Kucherov captured his first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, receiving 164 first-place tallies among the 171 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA), to outdistance two-time Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins(second place) and 2017 recipient Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (third place). Kucherov also claimed the Ted Lindsay Award as the League’s most outstanding player as selected by the NHLPA.

Kucherov (41-87—128 in 82 GP) led the NHL with 128 points – the most by any player since 1995-96 – and 87 assists – the most by any player since 2006-07 – to capture his first career Art Ross Trophy. Kucherov collected at least one point in 62 of 82 appearances (75.6%), set franchise records for assists and points in one campaign, and broke Alexander Mogilny’s single-season NHL record for points by a Russian-born player (76-51—127 in 1992-93 w/ BUF). He is the second player in Tampa Bay history to take home the Hart Trophy, following Martin St. Louis’ win in 2003-04.

Vasilevskiy, meanwhile, was a near-unanimous winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender, garnering 28 first-place votes from the 31 cast by NHL General Managers. Vasilevskiy posted a League-leading 39 victories in 53 games, including wins in 18 of his final 21 starts to guide Tampa Bay to its historic finish. Vasilevskiy lost consecutive starts just once in 2018-19 (Feb. 5-7), compiling a 13-0-1 record in games following a defeat (1.56 GAA, .952 SV%, 4 SO). Overall, he finished the season in the top 10 in the NHL in shutouts (t-4th; 6), save percentage (6th; .925) and goals-against average (9th; 2.40). The 24-year-old Tyumen, Russia, native is the first Vezina Trophy recipient in franchise history.

Barry Trotz, who helped engineer the New York Islanders’ turnaround season, won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top head coach. Trotz, who joined the Islanders in 2018-19 after leading the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup the previous season, helped his new team post a 23-point improvement over 2017-18 and yield a League-low 196 goals. The Islanders, who gave up 296 goals in 2017-18, became the first NHL team in a century to allow the fewest goals immediately following the season in which it yielded the most. A four-time Jack Adams Award finalist, Trotz captured the trophy for the second time and with his second club; his first came with Washington in 2015-16. He joins legendary Islandersbench boss Al Arbour (1978-79) as the second Jack Adams winner in franchise history.

Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner followed Trotz on the winners’ podium by receiving the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Lehner (25-13-5, 2.13 GAA, .930 SV%, 6 SO) and teammate Thomas Greiss won the William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltenders on the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals, helping the Islanders post their best regular-season point total (103) since 1983-84. Lehner’s best season on the ice came on the heels of revealing addiction and mental health issues in a self-penned article for The Athletic during training camp. “I am not sharing this story to make people think differently of Robin Lehner as a professional goalie. I want to help make a difference and help others the way I have been helped,” he wrote. “I want people to know that there is hope in desperation, there is healing in facing an ugly past and there is no shame in involving others in your battle.”

Days after claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs following Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden in Boston, St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly captured his first Frank J. Selke Trophy as top defensive forward. O’Reilly led the NHL in face-off wins for the second consecutive season (1,086), joining Boston’s Patrice Bergeron (2013-14 through 2016‑17) as the only players to post 1,000+ face-off wins in four consecutive seasons since the statistic was introduced in 1997-98. He led the Blues in plus-minus (+22) and topped all St. Louis forwards in ice time per game (20:46).

Voted a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist for the third time in four years, Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov captured the first trophy of his NHL career in recognition of outstanding skill and sportsmanship. Barkov posted career highs across the board, collecting 35 61—96 in 82 games to rank 10th in the NHL and establish a Panthers record for points in one season (surpassing Pavel Bure: 58-36—94 in 1999 00). Florida’s captain placed second in the League with 100 takeaways while receiving only four minor penalties and eight penalty minutes – the fewest among the NHL’s top 50 scorers.

Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins was voted NHL General Manager of the Year. Sweeney’s Bruins ranked third in the NHL overall standings (49-24-9, 107 points) and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2012-13. The Bruins’ organizational depth shone during an injury-plagued season, with the team using 37 players – the most among all playoff teams. Sweeney strengthened the roster near the Trade Deadline in February, adding forwards Charlie Coyle from Minnesota and Marcus Johansson from New Jersey. Serving in the Bruins’ front office for nine years prior to his promotion to GM in 2015, Sweeney captured the trophy in his first appearance as an NHL Awards finalist.

Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy as the League’s best defenseman. Giordano enjoyed his most prolific campaign at age 35, posting career highs of 57 assists and 74 points in 78 games (17-57—74) to rank second among League defensemen in scoring and guide the Flames to their second-best regular season in franchise history. The Toronto native is the first player in Flames history to capture the Norris Trophy; Al MacInnis finished second in voting in both 1989-90 and 1990-91, as did Dion Phaneuf in 2007-08.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s top rookie. Pettersson was the overwhelming choice among the 171 voters, receiving 151 first-place votes. The 20-year-old Sundsvall, Sweden, native led all NHL rookies, and the Canucksteam, in goals (28), assists (38) and points (66). His 66 points set a Canucks rookie record, besting the previous mark established by Bure (34-26—60 in 1991-92). The second Canucks player in as many seasons to be voted a Calder finalist (Brock Boeser finished second in 2018), Pettersson is the first Vancouver winner of the Calder Trophy since Bure (1991-92).

Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker accepted the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarianism. This season Zucker and his wife, Carly, saw the realization of a commitment begun in 2017: the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, growing out of the couple’s special relationship with the hospital and its patients. The space, which opened in March, allows children and their families to watch Wild games in a setting that simulates the experience of being at the game itself. It also serves as a state-of-the-art broadcast studio. Through several GIVE16 fundraising campaigns, so-named to encourage others to donate in forms of Jason’s jersey number, the Zuckers and the community came together to raise nearly $1.2 million for the space.

Nashville Predators forward Wayne Simmonds won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. While he finished the season in Nashville, the bulk of Simmonds’ off-ice work took place in Philadelphia. Simmonds participated as a board member of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (ESYHF) for the sixth consecutive year, visiting community rinks and engaging students. He served as honorary chairman of the foundation’s annual golf tournament for the fourth straight year. Simmonds also worked with the planning committee in hosting the organization’s Willie O’Ree Skills Weekend. In addition to his efforts with ESYHF, Simmonds continued his “Wayne’s Road Hockey Warriors” ball hockey fundraiser in his hometown of Scarborough, Ont., and donated a private Flyers suite to military personnel as part of his “Wayne’s Warriors” program.

Rico Phillips, director of the Flint Inner-City Youth Hockey Program (FICYHP) based in Flint, Mich. was honored with the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. Phillips, who grew up in the city, was determined to make his community a better and more welcoming place. He began that mission by achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a professional firefighter, serving his hometown. In 2010, Phillips created FICYHP to provide a free introduction to hockey for children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to play the sport. Its mentors, including Phillips, are committed to teaching life skills – such as sportsmanship, character and cultural diversity – through the game. FICYHP’s most recent nine-week course wrapped up in March, highlighted by a visit from O’Ree – who witnessed firsthand the growth and development of each participant.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was honored with the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for the eighth time as the League’s goal-scoring leader during the regular season. Ovechkin scored a League-leading 51 goals in 81 games, finishing ahead of Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (50 in 82 GP) and Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (47 in 82 GP). He became the first player in NHL history to top the League in goals eight times, breaking a tie with Bobby Hull (7x).

Voting for these awards was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season. The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) cast ballots for the Hart, Norris, Selke, Lady Byng, Calder and Masterton Trophies. NHL General Managers voted on the Vezina Trophy. The NHL Broadcasters’ Association (NHLBA) submitted votes for the Jack Adams Award. Voting for the NHL General Manager of the Year Award was conducted among NHL General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media. Results were tabulated by Ernst & Young, with the exception of the Masterton Trophy (PHWA).