With the puck dropping on the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday, here is a look at my unofficial awards for the 2022-2023 NHL season.
HART TROPHY
1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton
Let’s start with an easy one. McDavid became the first player to surpass the 150-point plateau since Mario Lemieux produced 161 points in 1995-1996. Critics might point to McDavid’s 71 power play points (also the most since Lemieux in 1995-1996) but he was the driving force behind an insanely productive power play and that should not be held against him. This was such a dominant season that voting for McDavid’s third Hart Trophy should be unanimous.
2. Matthew Tkachuk, RW, Florida
If there was any idea that Tkachuk’s outstanding 2021-2022 season was a product of his linemates in Calgary, that was dispelled by his spectacular first season in Florida. He scored 40 goals, 109 points, and had ridiculously dominant shot and goal differentials that helped lift the Panthers into the playoffs.
3. Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas
The Stars power forward has been on a steady ascent early in his career and there was a time early in the season that it looked like he could contend for the award, scoring 21 goals in an 18-game span, and while that was obviously not a sustainable level of production, he still finished the season with 46 goals and 109 points. The Stars outscored opponents 90-51 (63.8 GF%) at even strength with Robertson on the ice.
4. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado
Even though he missed 11 games, MacKinnon still finished with 42 goals and 111 points, both of which were career highs. He scored 29 goals and 57 points, with 174 shots on goal, in 34 games after the All-Star break, lifting the Avalanche to the Central Division crown.
5. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston
The 26-year-old sniper is a premier goal scorer who was turned loose by the Bruins, scoring a career high 61 goals, including 43 at even strength, while leading the NHL with 407 shots on goal. While the Bruins have a solid team throughout, Pastrnak’s ability as a game-breaking offensive talent played a big part in their record-setting season.
6. Erik Karlsson, D, San Jose
7. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton
8. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto
9. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver
10. Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo
NORRIS TROPHY
1. Erik Karlsson, San Jose
For all his defensive shortcomings, Karlsson just had a 101-point season for a Sharks team that offered little help. It was the highest point total by a defenseman since Brian Leetch had 102 points in 1991-1992. He looked like vintage Karlsson a lot of the time, skating better than he has in years, and driving play for a team that was not positioned to support him. It was good enough to land his third Norris Trophy and first since 2014-2015.
2. Adam Fox, N.Y. Rangers
The winner of the 2020-2021 Norris Trophy had an outstanding season for the Rangers, producing 72 points with dominant possession numbers. He has quickly established his credentials as a premier two-way defenseman and figures to be in the running for many Norris Trophies, but it will be hard to overtake Karlsson this season.
3. Cale Makar, Colorado
While there are some wonderful defensemen in the NHL, Makar is likely the best of them. However, injuries limited him to 60 games and even though Makar put up 66 points with dominant two-way play, missing a quarter of the season is too much for him to warrant taking the award as the league’s top defenseman.
4. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas
As expected, the departure of John Klingberg freed up Heiskanen for bigger offensive production and he had a career high 73 points, playing a career-high 25:29 per game. He continued to drive play and handle the toughest assignments, and the 23-year-old could be in the Norris Trophy mix for years to come.
5. Vince Dunn, Seattle
It might have taken a season longer than expected, but Dunn emerged as a top-tier defenseman in his second season with the Kraken. He contributed 64 points while delivering strong possession numbers. Dunn logged 23:40 of ice time per game, easily the high-water mark for his career.
6. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver
7. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo
8. Brent Burns, Carolina
9. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg
10. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey
VEZINA TROPHY
1. Linus Ullmark, Boston
There are advanced stats that might suggest that Ullmark is merely the third best goaltender this season, but a goalie who leads the league in wins, goals against average, and save percentage is overwhelmingly likely to capture the Vezina.
2. Ilya Sorokin, N.Y. Islanders
The fancy stats might prefer Sorokin, who led the league with 45.69 Goals Saved Above Expected. He had a .924 save percentage in a career high 62 games, which is strong enough to be a Vezina contender, but it’s still hard to finish ahead of Ullmark.
3. Juuse Saros, Nashville
Even when the Predators decide to turn their focus to the future, Saros just would not let them fade away quietly. He had a .919 save percentage in 64 games, leading the league in saves and his 36.04 Goals Saved Above Expected ranked third, behind Sorokin and Ullmark.
4. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg
Consistently one of the top goaltenders in the league, Hellebuyck turned in a .920 save percentage in 64 games for the Jets. It was the first time since the 2017-2018 season that he did not face the most shots in the league, but it was still another excellent campaign.
5. Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota
Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in a trade for Cam Talbot, Gustavsson had an outstanding season for the Wild and earned a bigger role as a result. He appeared in 39 games, which is still well behind other top starters, but Gustavsson opened eyes with a .931 save percentage.
6. Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado
7. Jake Oettinger, Dallas
8. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay
9. Igor Shesterkin, N.Y. Rangers
10. Joonas Korpisalo, Los Angeles
SELKE TROPHY
1. Jordan Staal, C, Carolina
Veteran center was a finalist in 2009-2010 but has been getting votes almost every year. He ranked first in rate of shot attempts and actual shots allowed plus third in expected goals allowed among forwards that played at least 750 five-on-five minutes.
2. Radek Faksa, C, Dallas
This was the best season for the Stars’ checking center, fulfilling his promise as a shutdown center who started more shifts in the defensive zone and still thrived in a defensive role. Faksa ranked fourth in rate of expected goals against and had outstanding isolated defensive impacts.
3. Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston
It would be entirely reasonable to give Bergeron his sixth Selke because he puts up exceptional defensive results while tasked with centering Boston’s top offensive line. Some of the checking forwards contending for this award are not making major contributions at the offensive end and while Bergeron is not as productive as he was at his peak, he still scored 27 goals in addition to ranking fifth in expected goals against per 60.
4. Noah Cates, C, Philadelpiha
The rookie center excelled in a checking role even though he won just 39.5% of his faceoffs. Cates was a defensive force on a team that did not offer much support in that regard.
5. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Carolina
Another Carolina center who controls play, Kotkaniemi ranked third in rate of shot attempts and actual shots against during five-on-five play, and first in rate of expected goals against. It is about time that the 22-year-old starts getting credit for his strong defensive performance.
6. Brandon Tanev, LW, Seattle
7. Tyler Toffoli, RW, Calgary
8. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto
9. Derek Ryan, C, Edmonton
10. Zemgus Girgensons, C, Buffalo
CALDER TROPHY
1. Matty Beniers, C, Seattle
The leading rookie scorer with 24 goals and 57 points, Beniers also logged more than 17 minutes per game, so he was given more responsibility than other rookie forwards. While Beniers is the betting favorite, there are other deserving candidates who just did not have the counting stats.
2. Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa
The Senators blueliner contributed 32 points while providing positive defensive impacts in nearly 22 minutes per game. There is a legit argument for Sanderson, especially considering that he effectively handled a bigger role in the second half of the season.
3. Owen Power, D, Buffalo
Similarly, Power had 35 points and had more significant offensive impacts, with more suspect defensive impacts, for the freewheeling Sabres.
4. Stuart Skinner, G, Edmonton
Eventually took over the starting role in net for the Oilers after Jack Campbell struggled in that spot. Skinner had a .913 save percentage and 29 wins in 50 games, making him an above average starting goaltender, which certainly brings plenty of value.
5. Matias Maccelli, RW, Arizona
Although he missed 18 games, the Coyotes winger still finished second in rookie scoring with 49 points and Maccelli was quite effective defensively, too. That’s good enough to get on the ballot.
6. Noah Cates, C, Philadelphia
7. Johnathan Kovacevic, D, Montreal
8. Jack Quinn, RW, Buffalo
9. Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim
10. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas
LADY BYNG
1. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey
2. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida
3. Joe Pavelski, RW, Dallas
4. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina
5. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles
JACK ADAMS
1. Jim Montgomery, Boston
2. Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina
3. Jared Bednar, Colorado
4. Bruce Cassidy, Vegas
5. Lindy Ruff, New Jersey
*I am an accredited PHWA member, but the only award that I had an official vote for this season was the Masterton Trophy.