Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
History | |
First award | 2015 |
Most recent | Michael Hage |
The E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence is awarded annually to the National Hockey League draft prospect who best exemplifies the "commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism" as selected by NHL Central Scouting at the NHL Entry Draft. The award is named for former NHL Director of Central Scouting E. J. McGuire. [1]
Edward John McGuire was an American ice hockey coach who served as the director of the NHL Central Scouting Services. He earned his PhD in sports psychology from the University of Waterloo in 1990.
Ryan Jarromie Noel Nugent-Hopkins is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Nuge" by Oilers fans, Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall by the Oilers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
The Chipotle All-American Game is an annual ice hockey event in which 40 of the top American-born NHL Entry Draft eligible prospects play against each other in an exhibition game, each hoping to boost their draft ranking with the National Hockey League scouts and general managers who attend. To date, 292 players who have played in the All-American Game have been selected in the NHL draft, including 63 first-round selections.
Damon Severson is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 60th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Rasmus Erik Dahlin is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Having been referred to as the most talented player available in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft class, Dahlin was selected first overall in the draft by the Sabres.
Nico Hischier is a Swiss professional ice hockey centre and captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hischier made his professional debut in his native Switzerland in 2015, spending time both in the top-tier National League A (NLA) and the second-tier National League B. He moved to North America for the 2016–17 season to play major junior hockey for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in hopes of furthering his hockey career; in his first season in the QMJHL, he was named rookie of the year, along with the award for best rookie in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the governing body for major junior hockey in Canada. Internationally Hischier has represented Switzerland at several junior tournaments, including two World Junior Championships. Regarded as a strong two-way forward and a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Hischier was selected first overall by the Devils, the first time a Swiss player was selected first overall, and made his NHL debut in 2017. He was named captain of the Devils in 2021.
Andrei Igorevich Svechnikov is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Hurricanes selected him second overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Quintin Hughes is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hughes was drafted seventh overall by the Canucks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Before the draft, he was considered a top prospect. Showing impressive offensive prowess as a defenseman since the beginning of his time with the Canucks, he was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2020. He holds several franchise and NHL records for defensemen, and won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2024 as the NHL's best defenseman.
Jack Hughes is an American professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). A product of the U.S. National Development Team, Hughes was drafted first overall by the Devils in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Göran Stubb is a Finnish ice hockey executive. He is the National Hockey League (NHL) Director of European Scouting. Stubb began working as the chairman of IFK Helsinki from 1961 to 1975 before joining the Finnish Ice Hockey Association in 1976 as their Managing Director. After serving as the Secretary General for the 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships, Stubb began European Sports Service, a European scouting service, in 1983 following urging from Jim Gregory, then Director of NHL Central Scouting. This became the first major European scouting association with the NHL.
Spencer Knight is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Panthers selected him in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Connor Bedard is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the greatest ice hockey prospects of his generation, he was selected first overall by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut that year. Bedard would go on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2024.
William Eklund is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Eklund is the son of former ice hockey player Christian Eklund, who also played for Eklund's former team Djurgårdens IF.
Matthew Beniers is an American professional ice hockey center for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Kraken drafted Beniers second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with their first-ever selection in an entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Michigan. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2023.
Luke Warren Hughes is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for two years with the University of Michigan of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), reaching the Frozen Four both seasons. He was selected fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Brett Leason is a Canadian ice hockey winger with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 56th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft after going undrafted the previous two years.
Frank Nazar III is an American professional ice hockey center for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 13th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He played college hockey at the University of Michigan.
Lane Hutson is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 62nd overall, by the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Carter Yakemchuk is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was drafted seventh overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
Michael Hage is a Canadian ice hockey centre for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He is committed to play college ice hockey at Michigan. He was drafted 21st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL entry draft.