The E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence was introduced during the 2014-2015 season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Award is given annually to the NHL draft prospect who demonstrates a “commitment to excellence through his character, competitiveness, and athleticism” as selected by the NHL Central Scouting at the NHL Entry Draft.
The award was founded in 2015 and is named after former NHL director of central scouting E. J. McGuire, who passed away in April 2011 after battling cancer. During his time at the helm, McGuire enhanced the practices of scouting and player evaluation in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He introduced the development of advanced scouting technology that enhanced player evaluation. McGuire left a lasting impact on the league before his unfortunate demise.
E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence Winners List-
The first person to win this trophy was Travis Konecny from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015. He was selected in the first round (24th overall) by the Flyers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
The recent winner of the E. J. McGuire award was Connor Bedrad from the Chicago Blackhawks. He was selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Shown below is a list of players who have won the E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence:
| Year | Winner | Drafting Team |
| 2015 | Travis Konecny | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 2016 | Neil Doef | (undrafted) |
| 2017 | Nico Hischier | New Jersey Devils |
| 2018 | Humboldt Broncos | — |
| 2019 | Brett Leason | Washington Capitals |
| 2020 | Zayde Wisdom | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 2021 | William Eklund | San Jose Sharks |
| 2022 | Lane Hutson | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2023 | Connor Bedard | Chicago Blackhawks |
Note: The 2018 E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence was presented to the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League due to a tragic bus accident on April 6, 2018. Sixteen lives were lost and thirteen were critically injured. The team has since inspired others through its perseverance.
FAQ's On List of NHL E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence Winners
A. The first person to win this trophy was Travis Konecny from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015.
A. The E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence was introduced during the 2014-2015 NHL season.
A. E. J. McGuire was a coach and scout who introduced development of advanced scouting technology that enhanced player evaluation during his time as the Director of the NHL Central Scouting.
A. Connor Bedrad from the Chicago Blackhawks was the most recent winner of the award. He was selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
A. The Award is given annually to the NHL Draft prospect who demonstrates a commitment to excellence through his character, competitiveness, and athleticism.
