NHL Predictions | Who gets the honors?

Our experts get wet and reveal their favorite for the different NHL trophies.


Posted at 1:17 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

Coupe Stanley

Mathias Brunet : Edmonton Oilers. After participating in the final, the Oilers and Connor McDavid, this time, will get their hands on this precious trophy.

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Edmonton Oilers. My answer here is the same as last year. I really thought until the end that they would make it. This year will be the good one.

Richard Labbé: Edmonton Oilers. They’re not going to miss this time.

Guillaume Lefrançois: Dallas Stars. A mature team that gently integrates new faces.

Simon-Olivier Lorange: New Jersey Devils. With a strengthened defense and finally a top goaltender, the Devils represent in my eyes the most balanced team in the East, perhaps even in the NHL.

Alexandre Pratt : Dallas Stars. It was my choice last season, and I’m keeping it this year. The most complete and best balanced team in the league.

Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player)

Mathias Brunet : Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers. McDavid will win this trophy, which escaped him last year after a season lower than the previous one, although 132 points…

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche. Why not a two for two for the Avalanche captain?

Richard Labbé: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers. It’s crazy to think that, but at 27, he’s entering the best years of his career.

Guillaume Lefrançois: Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils. The Devils will bounce back and it will revolve around Hughes.

PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE

Jack Hughes

Simon-Olivier Lorange: Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils. I’m repeating my choice from last year. If his health is good, and if the Devils finish at the top of their division, he will be a prime candidate.

Alexandre Pratt : Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers. Do you really need explanations?

Norris Trophy (best defender)

Mathias Brunet : Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche. They will fight for the next decade, but Cale Makar will win this time over Quinn Hughes.

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers. After blossoming last season, the 24-year-old defender will continue in the same vein this year. Let’s not forget that he plays with Connor McDavid on the power play…

Richard Labbé: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche. Can he do better than his 90-point season, successful last year? Yes, he can.

PHOTO RON CHENOY, ARCHIVES USA TODAY SPORTS

Kale Makar

Guillaume Lefrançois: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks. Big harvest expected for the Hughes family. He will become the first since Nicklas Lidström to win the Norris two years in a row.

Simon-Olivier Lorange: Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers. The Norris Trophy rewards offensive production. It’s hard not to favor Bouchard, a point machine last season. The Oilers power play will be ridiculously powerful.

Alexandre Pratt : Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche. Finalist for the last four seasons, he has just had his most productive season, with 90 points.

Vezina Trophy (best goalie)

Mathias Brunet : Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers. After a less accomplished season by his own standards, Shesterkin will win this trophy for the second time in his career, after 2022.

PHOTO PAMELA SMITH, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

Igor Shesterkin

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers. In his final year of contract, Shersterkin will want to have another solid season. He was excellent in the playoffs, and we should expect another long playoff run for the Rangers.

Richard Labbé: Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars. It will be his turn one day.

Guillaume Lefrançois: Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils. Behind a reinvigorated Devils, he will return to the top of his game.

Simon-Olivier Lorange: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning. In a defining season for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the King will want to return to his throne. It’s due, as they say.

Alexandre Pratt : Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers. One of the best goalkeepers in the world who is finishing his last year of contract, in a good team. A winning trio.

Calder Trophy (Outstanding Rookie)

Mathias Brunet : Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens. There will be some great candidates, but Lane Hutson will shake up the hockey world and beat Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith to the finish line!

PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES

Lane Hutson

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Logan Stankoven, Dallas Stars. Stankoven played 24 season games with the Dallas Stars last year and recorded 14 points. In the playoffs, the small and intelligent forward added 8 points in 19 games. He remains eligible for the Calder Trophy this season.

Richard Labbé: Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim Ducks. There will be competition for this trophy, but Gauthier will surprise us.

Guillaume Lefrançois: Logan Stankoven, Dallas Stars. With an important role in a dangerous attack, he will rack up the points.

Simon-Olivier Lorange : Logan Stankoven, Dallas Stars. At 21, he is a bit older than the players in the last two drafts. Above all, he showed last year that he can already have an impact in the NHL. And he will be better supported than his main competitors.

Alexandre Pratt : Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers. What do the last 15 winners of the trophy have in common? They all played a lot on the power play. Michkov will load up on points with the Flyers’ first unit.

Maurice-Richard Trophy (best scorer)

Mathias Brunet : Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers. Conor McDavid will not let Auston Matthews win two years in a row and will even reach the 70 goal mark.

Katherine Harvey-Pinard : Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. The new Maple Leafs captain may not reach the 70-goal mark, but he will still be the top scorer of the season. He will score 7 more than his closest pursuer, well.

Richard Labbé: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche. He’s coming back from a 51-goal season, and he’s fully capable of doing even better.

Guillaume Lefrançois: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. You can’t persist with 69 goals. You can’t.

PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE

Auston Matthews

Simon-Olivier Lorange: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. He has scored 169 goals in his last 228 games, and around him, the Maple Leafs offense will still be dangerous. He seems in a class of his own.

Alexandre Pratt : Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. His 210 goals over the last four seasons are a league high, far, far ahead of his closest pursuer, Leon Draisaitl, at 179.

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