Macklin Celebrini, the 20-year-old from North Vancouver, British Columbia, has been voted the IIHF’s Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season. Finishing second in the voting was American goalie Connor Hellebuyck, and third was Finnish forward Sebastion Aho. Behind Aho was Canada’s Connor McDavid, followed by three Americans--Jaccob Slavin, Quinn Hughes, and Jack Hughes.
Voting was open to nearly 200 members of the media and appropriate members of the IIHF family.
Celebrini received 40.8 per cent of all votes while Hellebuyck was half that, 20.4 per cent. Aho was at 14.3 percent and McDavid 12.2 per cent.
Celebrini had a magical year both in the NHL and in international hockey. He led the Olympics in goals (5) and was second in scoring (5+5=10). He helped Canada win a silver medal and was named to the tournament All-Star Team as a forward. He later played in the World Championship, where he captained Team Canada and finished second in scoring. He was named IIHF Directorate Best Forward and again named to the All-Star team. In the NHL, he finished fourth in scoring with 115 points. That total was the third highest ever by a teenager after Wayne Gretzky (137 in 1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (120 in 2006-07).
Hellebuyck finished second thanks largely to his incredible play in the gold-medal game of the Olympics. He stopped 41 of 42 shots against Canada, leading the Americans to their first gold since 1980. He finished the Games with a 5-0 record and was named IIHF Directorate Best Goalie as well as to the All-Star Team.
Aho also had a special year at home and abroad. He was part of Finland’s bronze-medal team in Miland and also Carolina’s Stanley Cup team at the end of the NHL playoffs.
McDavid did it all for Team Canada and the Edmonton Oilers. He led the NHL in scoring with 138 points and led the Olympics in scoring as well (2+11=13). He was named MVP of the Olympics and Ted Lindsay Award winner in the NHL.
Slavin joined a rare group by becoming only the ninth player ever to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
Quinn Hughes was also part of the USA’s Olympic gold team. He was named IIHF Directorate Best Defender and named to All-Star Team. In the NHL, he led the league with 27:44 TOI with Minnesota/Vancouver. Brother Jack, meanwhile, scored the golden goal in overtime in the final game against Canada.
The IIHF Male Player of the Year award is given annually to a player who “best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season.”
Candidates must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which are deemed superior to all other players.
The IIHF Male Player of the Year trophy is housed permanently at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and the winner is presented with a smaller version for the player to keep. The IIHF will announce at a later date when this ceremony will take place.
IIHF Male Player of the Year Winners:
2025-26 Macklin Celebrini, F (CAN)
2024-25 Sven Andrighetto, F (SUI)
2023-24 Roman Cervenka, F (CZE)
2022-23 Connor Bedard, F (CAN)
Voting was open to nearly 200 members of the media and appropriate members of the IIHF family.
Celebrini received 40.8 per cent of all votes while Hellebuyck was half that, 20.4 per cent. Aho was at 14.3 percent and McDavid 12.2 per cent.
Celebrini had a magical year both in the NHL and in international hockey. He led the Olympics in goals (5) and was second in scoring (5+5=10). He helped Canada win a silver medal and was named to the tournament All-Star Team as a forward. He later played in the World Championship, where he captained Team Canada and finished second in scoring. He was named IIHF Directorate Best Forward and again named to the All-Star team. In the NHL, he finished fourth in scoring with 115 points. That total was the third highest ever by a teenager after Wayne Gretzky (137 in 1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (120 in 2006-07).
Hellebuyck finished second thanks largely to his incredible play in the gold-medal game of the Olympics. He stopped 41 of 42 shots against Canada, leading the Americans to their first gold since 1980. He finished the Games with a 5-0 record and was named IIHF Directorate Best Goalie as well as to the All-Star Team.
Aho also had a special year at home and abroad. He was part of Finland’s bronze-medal team in Miland and also Carolina’s Stanley Cup team at the end of the NHL playoffs.
McDavid did it all for Team Canada and the Edmonton Oilers. He led the NHL in scoring with 138 points and led the Olympics in scoring as well (2+11=13). He was named MVP of the Olympics and Ted Lindsay Award winner in the NHL.
Slavin joined a rare group by becoming only the ninth player ever to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
Quinn Hughes was also part of the USA’s Olympic gold team. He was named IIHF Directorate Best Defender and named to All-Star Team. In the NHL, he led the league with 27:44 TOI with Minnesota/Vancouver. Brother Jack, meanwhile, scored the golden goal in overtime in the final game against Canada.
The IIHF Male Player of the Year award is given annually to a player who “best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season.”
Candidates must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which are deemed superior to all other players.
The IIHF Male Player of the Year trophy is housed permanently at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and the winner is presented with a smaller version for the player to keep. The IIHF will announce at a later date when this ceremony will take place.
IIHF Male Player of the Year Winners:
2025-26 Macklin Celebrini, F (CAN)
2024-25 Sven Andrighetto, F (SUI)
2023-24 Roman Cervenka, F (CZE)
2022-23 Connor Bedard, F (CAN)