The International Ice Hockey Federation has announced its six finalists for Male Player of the Year.
The six finalists are Czech forward Roman Červenka, Czech goaltender Lukáš Dostál, Swiss forward Kevin Fiala, Swiss defenseman Roman Josi, Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson and Canadian forward John Tavares.
To be eligible, a player must have competed in an official IIHF tournament during the season and also played in a top-division league. All six of this year’s nominees were in the World Championship in Prague and Ostrava, and five of the six also played in the NHL. The lone exception is Červenka, who plays in Switzerland’s National League.
Based on that criteria, the favorite to win the award this season would seem to be Josi. Of the five NHLers, Josi’s season with the Nashville Predators was the best, earning him a nomination for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. He was also named best defenseman of the World Championship and, with 12 points in 10 games, presented a very strong case to win MVP of that tournament. That award instead went to Swiss teammate Fiala.
The awards will be voted on by members of the media and “appropriate members of the IIHF family.” The media’s vote will count for 70 percent and the IIHF family’s vote will make up the other 30.
This is the second year the award has been presented. Last year’s winner was Connor Bedard, based on his play at the 2023 World Junior Championship in Nova Scotia – where he put up an eye-popping 23 points in seven games – and for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League – where he was the runaway winner of the Canadian Hockey League’s Player of the Year.
The 2024 IIHF Male Player of the Year will be announced on Monday, June 17 at 12pm ET/6pm CEST.