The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players. The oldest, and most recognizable, is the Stanley Cup. 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 Cup, which was created by the National Hockey Association in 1910 and transferred to the NHL in 1918, after which it was awarded to the playoff champion until 1923.[2] The O'Brien Cup 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 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 youngest team trophy is the Presidents' Trophy, which has been awarded to the NHL's regular season champion since 1986.
The first individual trophy was the Hart Trophy, first awarded in 1924 to the league's most valuable player. The Lady Byng Trophy followed a year later, awarded to the most gentlemanly player in the league. Two years later, the Vezina Trophy was created for the NHL's top goaltender. The Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded to the NHL's playoff most valuable player in 1965. Presently, the NHL has 18 annual individual trophies and awards, the most recently created being the Mark Messier Leadership Award, first awarded in 2007, and the NHL General Manager of the Year Award which was inaugurated in 2010.
Out of the original individual NHL trophies that were awarded prior to expansion (which would be followed by the creation of more individual awards), several players are tied with three awards in the same season. Stan Mikita won the Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophies, doing so consecutively in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons.[3] Guy LaFleur and Wayne Gretzky have each won the Art Ross, Hart, and Conn Smythe trophies, as well as the Cup, in 1976-77 and 1984-85, respectively. Bobby Orr won the Hart, Norris, and Conn Smythe trophies, along with the Stanley Cup, in 1969–70 and 1971-72. In 1970, Orr also won the Art Ross which makes him the only player to capture four original NHL awards in a single season (Orr also earned a NHL First Team selection, and the only honor which he was eligible for but did not win was the Lady Byng due to his physical style of play).[4][5]
In addition, the First and Second All-Star Teams have been named since the 1930–31 NHL season to honor the best performers over the season at each position, as well as the NHL All-Rookie Team from 1983 onwards.
Most of the individual trophies and all-star selections are presented at an annual awards ceremony held in late June after the conclusion of the playoffs.
| Image | Award | Created | Description | Current holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Cup | 1893 | Awarded to the NHL playoff champion since 1927. Previously it was a challenge cup (1893–1914) and then an interleague championship trophy (1915–1926)[6] | Boston Bruins (2010–2011) | |
| Prince of Wales Trophy | 1925 | Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion, since 1994. Previously awarded as the NHL playoff championship (1924–1927), the American Division Champion (1928–1938), the regular season championship (1939–1967), East Division championship (1968–1974) and Wales Conference championship (1975–1993)[7] It was first awarded to the winner of the first game in Madison Square Garden in 1925.[8] | Boston Bruins (2010–2011) | |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl | 1968 | Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion, since 1994. Previously awarded as the West Division title (1968–1974) and Campbell Conference championship (1975–1993)[9] | Vancouver Canucks (2010–2011) | |
| Presidents' Trophy | 1986 | Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points)[10] | Vancouver Canucks (2010–2011) | |
| O'Brien Trophy | 1910 | Awarded by the National Hockey Association (1910–1917) and NHL (1918–1927) to the league playoff champion, Canadian Division regular season champion (1928–1938), and Stanley Cup runner-up (1939–1950)[2] | Retired in 1950
Last winner: New York Rangers |
| Image | Award | Created | Description | Current holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 1924 | Awarded to the league's most valuable player[11] | Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks |
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| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy | 1925 | Awarded to the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability[12] | Martin St. Louis Tampa Bay Lightning |
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| Vezina Trophy | 1927 | Awarded to the league's top goaltender[13] | Tim Thomas Boston Bruins |
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| Calder Memorial Trophy | 1937 | Awarded to the league's most outstanding rookie player[14] | Jeff Skinner Carolina Hurricanes |
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| Art Ross Trophy | 1948 | Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season[15] | Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks |
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| James Norris Memorial Trophy | 1954 | Awarded to the defenceman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position[16] | Nicklas Lidström Detroit Red Wings |
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| Conn Smythe Trophy | 1965 | Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs[17] | Tim Thomas Boston Bruins |
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| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy | 1968 | Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey[18] | Ian Laperriere Philadelphia Flyers |
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| Ted Lindsay Award | 1971 | Awarded to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association[19] | Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks |
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| Jack Adams Award | 1974 | Awarded to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success[20] | Dan Bylsma Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Frank J. Selke Trophy | 1978 | Awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game[21] | Ryan Kesler Vancouver Canucks |
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| 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[22] | Roberto Luongo Cory Schneider Vancouver Canucks |
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| NHL Plus-Minus Award | 1983 | Awarded to the player with the highest plus/minus statistic in the regular season[23] | Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins |
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| 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[24] | Doug Weight New York Islanders |
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| 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[25] | Dustin Brown Los Angeles Kings |
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| Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy | 1999 | Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season[25] | Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks |
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| 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[26][27] | Tim Thomas Boston Bruins |
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| 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 (Awarded by Mark Messier, himself)[28] | Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins |
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| NHL General Manager of the Year Award | 2010 | Awarded to the top National Hockey League General Manager[29] | Mike Gillis Vancouver Canucks |
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. It was awarded to Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche in 2004 and not subsequently.
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