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Awards = HOF?: Part Fifty-Four: The Mark Messier Leadership Award

Awards = HOF?: Part Fifty-Four: The Mark Messier Leadership Award
26 Nov
2020
Not in Hall of Fame

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the Lester B. Peasrson, awarded annually to the top MVP as voted on by the players of the National Hockey League.  We stay on the ice with the newest award, the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which was first awarded in 2007-08.  Named after Hall of Famer, Mark Messier, it is designed to honor an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.

So how many Mark Messier Leadership winners have made the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Mark Messier Leadership Award who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings, Defense: 11 G, 11 A, 22 P, 3.3 PS  2007

At age 45, Chelios had literally been a leader for decades, and despite his age, he was in the NHL for three more seasons. The American Defenseman had won three Norris Trophies, was a five-time First Team All-Star, and won three Stanley Cups; one with Montreal and two with Detroit.  It is hard to debate that this award did not get off to a perfect start.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center: 32 G, 46 A, 78 P, 9.8 PS  2008

This was Sundin’s penultimate year in the NHL, and his last with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  A Maple Leaf since 1994, Sundin was a leader on the ice since day one, and was Toronto’s best player for over a decade.  He had previously been a Second Team All-Star twice.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing 35 G, 54 A, 89 P, 9.5 PS  2009

Iginla was not just Calgary’s leader, but had been the Flames best player for years.  This was his third First Team All-Star season, and seven years before he was the winner of both the Art Ross and Lester B. Pearson Award.  Iginla would later play for Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado and Los Angeles.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

 

The following are the players who have won the Mark Messier Leadership Award who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes, Right Wing: 22 G, 28 A, 50 P, 5.0 PS 2012   

Since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg to Phoenix, Shane Doan was the best and most important player for the franchise when they were in Arizona.  Doan led the Coyotes to a Conference Final this year, and he was with Phoenix for his entire 21-year career.

Eligible since 2020.  Ranked #56 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators, Right Wing: 10 G, 16 A, 26 P, 2.7 PS 2013   

Alfredsson was in his 17thand final year as an Ottawa Senator, and while he couldn’t lead them to a Stanley Cup, he was the leader on many good Senator teams.  He played one more year in Detroit, and scored 1157 career Points.

Eligible since 2017.  Ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

Award in Question

Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF

Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.

NBA MVP

100%

100%

NHL Art Ross

100%

100%

NHL Hart Trophy

93.6%

96.3%

NBA Finals MVP

91.3%

94.9%

NHL Norris

90.5%

96.4%

NHL Ted Lindsay Award

90.0%

 

NBA All-Star Game MVP

89.5%

91.7%

NHL Conn Smythe

74.2%

85.4%

NFL Bert Bell Award

73.7%

71.4%

NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

73.1%

79.4%

NFL AP MVP

68.3%

74.0%

NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

66.7%

66.7%

NHL Lady Byng

63.8%

76.0%

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

60.8%

71.1%

NFL Super Bowl MVP

60.6%

64.9%

NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award

60.0%

60.0%

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

58.3%

56.5%

NHL Vezina

57.1%

66.3%

NBA Rookie of the Year

56.5%

56.5%

MLB MVP

55.0%

60.2%

NFL Pro Bowl MVP

52.3%

54.8%

MLB Lou Gehrig Award

51.9%

51.9%

MLB Roberto Clemente Award

47.4%

47.4%

NHL Calder Trophy

46.5%

46.5%

NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

46.0%

46.0%

MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award

44.4%

55.4%

MLB Babe Ruth Award

37.0%

39.3%

NHL King Clancy Award

36.8%

36.8%

NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy

33.3%

36.7%

MLB World Series MVP

33.3%

36.8%

MLB Hutch Award

33.1%

33.1%

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

28.6%

28.6%

NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

27.9%

27.9%

MLB Edgar Martinez Award

26.7%

17.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)

25.0%

30.8%

MLB Comeback Player of the Year

25.0%

25.0%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)

23.5%

52.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove

21.7%

36.8%

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

20.6%

20.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)

20.0%

22.5%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base)

18.8%

39.8%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop)

18.2%

35.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)

18.2%

20.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)

16.7%

32.7%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield)

16.7%

30.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)

15.7%

25.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base)

14.3%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)

13.6%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)

13.6%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year

13.3%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher)

10.3%

15.2%

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year

5.3%

3.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base)

3.8%

3.2%

NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

0.0%

0.0%

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Mark Messier Leadership Award Trophy in the NHL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame:

None.

The following are the players who have won the Ted Lindsay who are still active.

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 51 G, 58 A, 109 P, 14.7 PS, 2010

At age 23, it will be difficult to envision another Mark Messier Leadership Award winner to be younger than Sidney Crosby.  This season, Crosby was in his fifth NHL season, and was a Second Team All-Star and a Rocket Richard winner.  He was already a Hart Trophy winner, and would be again four years later.  Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion.

33 Years Old,Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins, Defense: 14 G, 30 A, 44 P, 10.0 PS 2011

A Second Team All-Star this year, Chara was the Norris Trophy winner two years previous, and he was a First Team All-Star and Second Team All-Star twice before.  Chara led by example, and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup this year, largely on what the big man did.

43 Years Old,Playing for the Boston Bruins.

Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing: 15 G, 12 A, 27 P, 3.1 PS 2014 

Dustin Brown helped lead the Kings to a Stanley Cup in 2012, and he did it again this season.  Brown was an All-Star in 2009.

36 Years Old,Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center: 28 G, 38 A, 66 P, 9.4 PS 2015 

This season Toews led Chicago to their third (and his) Stanley Cup win of the decade.  The Center had previously been named a Second Team All-Star (2013), a Conn Smythe winner (2010) and Frank J. Selke Trophy winner (2013).

32 Years Old,Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Shea Weber, Nashville Predators, Defense: 20 G, 31 A, 51 P, 9.5 PS 2016

Weber had been the core player in Nashville for years by this time and prior to this Mark Messier Award, he was twice a First Team All-Star, twice a Second Team All-Star, and had five top-four finishes for the Norris Trophy.

35 Years Old,Playing for the Montreal Canadiens.

Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets, Left Wing: 26 G, 25 A, 51 P, 5.9 PS, 2017

Foligno also won the King Clancy Award this year, marking the first time that a Blue Jacket won either.  

33 Years Old,Playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Deryk Engelland, Vegas Golden Knights, Defense: 5 G, 18 A, 23 P, 4.5 PS, 2018

For the second year in a row, the winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award also won the King Clancy.  Engelland was the first Golden Knight to win this trophy.

38 Years Old,Free Agent.

Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, Right Wing: 17 G, 13 A, 30 P, 1.9 PS, 2019

This is the first and to date only Mark Messier Leadership winner who split his award-winning season between two years.  Simmonds was dealt from Philadelphia to Nashville for their playoff run, and this was mostly due to his overall contributions as a Flyer.

32 Years Old,Playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames, Defense: 5 G, 26 A, 31 P, 5.4 PS, 2020

Giordano is a late-bloomer of sorts, winning his first Norris Trophy at age 35 and setting personal statistical bests.  To date, Giordano has played his entire career with Calgary, and has been their leader for years.

37 Years Old,Playing for the Calgary Flames.

Leadership in team sports is important, and as we see, they are often from players who could be considered the best player on the team.

So, what is up next?

We have one NHL Award left, the William M. Jennings, which is awarded annually to the team of Goalies that have the fewest Goals Against.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

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