NHL April 16, 2026 – McDavid, MacKinnon and Avalanche’s goaltending tandem win NHL Awards

Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon won the Art Ross and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, respectively, while MacKinnon’s teammates Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood captured the William M. Jennings Trophy.

Oilers’ McDavid, Avalanche Trio Win 2025-26 Regular Season Awards

• McDavid concluded the campaign with an NHL-leading 138 points to win his sixth career Art Ross Trophy. He passed Phil Esposito as well as Jaromir Jagr (both w/ 5) and tied Gordie Howe as well as Mario Lemieux for the second most in League history behind Wayne Gretzky (10).
• MacKinnon had a career-high 53 goals and became the second player in franchise history to capture the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, following Milan Hejduk (2002-03). MacKinnon and Hejduk are the only Avalanche/Nordiques players to top the League in tallies including the club’s 19 seasons before the “Rocket” was introduced in 1998-99.
• Wedgewood and Blackwood backstopped Colorado to a League-low 203 goals against (including 6 shootout deciders) and became the second and third goaltenders in franchise history to win the William M. Jennings Trophy after Patrick Roy (2001-02). Wedgewood and Blackwood were recently featured in the latest Skates Off where they discussed their chemistry and explored goalie mask artistry.

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket gets locked in at the eleventh hour

Matt Savoie’s first-period hat trick helped the Oilers (41-30-11, 93 points) clinch the Pacific Division’s No. 2 seed and home-ice advantage in their First Round series against the third-place Ducks (43-33-6, 92 points), which was confirmed after Anaheim’s NHL-best 12th third-period comeback win Thursday. The Kings (35-27-20, 90 points) concluded the campaign with the Western Conference’s final Wild Card spot and will play the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche during the opening round.

• The Oilers and Ducks will play their third head-to-head playoff series, following Anaheim’s seven-game win in the 2017 Second Round and Edmonton’s five-game victory during the 2006 Conference Finals. Their last meeting marked the Ducks’ most-recent series win and included Anaheim overcoming a 3-0 deficit during the final 3:16 of regulation in Game 5, which remains the latest three-goal comeback victory in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
• The Avalanche and Kings will play their third head-to-head playoff series following seven-game wins by Colorado in the 2002 Conference Quarterfinals and 2001 Conference Semifinals. They are among five pairs of franchises that required a Game 7 in each of their first two series – the others are the Lightning and Penguins (2016 CF & 2011 CQF), Blues and Canucks (2003 & 1995 CQF), Avalanche and Stars (2000 & 1999 CF) as well as the Devils and Rangers (1994 CF & 1992 DSF).

SENNECKE’S STANDOUT SEASON, OTHER YOUNG STARS FEATURED

Thursday featured a six-game regular season finale, including Beckett Sennecke concluding the campaign with 23 goals to tie Matthew Schaefer for the most among rookies.

• Sennecke became the third player in franchise history to lead all rookies in goals at the end of a regular season (outright or tied), following Bobby Ryan (2008-09) and Paul Kariya (1994-95). Schaefer was the first defenseman in more than 90 years to top all rookies in tallies as well as the fourth in League history after Doug Young (1931-32), Leo Reise Sr. (1920-21) and Billy Stuart (1920-21).
• Macklin Celebrini (45-70—115 in 82 GP) concluded his stand-out 2025-26 with a three-point performance and by moving up a number of franchise single-season lists – he surpassed Joe Thornton (22-92—114 in 2006-07) for the most points, tied Thornton (18 in 2006-07) for the most three-point games, and moved into sole possession of second place for multi-point outings and goals.
• Celebrini completed his final campaign before turning 20 with career totals of 70-108—178 (152 GP). He became the fifth teenager in NHL history with 100-plus career assists and owns the third-most points by a teenager through 150 career outings in League history behind Sidney Crosby (210) and Dale Hawerchuk (180).
• Ivan Demidov became the Canadiens’ second player in as many seasons to lead all rookies in points, following teammate Lane Hutson (2024-25). Jakub Dobes delivered 29 of Montreal’s 48 wins to conclude the campaign with eight more than the next-closest rookie goaltender.