ESPN VERIFIED: Nashville Predators Rising Star Roman Josi Makes History by Claiming the Coveted 2025 Hart Memorial Trophy, Honoring Him as the Nation’s Top Collegiate NHL Player with a Stellar Performance — He Also Received…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 21, 2025
The Bridgestone Arena lights shined a little brighter last night, not because of the pyrotechnics or the roaring crowd, but because of one man—Roman Josi.
Yes, that Roman Josi. But not the one you remember.
This Josi, dubbed “RJ” by his teammates and fans to distinguish him from the Swiss-born NHL veteran, is the 21-year-old phenom whose meteoric rise from college standout to professional powerhouse has captured the imagination of the hockey world. And now, he’s officially made history.
With a season that defied logic and expectations, Josi was honored with the 2025 Hart Memorial Trophy, making him the first collegiate-level player to ever receive the award in the NHL’s modern era. The trophy, traditionally reserved for the league’s most valuable player, had never been awarded to a player splitting time between collegiate ice and NHL ice. But Josi’s story was anything but traditional.
And last night, it all culminated in an emotional ceremony, one for the history books.
The Dual-Track Legend
Born and raised in Brentwood, just outside Nashville, RJ grew up idolizing the original Roman Josi—ironically, the captain of the very team he now stars for. When the elder Josi retired in 2023, few could have predicted a hometown kid with the same name would soon fill his skates, and arguably, expand the legacy.
Drafted by the Predators in 2023 as a surprise second-round pick out of the University of Michigan, RJ chose a unique path: he stayed in college to complete his degree in sports psychology while simultaneously playing under a dual registration agreement with the NHL—an experimental clause that allowed elite prospects limited NHL game time during their college seasons. No one expected it to amount to much.
They were wrong.
A Season Like No Other
In just 39 NHL games played this season, RJ amassed 63 points—an outrageous tally for a defenseman, let alone a part-time rookie. When combined with his NCAA stats, where he notched another 42 points in 22 games for the Wolverines, the total picture was undeniable: Roman Josi was on another level.
More than his stats, it was his presence—his vision, his grace under pressure, his leadership on and off the ice—that made him a natural MVP candidate. Predators head coach Barry Trotz, who returned to coaching duties in late 2024, put it simply:
> “I’ve seen a lot of greats in my time. Shea Weber, Pekka Rinne, the original Josi. But RJ’s hockey IQ? It’s like watching tomorrow play today.
Hart and More
Receiving the Hart Memorial Trophy was monumental. But the night didn’t end there.
Moments after his name was etched in NHL lore, RJ was also awarded the inaugural Collegiate Integration Excellence Award—a new honor jointly created by the NCAA and NHL to recognize student-athletes who excel at the highest levels of both college and professional play.
Then came the kicker.
Commissioner Gary Bettman, never known for spontaneous showmanship, took the microphone himself.
> “In light of his unprecedented performance, leadership, and embodiment of the sport’s future, we are also awarding Roman Josi an honorary ‘Captain of Tomorrow’ title—a symbolic role recognizing players who reshape what’s possible in hockey.”
A Humble Star
Standing at center stage in a sleek navy suit, RJ looked less like a conquering hero and more like the kid next door who happened to be incredible at hockey. His acceptance speech was brief, heartfelt, and quintessentially Nashville:
> “This city raised me. This game shaped me. And I’m just grateful I get to represent both, on every rink I step on.”
He paused, smiling.
> “Also, I want to thank the other Roman Josi—without his name, none of this confusion would’ve made me go harder every single day.”
The crowd roared.
A Movement, Not Just a Moment
RJ’s Hart Trophy win is already sending ripples across the sport. College programs are reassessing how they work with NHL franchises, and more players are exploring dual-track options to stay in school while chasing the pro dream.
For the Predators, RJ’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. The team, once perennially stuck in the middle of the standings, has rallied around their young star, currently sitting second in the Central Division and looking primed for a deep playoff run.
Team captain Filip Forsberg spoke candidly about RJ’s influence:
> “It’s not just what he does on the ice. It’s how he holds the locker room together, how he treats the trainers, how he talks to fans. The kid’s 21, and he acts like he’s been in the league ten years.”
What’s Next?
With the playoffs approaching and his college graduation only weeks away, RJ finds himself straddling two realities once again: finals in sports ethics on Monday, and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals on Thursday.
But if anyone can handle it, it’s Roman Josi.
The original Josi, now an assistant GM with the Nashville organization, was seen watching from a private box during the awards. When asked how it felt to see his namesake rise so high, he simply said:
> “It’s poetic. He’s writing a new chapter for this team, and this city. I’m just proud to be part of the same story.”
A Star is Born—Again
Nashville has always been known as the Music City, but in the spring of 2025, it’s a different kind of star that’s stealing the spotlight.
Roman Josi—RJ—isn’t just the Hart winner. He’s the heart of a city rediscovering its love for hockey. And as the playoffs loom and banners begin to rise across Tennessee, one thing’s for sure:
The kid is just getting started.