2023-24 NHL award predictions: Metro Division edition

Using players from within the Metro, I shared picks for the Rocket Richard, Hart, Calder, Norris, Selke, and Vezina.

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It’s a day that ends with the letter ‘y’ and you know what that means: more season preview content.

I’ve already shared a few breakout picks and examined the potential Achilles heels (Part 1, Part 2) of each Metro Division team.

Up next I’ll be sharing picks for most of the NHL’s major awards using only players from within the division.

Rocket Richard: Jack Hughes

I have gone with Alexander Ovechkin every year – often without much debate – for what feels like forever. It’s time for change.

Last season Hughes ranked inside the top-10 in terms of shots on goal, scoring chances, and goals.

He finished ahead of Ovechkin, and every other Metro Division player, in terms of tallies; and he did it with a mediocre power play.

Sure, there are more mouths to feed with Timo Meier in the mix full-time and the addition of veteran sniper Tyler Toffoli. I get it.

But Hughes is as puck dominant as any player in the league. Even deferring to teammates as often as he does – among Devils regulars, Mikey McLeod was the only guy whose shot assists accounted for a higher percentage of his total contributions than Hughes – there’s still plenty of opportunity to grip it and rip it. Connor McDavid is an example (albeit an extreme one) of that.

Expect No. 86 to once again pot a boatload of goals as he continues his ascension as one of the best dual threat players in the league.

Hart: Jack Hughes