Now that we have looked at a few of the top teams in the league and my four favorite NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup and their conferences, it is time to go into the NHL awards. I definitely love these markets, particularly novice of the year (the Calder). Today we will break down two more awards which I think have the most worth and variation season over season. We'll take a look at my preferred choice for these awards and a runner up.
1. Vezina Trophy (leading goalie): Jake Oettinger +1500 on BetOnline:
Destiny have actually relied on Oettinger in net all season long and he could be the leading goalie this year
Why it's a strong bet: Last season Oettinger ended up 3rd in wins (36) with a 2.59 GAA and.909 SV%, a profile that keeps him on ballots because Vezina voters still reward wins-especially when they begin a contender. Dallas once again predicts as a high-win team after a Western Conference Final run in 2025.
Defense and Special Teams: Dallas returns a tough blue line headlined by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley (Harley posted 15G, 47P in 2015) with Esa Lindell locked up-continuity that matters for shot suppression and net-front control. The Stars also finished top-5 on the charge kill (~ 82%) and ran a 22% power play, a combination that tilts video game script, limits mayhem, and helps a goalie's GAA/SV% stabilize.
The Price is Right: Most books have Oettinger in the +1200 to +1500 range-outside the leading two favorites but plainly in the first tier. That's a sweet area for upside without paying the "preferred tax." And at this cost it is easy to see why it's an NHL futures best choice.
The Chalk Option: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) +350
Hellebuyck is coming off among the fantastic contemporary goalie seasons-and a Vezina/Hart double-after leading the league in wins (47 ), posting a 2.00 GAA and.925 SV%, and backstopping Winnipeg to the Presidents' Trophy (116 pts). Books have him as the preferred to three-peat, and the Jets' protective environment (structure, shot suppression, and his enormous workload) hasn't meaningfully changed. At ~ +310, you're getting an elite floor with genuine repeat probability-rare in goalie futures
2. Jack Adams Trophy (top coach): André Tourigny (Utah) +750 on BetOnline:
Andre Tourigny will want to take the Jack Adams this year by leading the Mammoth to the playoffs
Why it's a strong bet: Voters like a turnaround story, and Utah has the components: a swelling young core (Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, plus newbie J.J. Peterka) and genuine momentum. If the Mammoth await a playoff spot, Tourigny's narrative heat will spike-he's currently a co-favorite at several books at +750. Utah's depth charts/line projections reveal Tourigny has numerous scoring duos he can ride and a PP that could pop with Keller/Cooley/Peterka.
Roster context that helps: The forward group is measurably much deeper than a year ago (extensions for crucial centers, the Peterka trade, and internal growth). If Utah clears the playoff bar, voters will offer Tourigny disproportionate credit. Let's not forget, that the Mammoth just missed out on the playoffs last season, all the while missing 2 of their leading four defensemen for almost 3/4 of the season. This is a young group who was still growing. This season it seems like the Mammoth are ready to reveal the NHL that the franchise is anything however extinct, making this a terrific NHL Best choice.
The other playoff hopeful: Lindy Ruff (Buffalo) - +2500. Lindy Ruff is in a similar spot to Tourigny, however will have a much steeper hill to climb up. The Buffalo Sabres have not made the playoffs for 15 years. And while the group does not look as strong on paper as the Mammoth, the balanced out that Buffalo is able to capture a playoff spot could be sufficient to award the veteran NHL coach the Jack Adams.
