hutson
  6. Quinn Hughes

Goaltender

  1. Connor Hellebuyck
  2. Darcy Kuemper
  3. Logan Thompson

NHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM – Best rookies at each position

Forward – Regardless of position

  1. Macklin Celebrini
  2. Matvei Michkov
  3. Logan Stankoven (the other forward was Cutter Gauthier)

Defense

  1. Lane Hutson
  2. Denton Mateychuk

Goaltender

  1. Dustin Wolf

Talking Points