Hart Memorial Trophy

Ice hockey award

Hart Memorial Trophy

Sport| Ice hockey
Awarded for| Most Valuable Player to his team in regular season of the National Hockey League
History
First award| 1924
Most wins| Wayne Gretzky (9)
Most recent| Nathan MacKinnon
Colorado Avalanche

The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original trophy was donated to the league in 1923 by David Hart, the father of Cecil Hart, the longtime head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. The Hart Trophy has been awarded 99 times to 61 different players since its beginnings in 1923–24.

## History

[edit]

The first winner of the original trophy, Frank Nighbor[1] Elmer Lach with the original trophy in 1945

The Hart Memorial Trophy is named in honour of Canadian Dr. David Hart. Dr. Hart, who donated the original trophy to the NHL, was the father of Cecil Hart, a former coach and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. The trophy was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1923–24 NHL season to Frank Nighbor of the original Ottawa Senators. The original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960, and the NHL began presenting a new trophy, which was dubbed the Hart Memorial Trophy in its place.[2]

Wayne Gretzky won the award a record nine times during his career, eight consecutively.[3] Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers teammate Mark Messier are the only players to win the Hart Trophy with more than one team.[4]

There have been two unanimous MVP wins; Wayne Gretzky during the 1981–1982 NHL season and Connor McDavid during the 2020–2021 NHL season.[5][6]

Players from the Montreal Canadiens have won the award seventeen times; players from the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers are second with thirteen winners. Joe Thornton became the only Hart Trophy winner to have switched clubs during his winning campaign during the 2005–06 season, having played for both the Bruins and San Jose Sharks that year. The defenseman with the most trophy victories is Eddie Shore, who has four. By contrast, it is rare for a goaltender to win the award, which has happened only eight times in its history by 7 different goaltenders; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek is the only two-time winner.[4]

## Voting

[edit]

The voting is conducted at the end of the regular season by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and each individual voter ranks their top five candidates on a 10-7-5-3-1 point(s) system.[7] Three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the playoffs.[8]

The closest the voting for the Hart Trophy has ever come was in the 2001–02 season, when Jose Theodore and Jarome Iginla tied in the total voting. The tiebreaker for choosing the Hart Trophy winner in such a case is number of first-place votes: Theodore claimed it as he had 86 first-place votes to Iginla's 82.[8]

## Winners

[edit]

Nels Stewart, two-time winner Bobby Clarke, three-time winner Wayne Gretzky, record nine-time winner Mario Lemieux, three-time winner Sergei Fedorov, first European trained player to win it, one-time winner Alexander Ovechkin, three-time winner Sidney Crosby, two-time winner Joe Thornton, the only player to switch clubs during his winning season, one-time winner Connor McDavid, three-time winner ^  | Denotes player who is still active in the NHL

|

*  | Denotes player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
~  | Denotes inactive player not yet eligible for Hockey Hall of Fame consideration
†  | Denotes player whose team won the Stanley Cup that year
Player (X)  | Denotes the number of times the player had won the Hart Trophy at that time
Team (X)  | Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time
Season  | Player  | Position  | Team

|
|
|

1923–24 | Frank Nighbor*  | Centre | Ottawa Senators
1924–25 | Billy Burch*  | Centre | Hamilton Tigers
1925–26†  | Nels Stewart*  | Centre | Montreal Maroons
1926–27 | Herb Gardiner*  | Defenceman | Montreal Canadiens
1927–28 | Howie Morenz*  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (2)
1928–29 | Roy Worters*  | Goaltender | New York Americans
1929–30 | Nels Stewart* (2)  | Centre | Montreal Maroons (2)
1930–31†  | Howie Morenz* (2)  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (3)
1931–32 | Howie Morenz* (3)  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (4)
1932–33 | Eddie Shore*  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins
1933–34 | Aurele Joliat*  | Left wing | Montreal Canadiens (5)
1934–35 | Eddie Shore* (2)  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (2)
1935–36 | Eddie Shore* (3)  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (3)
1936–37 | Babe Siebert*  | Defenceman | Montreal Canadiens (6)
1937–38 | Eddie Shore* (4)  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (4)
1938–39 | Toe Blake*  | Left wing | Montreal Canadiens (7)
1939–40 | Ebbie Goodfellow*  | Defenceman | Detroit Red Wings
1940–41†  | Bill Cowley*  | Centre | Boston Bruins (5)
1941–42 | Tommy Anderson | Defenceman | Brooklyn Americans
1942–43 | Bill Cowley* (2)  | Centre | Boston Bruins (6)
1943–44 | Babe Pratt*  | Defenceman | Toronto Maple Leafs
1944–45 | Elmer Lach*  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (8)
1945–46 | Max Bentley*  | Centre | Chicago Black Hawks
1946–47 | Maurice Richard*  | Right wing | Montreal Canadiens (9)
1947–48 | Buddy O'Connor*  | Centre | New York Rangers
1948–49 | Sid Abel*  | Centre | Detroit Red Wings (2)
1949–50 | Chuck Rayner*  | Goaltender | New York Rangers (2)
1950–51 | Milt Schmidt*  | Centre | Boston Bruins (7)
1951–52†  | Gordie Howe*  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (3)
1952–53 | Gordie Howe* (2)  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (4)
1953–54 | Al Rollins | Goaltender | Chicago Black Hawks (2)
1954–55 | Ted Kennedy*  | Centre | Toronto Maple Leafs (2)
1955–56†  | Jean Beliveau*  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (10)
1956–57 | Gordie Howe* (3)  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (5)
1957–58 | Gordie Howe* (4)  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (6)
1958–59 | Andy Bathgate*  | Right wing | New York Rangers (3)
1959–60 | Gordie Howe* (5)  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (7)
1960–61 | Bernie Geoffrion*  | Right wing | Montreal Canadiens (11)
1961–62 | Jacques Plante*  | Goaltender | Montreal Canadiens (12)
1962–63 | Gordie Howe* (6)  | Right wing | Detroit Red Wings (8)
1963–64 | Jean Beliveau* (2)  | Centre | Montreal Canadiens (13)
1964–65 | Bobby Hull*  | Left wing | Chicago Black Hawks (3)
1965–66 | Bobby Hull* (2)  | Left wing | Chicago Black Hawks (4)
1966–67 | Stan Mikita*  | Centre | Chicago Black Hawks (5)
1967–68 | Stan Mikita* (2)  | Centre | Chicago Black Hawks (6)
1968–69 | Phil Esposito*  | Centre | Boston Bruins (8)
1969–70†  | Bobby Orr*  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (9)
1970–71 | Bobby Orr* (2)  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (10)
1971–72†  | Bobby Orr* (3)  | Defenceman | Boston Bruins (11)
1972–73 | Bobby Clarke*  | Centre | Philadelphia Flyers
1973–74 | Phil Esposito* (2)  | Centre | Boston Bruins (12)
1974–75†  | Bobby Clarke* (2)  | Centre | Philadelphia Flyers (2)
1975–76 | Bobby Clarke* (3)  | Centre | Philadelphia Flyers (3)
1976–77†  | Guy Lafleur*  | Right wing | Montreal Canadiens (14)
1977–78†  | Guy Lafleur* (2)  | Right wing | Montreal Canadiens (15)
1978–79 | Bryan Trottier*  | Centre | New York Islanders
1979–80 | Wayne Gretzky*  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers
1980–81 | Wayne Gretzky* (2)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (2)
1981–82 | Wayne Gretzky* (3)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (3)
1982–83 | Wayne Gretzky* (4)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (4)
1983–84†  | Wayne Gretzky* (5)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (5)
1984–85†  | Wayne Gretzky* (6)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (6)
1985–86 | Wayne Gretzky* (7)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (7)
1986–87†  | Wayne Gretzky* (8)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (8)
1987–88 | Mario Lemieux*  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins
1988–89 | Wayne Gretzky* (9)  | Centre | Los Angeles Kings
1989–90†  | Mark Messier*  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (9)
1990–91 | Brett Hull*  | Right wing | St. Louis Blues
1991–92 | Mark Messier* (2)  | Centre | New York Rangers (4)
1992–93 | Mario Lemieux* (2)  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
1993–94 | Sergei Fedorov*  | Centre | Detroit Red Wings (9)
1994–95 | Eric Lindros*  | Centre | Philadelphia Flyers (4)
1995–96 | Mario Lemieux* (3)  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins (3)
1996–97 | Dominik Hasek*  | Goaltender | Buffalo Sabres
1997–98 | Dominik Hasek* (2)  | Goaltender | Buffalo Sabres (2)
1998–99 | Jaromir Jagr~  | Right wing | Pittsburgh Penguins (4)
1999–2000 | Chris Pronger*  | Defenceman | St. Louis Blues (2)
2000–01†  | Joe Sakic*  | Centre | Colorado Avalanche
2001–02 | Jose Theodore | Goaltender | Montreal Canadiens (16)
2002–03 | Peter Forsberg*  | Centre | Colorado Avalanche (2)
2003–04†  | Martin St. Louis*  | Right wing | Tampa Bay Lightning
2004–05 | Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 | Joe Thornton~  | Centre | Boston Bruins (13) / San Jose Sharks[a]
2006–07 | Sidney Crosby^  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins (5)
2007–08 | Alexander Ovechkin^  | Left wing | Washington Capitals
2008–09 | Alexander Ovechkin^ (2)  | Left wing | Washington Capitals (2)
2009–10 | Henrik Sedin*  | Centre | Vancouver Canucks
2010–11 | Corey Perry^  | Right wing | Anaheim Ducks
2011–12 | Evgeni Malkin^  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins (6)
2012–13 | Alexander Ovechkin^ (3)  | Right wing | Washington Capitals (3)
2013–14 | Sidney Crosby^ (2)  | Centre | Pittsburgh Penguins (7)
2014–15 | Carey Price~  | Goaltender | Montreal Canadiens (17)
2015–16 | Patrick Kane^  | Right wing | Chicago Blackhawks (7)
2016–17 | Connor McDavid^  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (10)
2017–18 | Taylor Hall^  | Left wing | New Jersey Devils
2018–19 | Nikita Kucherov^  | Right wing | Tampa Bay Lightning (2)
2019–20 | Leon Draisaitl^  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (11)
2020–21 | Connor McDavid^ (2)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (12)
2021–22 | Auston Matthews^  | Centre | Toronto Maple Leafs (3)
2022–23 | Connor McDavid^ (3)  | Centre | Edmonton Oilers (13)
2023–24 | Nathan MacKinnon^  | Centre | Colorado Avalanche (3)

## See also

[edit]

* Ted Lindsay Award
* List of NHL statistical leaders

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The 2005–06 winner, Joe Thornton, was traded from the Boston Bruins to the San Jose Sharks mid-season. To date, he is the only winner to have played for multiple teams during his winning season.

## References

[edit]

General

* "Hart Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
* Hockey Hall of Fame. "Legends of Hockey - NHL Trophies - Hart Memorial Trophy". Legends of Hockey. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
* "NHL Hart Memorial Trophy Winners". Hockey Reference. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
* Hollander, Zander; Bock, Hal, eds. (1970). The Complete Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey. Prentice-Hall Inc. ISBN 0-13-159905-4.

Specific

1. ^ "Hart Memorial Trophy". Official website of Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
2. ^ Hollander & Bock 1970, p. 311.
3. ^ "99 Reasons Why Wayne Gretzky is "The Great One"". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
4. ^ a b "Hart Memorial Trophy". HHOF.com. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
5. ^ "McDavid of Oilers wins Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
6. ^ "Connor McDavid is the second unanimous winner of the NHL's MVP award in league history. It's a very rare accomplishment in sports". RMNB. 2021-06-30. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
7. ^ Dolezar, Jon (April 20, 2003). "Foppa shows the most Hart". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved August 4, 2016.`{{cite magazine}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. ^ a b "Hart Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2014.

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