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Interesting facts about this year's NHL award winners
Nathan MacKinnon. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Interesting facts about this year's NHL award winners

By Mike Santa Barbara  |  Last updated Jun 27, 2024 10:57 PM ET

Thursday in Las Vegas, the top five individual honors were handed out at the 2024 NHL Awards. Here are several interesting tidbits about this year's winners.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche - Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award

After an incredible season, posting 51 goals and 89 assists over 82 games, MacKinnon earned the 2023-24 Hart Trophy (League MVP) and the Ted Lindsay Award (MOP), voted on by members of the NHLPA. The 28-year-old is only the fifth player in league history to finish with 140 points or more during their MVP season, joining Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid (2023) and Hall of Famers Phil Esposito, Mario Lemieux (3x) and Wayne Gretzky (8x).

Meanwhile, MacKinnon is the third Hart Trophy recipient from the Avlanche, alongside Peter Forsberg (2002-03) and Joe Sakic (2000-01). Colorado is now the third NHL franchise outside of the Original Six to have three or more MVPs all-time, joining the Oilers (McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mark Messier) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin). 

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks - Calder Memorial Trophy

Bedard, this year's Calder Memorial Trophy winner given to the league's best rookie, finished his first year in the NHL, averaging 0.90 points per game over 68 games. Just six players in league history have averaged more as an 18-year-old, with only Ted Kennedy in 1943-44 (67 games) and Dan Quinn in 1983-84 (54 games) doing so in fewer games.

Despite missing 14 games with a fractured jaw, Bedard led all rookies in scoring with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists). Topping 152 ballots for the Calder Trophy, the 2023 No. 1 pick finished well ahead of Minnesota Wild forward Brock Faber (42), the only rookie to receive a first-place vote. 

Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks - Norris Trophy

Hughes is only the fourth U.S.-born Norris Trophy winner, awarded to the league's best defenseman, joining Chris Chelios (3), Brian Leetch (2) and Adam Fox. He's also the first Vancouver player to earn the honor.

The Canucks captain posted 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists) in 2023-24, the most by a defenseman in franchise history. Hughes didn't win the Norris Trophy unanimously but received 172 first-place, far more than Nashville Predators Roman Josi (12), Colorado Avalanche Cale Makar (9) and Fox (1) of the New York Rangers. 

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets - Vezina Trophy

Over the nearly 100-year history of the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender, Hellebuyck is only the 22nd netminder to win the award multiple times. Meanwhile, he's only the second active goaltender to accomplish the feat, joining Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky (2012-13, 2016-17).  

Hellebuyck went 37-19-4 over 60 starts for the Jets, recording a 2.39 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Along with the Vezina, he also earned the William M. Jennings Trophy, given to the goalie or goalie duo that allows the fewest goals against — he's the first solo winner since Jonathan Quick (2017-18). 

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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