Created:
April 2010.

All those confusing NHL awards

I'm an ice hockey fan, and every season at the end of they year they hand out a boatload of awards. But they've got oddball names for the awards, so year-to-year (and sometimes day-to-day) I could never remember what trophy was for what purpose. So finally, after 40 years (yes) of watching NHL hockey, I compiled a list of those awards.

Statistical awards:

Stanley Cup -- winner of the Stanley Cup tournament
President's Trophy -- team with most points in the regular season
Art Ross Trophy -- given to the player who leads the League in scoring points
Maurice Richard Trophy -- given to the National Hockey League's top goal scorer
William M. Jennings Trophy -- given to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl -- the winner of the Western Conference Championship
Prince of Wales Trophy -- the winner of the Eastern Conference Championship
Plus-Minus Award -- awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the ice hockey "player, having played a minimum of 60 games who leads the league in plus/minus statistics." It is sponsored by a commercial business, and it has been known under five different names

Subjective awards:

Hart Memorial Trophy -- player judged most valuable to his team; selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Vezina Trophy -- player judged top goaltender; voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs
James Norris Memorial Trophy -- player judged top defenseman; selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Calder Memorial Trophy -- player judged top rookie; selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy -- league's most gentlemanly player; selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Frank J. Selke Trophy -- player judged best defensive forward; selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Jack Adams Award -- coach judged as the best; presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association
Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy -- player who shows perseverance to hockey; voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
Lester B. Pearson Award -- "most outstanding player" voted by the NHLPA, NHL player's association
Conn Smythe Trophy -- the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs; selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association

Lester Patrick Trophy -- presented for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Eligible recipients are players, officials, coaches, executives, and referees. The winner is selected by an award committee consisting of the President of the NHL, an NHL Governor, a representative of the New York Rangers, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Builder's section, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Player's section, a member of the U. S. Hockey Hall of Fame, a member of the NHL Broadcasters' Association and a member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Except for the League President, each member is rotated annually.