The Winnipeg Jets continue to lead the NHL standings this season. Nathan MacKinnon and Connor Hellebuyck [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyOTA1MjMwMzE5MjMyNjQw/usatsi_25171761_168400847_lowres.jpg] Nathan MacKinnon and Connor Hellebuyck The NHL is known for its parity, which makes it very challenging to win the Stanley Cup and individual awards. The Cup, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the most difficult trophies to win in sports. But 14 different teams made the Cup final since 2014-15, with eight different squads winning it all. The last two Stanley Cup champions – the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers – were first-time winners. The St. Louis Blues were also first-time champions in 2019, as were the Washington Capitals in 2018. The Capitals are among the favorites to win the Cup again seven years later, but the Winnipeg Jets are also a front-runner to win it all for the first time in franchise history. The Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and the Oilers are also in contention to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in a long time. Carolina won in 2006, the Stars triumphed in 1999, and the Oilers last won in 1990. This season could also see a handful of elite NHL players winning a specific individual award for the first time. Oilers captain Connor McDavid has had a firm grasp of the Art Ross Trophy throughout his career, winning it five times already. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has taken the reins from Alex Ovechkin as the perennial favorite for the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy, winning it three times. Signs point toward new winners being crowned for those awards and more. ART ROSS AND ROCKET RICHARD TROPHIES Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon took home the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP in 2023-24, but he has not yet won the Art Ross Trophy. As it stands, MacKinnon has a four-point lead on Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl in the scoring race and shows no signs of giving up the mantle. He has 87 points in 57 games, which has him on pace for 125 points. Despite trailing MacKinnon in points, Draisaitl leads the goal-scoring race. His 40 goals lead second-place William Nylander by seven, and as the Oilers try to secure first place in the Pacific Division, they’ll need Draisaitl to continue his scoring ways. HART TROPHY MacKinnon and Draisaitl haven’t separated themselves in the Hart Trophy race, but they aren’t the only names in consideration. Although MacKinnon and Draisaitl have won it before, other contenders could be the Hart Trohy recipient for the first time in their careers. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/latest-news/jets-goaltender-named-first-star-of-the-week-for-the-second-time-this-season], has taken his game to another level and is being considered in the Hart Trophy race. Jack Eichel has stepped up for the Vegas Golden Knights after they watched multiple key contributors leave in the off-season. His 19 goals and 69 points have propelled the Golden Knights to a tie for the Pacific Division lead. Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak and Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner have also stepped up when their teams needed them most. Pastrnak, in particular, is keeping the Bruins in playoff contention with 31 points in 18 games since Jan. 1. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have been without Matthews and John Tavares for extended periods of time but haven’t missed a beat because of Marner’s superb playmaking. Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov also emerged as a Hart Trophy contender with 52 points in 37 games before he suffered a lower-body injury, which forced him to undergo surgery. JACK ADAMS AWARD The Jack Adams Award, handed out to the NHL’s coach of the year, tends to go to teams that make a big year-over-year turnaround in the standings. The Capitals’ Spencer Carberry is in his second season as an NHL head coach and transformed a squad that looked at risk of missing the playoffs into the Eastern Conference leaders. The Winnipeg Jets’ Scott Arniel hadn’t been a permanent head coach in the NHL since 2011-12. His team leads the league in points, most goals-for per game, fewest goals against per game and power-play success percentage. The award races will continue to get more and more interesting as the NHL gets closer to the homestretch. But two things are for sure: nothing is set in stone yet, and that’s what makes this league so great. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMDk0MTI4NDI5NzM3OTYw/googlenews.png] Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
