The 2019-20 entry level draft is finally behind us and everyone is talking about the tremendous success of the U.S. national team development program.  The U.S. tied Canada with 11 players in the first round. Overall, the U.S. and Canada drafted 124 of the 217 players drafted this year and 22 (71%) players in the first round.

Looks like North American dominance of the NHL is on solid ground, right?

Consider however the results of this years NHL awards.  A couple of things to notice:

• North American players won only 1 of the big seven awards (excluding Jack Adams).
• Since the 1999-2000 season, North American players have averaged nearly half of the awards won (3.7).
• In only 1 other year since 1999-00 has North America garnered only 1 award (2011-12).
• This is the third year that Russian players won 4 awards (07-08, 08-09).
• This year marks the 12th year since 1999-00 that an American player has not won an award (and the second consecutive year).
• This is only the second season (after 2011-12) where 6 of the awards went to non-North American players.

The NHL has always been an international league.  North America (and the U.S.A. in particular) continue to demonstrate dominance at the doorway to the league.  However, at the most elite level, the rest of the world is catching up. 

That’s a good thing for the game.