EDMONTON (Sept. 21, 2020) – Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is the 2019-20 recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Makar was a top-two selection on all 170 ballots, garnering 116 first-place votes and 54 for second, in totaling 1,538 points. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes also was named on all ballots, including 53 first-place votes, for 1,337 points. Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik finished third with 554 points.

Makar, who burst onto the scene in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring the winning goal in his League debut, continued to make waves in his first full NHL season, topping rookies with 0.88 points per game (12-38—50 in 57 GP). Only three other rookie blueliners in NHL history have averaged as many points per game in a single season (minimum: 50 GP): Brian Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 w/ NYR), Larry Murphy (0.95 in 1980-81 w/ LAK) and Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84 w/ CGY). Makar also finished among the 2019-20 rookie leaders in game-winning goals (t-1st; 4), assists (2nd; 38), points (2nd; 50), power-play assists (2nd; 15), power-play points (2nd; 19), average time on ice (3rd; 21:01), goals (6th; 12), power-play goals (t-6th; 4), plus/minus (7th; +12), shots on goal (8th; 121) and shooting percentage (8th; 9.9%).

The 21-year-old Calgary native is the sixth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to capture the Calder Trophy and fourth since the franchise relocated to Colorado, following Nathan MacKinnon (2013-14), Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12) and Chris Drury (1998-99).

For more on the Calder Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.

2019-20 Calder Trophy Voting

* Points allocation: 10-7-5-3-1 (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th)

TORONTO (Sept. 21, 2020) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) today announced Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers has received the players’ vote for the 2019-20 Ted Lindsay Award (TLA). The TLA is presented annually “to the most outstanding player in the NHL,” as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Draisaitl is the first German-born recipient in the history of the TLA. He receives the accolade as a first-time finalist for the TLA – the 49th season of the award. Forwards Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers also finished as finalists for this season’s TLA.

Draisaitl played in all 71 of Edmonton’s regular-season games as he helped lead the Oilers to the fifth-best points percentage in the Western Conference. The 24-year-old forward of Germany (Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia) led the NHL in points per game (1.55), assists (67), power-play points (44) and average ice time among forwards (22:37), while he tied for first in game-winning goals (10). Draisaitl topped all scorers with 110 points – the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy. He also finished second in both even-strength points (66) and power-play goals (16), and he placed fourth in goals (43) on the season. Draisaitl becomes the third TLA recipient in four seasons for the Oilers, following teammate Connor McDavid’s back-to-back awards (2017-18, 2018-19).

EDMONTON (Sept. 21, 2020) – Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets is the 2019-20 recipient of the Vezina Trophy, awarded “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” as selected by NHL general managers.

Hellebuyck received 19 first-place selections in amassing 123 voting points, edging second-place Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins (99 points), a first choice on 10 ballots. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning ranked third with 31 points.

Hellebuyck (31-21-5, 2.57 GAA, .922 SV%) backstopped the Jets to a place in the Western Conference Stanley Cup Qualifiers as the No. 9-ranked team, leading all goaltenders in games (t-58), shots faced (1,796), saves (1,656) and shutouts (six). He ranked second overall in starts (56), wins (31) and minutes (3,268:33). The 27-year-old Commerce, Mich., native recorded 31 of the 37 Jets wins (83.8%), the second-highest percentage among goaltenders on the 24 teams that resumed play. Hellebuyck faced 37-or-more shots on 13 occasions and posted a 10-1-2 record, 2.08 GAA and .949 SV% in those contests, including a career-high 51 saves in a 3-2 win at San Jose Nov. 1 in which the Jets were outshot 53-19.

Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist for the second time in three seasons (2nd in 2017-18), is the first goaltender in Jets/Thrashers history to capture the award.

For more on the Vezina Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.

2019-20 Vezina Trophy Voting

* Points allocation: 5-3-1 (1st-2nd-3rd)

EDMONTON (Sept. 21, 2020) – Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators is the 2019-20 recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position," as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Josi was a top-three pick on all 170 ballots, including 109 first-place selections, for 1,499 voting points. Second-place John Carlson of the Washington Capitals was the top choice of 56 voters in collecting 1,267 points, while third-place Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning garnered four first-place votes and 820 points.

Josi led the Predators in scoring with 16-49--65 in 69 games, a franchise record for defensemen. His 65 points surpassed the previous mark of 61 he had recorded in 2015-16 and his 16 goals also marked a career high. The Nashville captain's 12-game point streak (7-13--20) from Dec. 16-Jan. 9 set another franchise record for defensemen and was the longest by any blueliner since Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere (15 games) in 2015-16. Josi ranked among the top three League defenders in several categories, including shots (1st, 260), points (2nd, 65), goals (t-2nd, 16), assists (2nd, 49) and average time on ice (3rd, 25:47).

Josi is the first Swiss-born player to win an individual honor at the NHL Awards. The 30-year-old Bern native also is the first Norris Trophy winner in Predators history.

For more on the Norris Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.

2019-20 Norris Trophy Voting

* Points allocation: 10-7-5-3-1 (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th)

EDMONTON (Sept. 21, 2020) – Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is the 2019-20 recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Draisaitl, the top choice on 91 of the 170 ballots cast, accumulated 1,309 voting points, edging second place Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (1,162 points). MacKinnon garnered 48 first-place votes. Third-place Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers received 24 first-place votes and 889 points.

Draisaitl (43-67—110 in 71 GP) – who became the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award – topped the NHL with 110 points, 13 more than the next-closest player (Connor McDavid: 97). He registered at least one point in 56 of his 71 appearances, the highest such percentage in the League (78.9%) ahead of Panarin (78.3%) and Patrick Kane (77.1%). Draisaitl also recorded a League-best 33 multi-point performances, four more than MacKinnon and David Pastrnak (29), and led NHL forwards in both total (1,605:24) and average time on ice (22:37). Draisaitl, who reached the 100-point milestone for the second consecutive season (50‑55—105 in 2018-19), paced all 2019-20 players in assists (67), power-play points (44) and game-winning goals (t-10) while also ranking among the top five in power-play goals (2nd; 16), power-play assists (2nd; 28), shooting percentage (3rd; 19.7%) and goals (4th; 43).

The 24-year-old Cologne native is the first German-born player to win the Hart Trophy and the fourth player in franchise history, following Wayne Gretzky (8x as an Oiler, most recently 1986-87), Mark Messier (1989-90) and McDavid (2016-17).

For more on the Hart Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.

2019-20 Hart Trophy Voting

* Points allocation: 10-7-5-3-1 (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th)