2024-25 NHL award predictions: Metro Division edition

Using only players from within the Metro, I shared picks for most of the NHL's major awards. There's a lot of Jack Hughes!

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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 breakout picks, potential Achilles heels of Metro Division teams (Part 1, Part 2), and more.

Now it’s time to share award predictions only using Metro Division players.

Hart, Rocket Richard, Art Ross: Jack Hughes

I picked Jack Hughes to sweep the board a season ago. Although that didn’t happen, it sure looked like it was going to early on.

Jack was legitimately the most dynamic and productive player in the league at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, his year was completely derailed due to a shoulder injury and the team crumbled around him.

I’m planting my flag on Jack Hughes again this season, though. There’s just so much to like with his game and playing circumstances.

Hughes seemingly generates a chance or two every single shift. Whether he’s taking them, or deferring to all the dynamic weapons around him, I think those chances are often going to translate into goals.

He has all the talent in the world, he has star wingers to flank him, he has an abundance of puck movers on the back end, he has a historically good regular season coach at the helm, and the Devils have all the pieces needed to be unstoppable on the power play. They certainly were when everyone was healthy last October.

Should Jack play 75 games or more, I think 45-50 goals and 110+ points is well within the realm of possibility. Let us pray for his shoulder.

Calder: Matvei Michkov

I thought about Rutger McGroarty here – I think he has the potential to carve out top-6 minutes from the get go – but sometimes the obvious pick is the right one. This feels like one of those times.

Michkov is the dynamic, game-breaking talent the Philadelphia Flyers have been dying for.

I understand John Tortorella could always go full John Tortorella and give Michkov a rough ride but Torts wants to win games and Michkov is their best bet to help them do that.

Michkov nearly produced a point per game as a teenager in the KHL this past season. Despite some guys playing as many as 19 more games, nobody on Michkov’s team scored more goals. He also led the charge in points per game.

I think he’s going to immediately claim a spot on the top scoring line, top power play, and put up numbers from the jump. I wouldn’t be surprised if he flirts with 60 points.

Norris: Adam Fox