Greg WyshynskiNov 10, 2026, 08:00 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsThere are clear favorites for NHL awards after the first month-plus of the regular season — and some of them don’t actually play for the Edmonton Oilers.Yes, Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard had proved to be undeniable awards contenders out of the gate. But it’s also undeniable that front-runners at the start of the season might not be the players holding trophies at the end of the season.Welcome to the NHL Awards Watch for November. We’ve polled a wide selection of Professional Hockey Writers Association voters anonymously to get a sense of where the wind is blowing for the current leaders. We’ve made sure it’s a cross section from the entire league, trying to gain as many perspectives as possible.Keep in mind that the PHWA votes for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng finalists, broadcasters vote for the Jack Adams and general managers vote for the Vezina.All stats are from Hockey-Reference.com, Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.Jump ahead: Ross | Richard | Hart Norris | Selke | Vezina Calder | Byng | AdamsArt Ross Trophy (points leader)Click here for the updated point-scoring standings.Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard TrophyClick here for the updated goal-scoring standings.Hart Trophy (MVP)Leader: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Finalists: Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche”Duh.””Really, is there anyone else?””He’s the clear front-runner and it’s not close.”Yes, the reviews are in for McDavid’s first several weeks of the 2026-27 season.
The Oilers’ star earned just over 88% of the first-place votes on our MVP ballots.McDavid is seeking his fourth Hart Trophy and first since 2023, which is an odd gap in MVP honors for a player who is constantly in the conversation. Only three players in NHL history won the Hart Trophy four times: Wayne Gretzky, as part of his NHL record nine MVP honors, as well as Gordie Howe and Eddie Shore.The Oilers’ center had 47 points in his first 18 games this season. To put that points pace into perspective: His 2.61 points-per-game average would rank as the sixth highest in a single season, with only three Gretzky campaigns and two Mario Lemieux scoring seasons ranking ahead of him. That McDavid offensive fuel has made Edmonton a top-five team since the start of the season.As one awards voter noted: Bookmakers have “the field” at plus money vs.
McDavid when it comes to the MVP race. That’s how heavy a favorite he is right now.That said, the Hart Trophy vote was not unanimous among those we surveyed.MacKinnon received first-place support and consistent mentions lower on the ballots. The star center won the Hart in 2024 and has been a finalist five times, including a third-place finish last season. The Avalanche haven’t gotten off the blocks how they wanted this season, but that’s not on MacKinnon.
He had 30 points through 18 games, seven more than any other teammate.Completing a Western Conference sweep of the Hart finalists: Wild winger Kaprizov. He had 31 points through 19 games to start the season, and his 16 goals were near the top of that leaderboard. His line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy has been the best in the league, rolling to nearly five goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 while not surrendering an even-strength goal through 19 games.Kaprizov has never been a Hart Trophy finalist in his career, and has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting only once in six seasons. Like MacKinnon, he had first-place support and a ton of love down the ballot.”I wouldn’t bet against Kirill Kaprizov narrowing the gap as the season goes along,” one McDavid voter warned.Another name mentioned by our MVP voters was Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard … but we believe he has designs on another trophy at the moment.Norris Trophy (top defenseman)Leader: Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers Finalist: Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild; Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue JacketsBouchard is the runaway favorite for the Norris right now with over 83% of the first-place votes, for the same reason McDavid is leading for the Hart: At some point, the stats just become undeniable.The Oilers’ defenseman had 31 points through his first 18 games, following a dominating 95-point season in 2025-26.
He had a plus-25 rating last season. He’s already at plus-24 this season.”The electric offense pace is too much to ignore, even if there are still some defensive lapses,” a Bouchard voter said.Bouchard, who was fourth for the Norris last season, has faced the same obstacle that other offensive defensemen have faced in trying to win this award: whether his defensive game is Norris-worthy. The same clips of blown coverages that used to dog players such as Erik Karlsson have burned into the memories of voters when it comes to Bouchard. But that perception seems to be changing; or, at the very least, his offensive game is so overwhelming that it silences that defensive debate. (See also: Karlsson, Erik.)”Bouchard is on pace for 67 points before Santa drops his gifts off under the tree.
Plus, he isn’t anywhere near the defensive liability many like to suggest,” another Bouchard backer boasted.”Bouchard has a slight edge over Quinn Hughes because of overall production. But it’s hard to argue Hughes hasn’t been terrific in handling a significant workload,” another noted.Hughes earned the second-most first-place votes and is the clear second choice in this race. The Norris winner in 2023, Hughes is averaging 28 minutes, 7 seconds in ice time per game for the Wild. Despite Bouchard’s blockbuster offensive season, Hughes is right there with him in the scoring race among defensemen with 26 points through his first 19 games.
He has been a driving force behind the Wild’s successful start.Hughes was seventh for the Norris last season, when he split his time between Minnesota and Vancouver.”To me, he’s the biggest difference-maker from the back end in the league, just dangerous in so many ways,” a Hughes voter beamed.The only other defenseman to earn a first-place vote was Werenski, who won the Norris for the first time last season. He has 14 points through 15 games, skating to a plus-6 and averaging a league-high 28:18 per game in ice time. Unlike the other two finalists here, Werenski’s team is off to a disappointing start, but he has been a highlight among lowlights.Other defensemen mentioned for the Norris by our voters included Adam Fox of the New York Rangers, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Mikhail Sergachev of the Utah Mammoth.Calder Trophy (top rookie)Leader: Jacob Fowler, Montreal Canadiens Finalists: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Detroit Red Wings; Roman Kantserov, Chicago BlackhawksThe Calder Trophy race has one clear favorite above a disparate collection of rookies making impacts in a variety of ways for their teams.Let’s start with the big name in flashing lights on the marquee. Fowler, 21, is a Florida native who has quickly established himself as the goalie of the future for the Montreal Canadiens … only a few months after Montreal appeared to have found its goalie of the future.”Wasn’t the net supposed to belong to Jakub Dobes?” a Fowler voter asked.Fowler was 8-1-1 in his first 10 games this season, with a .925 save percentage and a 2.15 goals-against average.
Money Puck had him second in the NHL goals saved above expected through those games (11.4). His two shutouts led all rookie goalies. He’s been phenomenal for Montreal.The Canadiens netminder earned just over 61% of the first-place votes for the Calder. He’s trying to become the first goalie to win the Calder since Steve Mason of the Blue Jackets in 2008-09.
But he’s also looking over his shoulder at a deep freshman class.”This rookie race is insane,” another Fowler voter declared. “Tough to pinpoint a real favorite.”Earning the second-most first-place votes: Brandsegg-Nygård of the Red Wings. The 21-year-old Norwegian was drafted 15th overall in 20
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