Live Blog: A full list of the 2023 NHL Award winners
10 months ago
Welcome to CanucksArmy’s live blog documenting the winners of the 2023 NHL Awards live from Nashville!
We will be updating this article all night long with the evening’s winners, so be sure to check back throughout the evening!
Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)
Finalists: Connor McDavid (EDM), Erik Karlsson (SJS), David Pastrnak (BOS)
Connor McDavid has been named this year’s “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
McDavid congratulated Karlsson and Pastrnak on great seasons before thanking Ted Lindsay and his fellow players, and gave a special shoutout to fans of the game — even Flames fans — for bringing energy to the buildings each and every night.
This is McDavid’s fourth time winning the award, as he also took it home in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LAK)
Finalists: Jack Hughes (NJD), Anze Kopitar (LAK), Brayden Point (TBL)
This is Kopitar’s second Lady Byng Award win. He unfortunately wasn’t able to make the trip down to Nashville, but did send in a video where he thanked his teammates, coaches, and family for their support. Kopitar had just four penalty minutes through 82 games this season while scoring 28 goals and adding 46 assists.
Mark Messier Leadership Award: Steven Stamkos
Some guy named Mark Messier who is apparently loved by fans in other markets announced Steven Stamkos as the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
We’ll bite our tongues before writing more about Messier having a leadership award named after him. Steven Stamkos certainly deserved the leadership award. Maybe one day it will be named after him!
Calder Memorial Trophy: Matty Beniers (SEA)
Finalists: Matty Beniers (SEA), Owen Power (BUF), Stuart Skinner (EDM)
Matty Beniers was the favourite to win this award, and for good reason. The 2021 2nd overall pick recorded 24 goals and 33 assists through 80 games played this season. Beniers also had a case to win the Lady Byng Trophy, as he took just one minor penalty all season long.
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron
Finalists: Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Nico Hischier (NJD), Mitch Marner (TOR)
No surprise here. This award will almost certainly one day be named the Patrice Bergeron Trophy, and for good reason. This is Bergeron’s sixth time winning the award, as he’s previously taken it home in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2022.
Bill Masterton Trophy: Kris Letang (PIT)
Finalists: Clayton Keller (ARZ), Kris Letang (PIT), Alex Stalock (CHI)
Kris Letang took home the Bill Masterton Trophy for showing perseverance and dedication to hockey. Letang’s battles with strokes have been well-documented, and he also mourned the loss of his father during the season.
Vezina Trophy: Linus Ullmark (BOS)
Finalists: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG), Linus Ullmark (BOS), Ilya Sorokin (NYI)
Ullmark’s 40 wins were tied for most in the NHL this season, and he and teammate Jeremy Swayman took home the William M. Jennings Trophy for having the lowest goals-against average in the league. Ullmark finished the season with an otherworldly .938 save percentage and 1.89 goals against average.
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Mikael Backlund (CGY)
Finalists: Mikael Backlund (CGY), Anders Lee (NYI), Darnell Nurse (EDM)
Backlund is heavily involved in the Calgary community, and supports the ALS Society of Alberta in honour of his mother-in-law, who succumbed to the disease when his wife Frida was just 19 years old. Flames Assistant General Manager Chris Snow has been battling ALS for the last four years. Backlund and his spouse have raised more than $400,000 for the nonprofit and have welcomed nearly 100 families affected by ALS to home games.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” Backlund will receive a $25,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice.
Jack Adams Award: Jim Montgomery (BOS)
Finalists: Dave Hakstol (SEA), Jim Montgomery (BOS), Lindy Ruff (NJD)
Two-time winner and newly-minted Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz announced the winner of the award in front of the Nashville faithful. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the man who coached a team that picked up 65 regular season wins would win the award.
Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)
Finalists: Connor McDavid (EDM), Matthew Tkachuk (FLA), David Pastrnak (BOS)
Connor McDavid picked up the third Hart Trophy of his career as the league’s MVP as he takes home even more hardware on top of the Rocket Richard and Ted Lindsay.
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Erik Karlsson (SJS)
Finalists: Erik Karlsson (SJS), Adam Fox (NYR), Cale Makar (COL)
Yes, no surprise here. This was Erik Karlsson’s award to lose as soon as he passed the 100-point threshold. Karlsson finished his season with 101 points and was a shoo-in for this year’s honour.
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