NHL awards 2024: Finalists announced for Vezina Trophy as top goaltender
The voting is in and the three finalists for each NHL regular season award are starting to be announced.
The announcements began Monday with the Vezina Trophy finalists for top goaltender and will continue Tuesday with the Calder Trophy for top rookie.
But the most interesting announcement will be next week for the Hart Trophy as MVP to his team.
Four of more players could rightfully win the award, with NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), Colorado Avalanche franchise record setter Nathan MacKinnon, three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (league-best 69 goals) and others in the mix. Kucherov and McDavid become just the fourth and fifth players in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season.
The date and place for the NHL awards show have yet to be announced
Below are the finalists for each award, plus the schedule for the announcements:
Who are the finalists for the Vezina Trophy (goaltender)?
Finalists (in alphabetical order): Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky, Vancouver Canucks' Thatcher Demko and Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck.
Who votes: General managers
Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, six shutouts): He helped the Panthers finish with 110 points, second most in franchise history. He had a 14-1-1 stretch from Dec. 23 to Feb. 20 as Florida rose from third place to first. Bobrovsky won the award in 2013 and 2017 while with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Demko (35-14-2, 2.45 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, five shutouts): He set career bests in wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts in just 51 starts as the Canucks won their first division title since 2012-13. He went 18-2-1 from Dec. 8 - Feb. 15. The first-time finalist missed five weeks down the stretch with a knee injury.
Hellebuyck (37-19-4, 2.39 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, five shutouts): He won the Jennings Trophy as the goaltender on the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals. Hellebuyck yielded three or fewer goals in 50 of his 60 appearances, including a pair of 10-game streaks with two or fewer goals against. He won the award in 2020 and was a finalist two other times, including last season.
Schedule for announcement of awards finalists
Monday: Vezina Trophy (goalie)
Tuesday: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Thursday: Masterton Trophy (perseseverance)
Friday: Jack Adams Award (coach)
Saturday: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship)
Sunday: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Tuesday, May 7: Hart Trophy (MVP to his team)
Wednesday, May 8: Ted Lindsay Award (outstanding player, voted by players