What is the Hart Memorial Trophy?

The Hart Memorial Trophy, commonly known as the Hart Trophy, is among the most prestigious individual awards in the National Hockey League (NHL). It is awarded annually to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team during the regular season. The trophy has a rich history dating back to its inception in the 1923-24 season.

The Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL by Dr. David A. Hart, the father of Cecil Hart, who was the head coach and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens at the time. Dr. Hart was a prominent physician and businessman in Montreal, and he wanted to honor his son’s achievements in the NHL by creating an award for the league’s most valuable player.

The first winner of the Hart Trophy was Frank Nighbor of the Ottawa Senators in the 1923-24 season. Nighbor was known for his excellent two-way play and was instrumental in leading the Senators to the Stanley Cup that season. The trophy quickly became a coveted prize for players, and its prestige grew over the years.

One of the most dominant players in the history of the Hart Trophy is Wayne Gretzky. He won the award a record nine times during his illustrious career, including eight consecutive seasons from 1980-81 to 1987-88. Gretzky’s incredible offensive production and ability to make those around him better made him a perennial favorite for the award.

Other players who have won the Hart Trophy multiple times include Eddie Shore, Bobby Clarke, and Mario Lemieux. These players were recognized for their incredible talent and leadership on the ice, and their names are etched in NHL history as some of the greatest to ever play the game.

Over the years, the selection process for the Hart Trophy has evolved. In the early years, the winner was selected by a poll of NHL coaches and managers. In the 1960s, the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) began selecting the winner, a process that remains in place today.

In recent years, there has been some controversy surrounding the Hart Trophy. Some argue that the award should go to the player who is the most valuable to his team, while others believe it should go to the player who has the best overall performance. This debate has led to some interesting selections, with some players winning the award despite not leading their teams to playoff success.

Despite the controversy, the Hart Trophy remains one of the most prestigious individual awards in the NHL. The players who have won the trophy over the years are some of the greatest in the history of the game, and their achievements will be remembered for generations to come. As the NHL continues to evolve, the Hart Trophy will continue to be a symbol of excellence and achievement for the league’s most valuable players.

1923-24 – Frank Nighbor, Ottawa Senators

1924-25 – Billy Burch, Hamilton Tigers
1925-26 – Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons
1926-27 – Herb Gardiner, Montreal Canadiens

1927-28 – Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
1928-29 – Roy Worters, New York Americans
1929-30 – Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons

1930-31 – Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
1931-32 – Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins
1932-33 – Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

1933-34 – Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs
1934-35 – Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins
1935-36 – Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

1936-37 – Babe Siebert, Montreal Canadiens
1937-38 – Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins
1938-39 – Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens

1939-40 – Ebbie Goodfellow, Detroit Red Wings
1940-41 – Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins
1941-42 – Tommy Anderson, Brooklyn Americans

1942-43 – Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins
1943-44 – Babe Pratt, Toronto Maple Leafs

1944-45 – Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens

1945-46 – Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks

1946-47 – Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
1947-48 – Buddy O’Connor, New York Rangers

1948-49 – Sid Abel, Detroit Red Wings
1949-50 – Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings
1950-51 – Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins

1951-52 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
1952-53 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
1953-54 – Al Rollins, Chicago Blackhawks

1954-55 – Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs
1955-56 – Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
1956-57 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

1957-58 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
1958-59 – Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers
1959-60 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

1960-61 – Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
1961-62 – Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens
1962-63 – Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

1963-64 – Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
1964-65 – Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
1965-66 – Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks

1966-67 – Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
1967-68 – Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
1968-69 – Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins

1969-70 – Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
1970-71 – Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
1971-72 – Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

1972-73 – Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
1973-74 – Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
1974-75 – Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers

1975-76 – Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
1976-77 – Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
1977-78 – Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens

1978-79 – Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
1979-80 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1980-81 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

1981-82 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1982-83 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1983-84 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

1984-85 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1985-86 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1986-87 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

1987-88 – Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
1988-89 – Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
1989-90 – Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers

1990-91 – Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
1991-92 – Mark Messier, New York Rangers
1992-93 – Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

1993-94 – Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings
1994-95 – Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers
1995-96 – Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

1996-97 – Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
1997-98 – Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres
1998-99 – Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins

1999-00 – Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues
2000-01 – Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
2001-02 – Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens

2002-03 – Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche
2003-04 – Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
2004-05 – No winner (lockout)

2005-06 – Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
2006-07 – Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
2007-08 – Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

2008-09 – Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
2009-10 – Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
2010-11 – Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks

2011-12 – Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
2012-13 – Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
2013-14 – Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

2014-15 – Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
2015-16 – Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
2016-17 – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

2017-18 – Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
2018-19 – Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
2019-20 – Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

2020-21 – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
2021-22 – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Note: The NHL did not award the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 2004-05 season due to the lockout.

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