gold star for USAHOF

Awards = HOF (14)

Winning individual awards in the Big Four of sports is a great metric to determine Hall of Fame entry.  The more important the award, the more likely the recipient will enter their respective Hall.

We have broken down the entry percentage in two categories, first by total winners, regardless of how many times they won a respective award.  Second, purely by year, again regardless of whether they are a repeat winner.

Award

Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF

Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF

Art Ross Trophy (NHL) 100% 100%
Norris Trophy (NHL) 95.2% 98.2%

Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL)

93.6%

96.3%

Ted Lindsay Award (NHL) 90.0% 93.9%
Mark Messier Leadership Trophy (NHL) 80.0% 80.0%
Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL) 68.4% 72.7%
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (NHL) 66.0% 78.3%
Vezina Trophy (NHL) 50.0% 70.8%
Calder Trophy (NHL) 46.6% 46.6%
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (NHL) 42.9% 55.5%
King Clancy Memorial Trophy (NHL) 39.2% 41.4%
Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL) 35.0% 43.3%
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (NHL) 27.3% 27.3%

If you had asked us in 2006, we would have said there is no need for another individual hockey award.  We were wrong.

In the 2006/07 Season, five players were honored monthly as selected by the NHL based on qualifications, with Mark Messier deciding the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award.  Those monthly winners were Brendan Shanahan (New York Rangers), Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim Ducks), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks).  The year after, it was changed to being a yearly award.

There is no better player to name this after than Messier.  He is the only player to lead two NHL teams (Edmonton and New York) to a Stanley Cup as their captain.

The results are as follows:

There are currently five former Mark Messier Leadership winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with four entering, yielding a percentage of 80.0. 

As this award has never been a repeat winner, the percentage by year remains the same.

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

2007:  Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings, Defense.  0 Goals, 11 Assists, 11 Points, +11, 3.3 Point Shares.

At age 45, Chelios had 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.

2008:  Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  32 Goals, 46 Assists, 78 Points, +17, 9.8 Point Shares.

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.

2009:  Jarome Iginla:  Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  35 Goals, 54 Assists, 89 Points, -2, 9.5 Point Shares.

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 Awards.  Iginla would later play for Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado, and Los Angeles.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2013:  Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators, Right Wing.  10 Goals, 16 Assists, 26 Points, +1.  2.7 Point Shares.   

Alfredsson was in his 17th and 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.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

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

2012:  Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes, Right Wing.  22 Goals, 28 Assists, 50 Points, -8, 5.0 Point Shares.    

Since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg to Phoenix, Shane Doan was the franchise's best and most important player 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 #58 on Notinhalloffame.com.

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

2011:  Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins, Defense.  14 Goals, 30 Assists, 44 Points, +33, 10.0 Point Shares. 

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, mainly on what the big man did.

Eligible in 2025.

2014:  Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing.  15 Goals, 12 Assists, 27 Points, +7, 3.1 Point Shares. 

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

Eligible in 2025.

2018:  Deryk Engelland, Vegas Golden Knights, Defense.  5 Goals, 18 Assists, 23 Points, +6, 4.5 Point Shares.

For the second year in a row, the Mark Messier Leadership Award winner also won the King Clancy.  Engelland was the first Golden Knight to win this trophy, but with all due respect to the former Defenseman, he is the least likely Mark Messier Award winner to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Eligible in 2023.

The following are the players who have won the NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award and are still active.

2010:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  51 Goals, 58 Assists, 109 Points, +15, 14.7 Point Shares

At age 23, it will be difficult to envision another Mark Messier Leadership Award winner to be younger than Sidney Crosby.  Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion.  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.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2015:  Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  28 Goals, 38 Assists, 66 Points, +30, 9.4 Point Shares.

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 a Frank J. Selke Trophy winner (2013).

35 Years OldPlaying for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2016:  Shea Weber, Nashville Predators, Defense.  20 Goals, 31 Assists, 51 Points, -7, 9.5 Point Shares.

Weber had been the core player in Nashville for years by this time, and before 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.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Vegas Golden Knights.

2017:  Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets, Left Wing.  26 Goals, 25 Assists, 51 Points, -4, 5.9 Point Shares.

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

35 Years OldPlaying for the Boston Bruins.

2019:  Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, Right Wing.  17 Goals, 13 Assists, 30 Points, -16, 1.9 Point Shares.

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, primarily due to his overall contributions as a Flyer, though do not discount what he did as a Predator.

34 Years OldPlaying for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2020:  Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames, Defense.  5 Goals, 26 Assists, 31 Points, +2, 5.4 Point Shares.

Giordano is a late bloomer, winning his first Norris Trophy at age 35 and setting personal statistical bests.   Giordano played most of his career with Calgary and was their leader for years.

39 Years OldPlaying for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2021:  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  23 Goals, 25 Assists, 48 Points, +27, 6.9 Point Shares.

Bergeron is one of the best two-way players of his generation (if not the best) and was already a four-time Selke winner (he won a fifth a year after).  He won a Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and captured the King Clancy award in 2013.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Boston Bruins.

2022:  Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  19 Goals, 48 Assists, 67 Points, -6, 5.7 Point Shares.

Kopitar already anchored Los Angeles to two Stanley Cups (2012 & 2014), and the Slovenian Center added to his already ample trophy case (he had two Selkes and a Lady Byng) with the acquisition of the 2022 Mark Messier Leadership Award.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Mark Messier Leadership Award is not exclusive to superstars, but the character requirement is off the chart.   

The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy is similar to the Art Ross Trophy in that there is one fixed mathematical perimeter, and it could have existed (albeit under a different name) since the NHL was formed.

The Montreal Canadiens donated the award in honor of Richard, who was the first player to score 50 Goals in an NHL season (which he did in 50 Games) and the first to score 500 in a career.  It was first issued in 1999.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 7 former Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 3 entering, yielding a percentage of 39.2.  

If we go by yearly winners, there is an increase to 9 eligible years, with 5 of them generating a Hockey Hall of Famer.  That is a 55.5 Percentage.

The following are the past players who have won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and have been enshrined.

1999:  Teemu Selanne, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Right Wing.  47 Goals, 60 Assists, 107 Points, +18, 14.3 Point Shares.  

Had the Richard existed earlier, this would be Selanne's third win and a successful defense.  As it stands, this was.  Selanne's only Richard trophy, in a year where he finished fifth for the Hart, third in Byng voting, and was a Second Team All-Star.  Selanne's Hall of Fame career also includes a Calder, a Masterton, and a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.   The "Finnish Flash" lit the lamp 684 times over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

2000:  Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers, Right Wing.  58 Goals, 36 Assists, 94 Points, -25, 13.5 Point Shares.  

The "Finnish Flash" gave way to the "Russian Rocket," who would have won the award in 1993/94 with 60 Goals.  This season, Bure was first in Even Strength Goals (45), Game-Winning Goals (14), and Shots (360), with a Second Team All-Star and a third-place finish in Hart balloting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

2001 (2):  Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers, Right Wing.  59 Goals, 33 Assists, 92 Points, -25, 13.5 Point Shares.  

In the third year of the Richard Trophy, we have our first repeat winner in Bure, who was ninth in Hart voting.  This was his last monster year, as he was beset with injuries, and he last played in the NHL in 2003, netting 428 Goals over 12 seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

2002:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  52 Goals, 44 Assists, 96 Points, +27, 14.4 Point Shares.  

Iginla was on his way to becoming a superstar, but this was the year he accomplished it.  The Calgary Wing also won the Art Ross and the Lester B. Pearson while earning First Team All-Star honors.  The runner-up for the Hart was also first in Even Strength Goals (35).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2004 Co-Winner (2):  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  41 Goals, 32 Assists, 73 Points, +21, 11.1 Point Shares.  

This was the first year where there were Rocket Richard had multiple winners, but with all due respect to Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk, Iginla would be the one who historically stood out.  Iginla was again the Hart runner-up and the first Richard winner to win the King Clancy Award.  He scored 525 Goals over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

The following are the players who have won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

2003:  Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche, Right Wing.  50 Goals, 48 Assists, 98 Points, +52, 14.6 Point Shares. 

Hejduk played all 14 of his NHL seasons with Colorado, and though he helped take the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2001, this was his best year.  The Czech Wing not only led the NHL in Goals, but he was also number one in Even Strength Goals (32) and Plus/Minus (+52) and was a Second Team All-Star.  Hejduk scored 375 Goals over his career.

Eligible Since 2016.  Ranked #100 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004 Co-Winner:  Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets, Left Wing.  41 Goals, 16 Assists, 57 Points, -35, 7.7 Point Shares.

Statistically, Nash is the most fascinating Richard winner to date, as the 2003/04 co-winner (with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jarome Iginla), and is the only one with a sub -30 Plus/Minus, though, to be fair, Columbus was horrible that the time.  This was also Nash's sophomore year, but his last major accolade in the NHL.  He did play until 2018, netting 437 Goals.

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks, Right Wing.  56 Goals, 37 Assists, 93 Points, +23, 12.7 Point Shares.

Cheechoo's season exploded when Joe Thornton was traded from Boston to the Sharks, and he became and remains the most unexpended Richard winner in award history.  He never had a season like that again and only had 170 Goals over his career.

Eligible Since 2018.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2007:  Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  52 Goals, 56 Assists, 108 Points, +2, 12.7 Point Shares.

Lecavalier was the first Center to win the Richard and was a Second Team All-Star.  A Stanley Cup Champion before, Lecavalier was fourth in Hart voting and won the King Clancy the season after.  He had 421 career Goals.

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the NHL Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2004:  Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers, Left Wing.  41 Goals, 46 Losses, 87 Points, -10, 10.6 Point Shares.

Kovalchuk was one of three winners of the 2004 Rocket Richard award, and unless the Atlanta Thrashers are resurrected from the dead, this will be the only winner from Hotlanta.  The Russian star would later have two 50-Goal seasons and scored 328 Goals in the NHL.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and are still active.

2008:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  65 Goals, 47 Assists, 112 Points, +28, 17.2 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was the first Richard winner (though far from the first player) to have a 60-plus Goal season, and he also won the Hart, Lester B. Pearson, and Art Ross and was a First Team All-Star.  He was also tops in Even Strength Goals (43), Power Play Goals (22), Game-Winning Goals (11), and Shots (446).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2009 (2):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  56 Goals, 54 Assists, 110 Points, +8, 14.5 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was a back-to-back Hart, Pearson, and First Team All-Star, and he was the league leader in Even Strength Goals (36) and Shots (528).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2010 Co-Winner:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  51 Goals, 58 Assists, 109 Points, +15, 14.7 Point Shares.

Crosby was only in his early 20s, but before he won his first Richard, he was already a Stanley Cup winner, a Hart winner, and a Ted Lindsay Award winner.  He did not win the Hart or Lindsay this season (he was third for the Hart), but "Sid the Kid" won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2010 Co-Winner:  Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  51 Goals, 54 Assists, 95 Points, -2, 12.8 Point Shares.

Stamkos won his first Richard Trophy and also led the NHL in Power Play Goals (24).  He was sixth in Hart voting.

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2011:  Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks, Right Wing.  50 Goals, 48 Assists, 98 Points, +9, 13.3 Point Shares.

Perry helped take the Ducks to a Stanley Cup win in 2007, and he not only won the Richard this season, but he was also the Hart Trophy winner.  He also topped the NHL in Even Strength Goals (32).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2012 (2):  Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  60 Goals, 37 Assists, 97 Points, +7, 14.6 Point Shares.

Stamkos joined the 60-Goal club, winning his second Richard in the process.  Earning Second Team All-Pro honors and finishing second in for the Hart, Stamkos would later lead the Lightning to two Stanley Cups (2020 & 2021).

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2013 (3):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  32 Goals, 24 Assists, 56 Points, +2, 8.0 Point Shares.

Ovechkin became the first man to win three Richard awards, and as he did in the first two, he was also the Hart Trophy winner.  He was again first in Even Strength Goals (16) and Shots (220).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2014 (4):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  51 Goals, 28 Assists, 79 Points, -35, 10.2 Point Shares.

Now the first four-time Richard winner, Ovechkin failed to win the Hart (he was only 23rd), but he landed another first-place finish in Power Play Goals (24) and Shots (386).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2015 (5):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  53 Goals, 28 Assists, 81 Points, +10, 12.6 Point Shares.

Not only did Ovechkin win his fifth Richard Trophy, but he also became the first to win it three years in a row.  Ovechkin was also second for the Hart and was the league leader in Power Play Goals (25), Game Winning Goals (11), and Shots (395).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2016 (6):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  50 Goals, 21 Assists, 71 Points, +21, 11.7 Point Shares.

Ovechkin secured his sixth Richard and fourth straight Richard while finishing sixth for the Hart.  He also was first in Even Strength Goals (31), Power Play Goals (19), and Shots (398).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2017 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  44 Goals, 45 Assists, 89 Points, +17, 12.3 Point Shares.

Crosby was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy, but he captured a better one with his third Stanley Cup, a back-to-back win.  

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2018 (7):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  49 Goals, 38 Assists, 87 Points, +3, 11.2 Point Shares.

A new streak began in 2017/18 for Ovechkin, whose seventh Richard came with a much bigger prize.  Ovechkin led Washington to a Stanley Cup win this season while also winning the Conn Smythe.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2019 (8):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  51 Goals, 38 Assists, 89 Points, +7, 11.0 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was a First Team All-Star for the seventh time and was seventh in Hart voting.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2020 Co-winner:  David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, Right Wing.  48 Goals, 47 Assists, 95 Points, 21, 13.2 Point Shares.

Pastrnak had his breakout campaign, winning the Richard and securing a First Team All-Star at Right Wing.  He was also fourth in Hart voting. 

26 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2020 (9) Co-winner:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  48 Goals, 19 Assists, 67 Points, -12, 8.7 Point Shares.

Ovechkin won the Richard for the ninth time, and we don't know if we will be alive to see that record fall.  We also didn't think that we would be alive to see Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record eclipsed, but that looks to be Ovechkin's in the future. 

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2021:  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  41 Goals, 25 Assists, 66 Points, +21, 9.5 Point Shares.

Matthews won the Calder in 2017, and five years later, he won his second major individual award in the Richard.  The Leafs Center also led the NHL in Even Strength Goals (31), Game-Winning Goals (12), and Shots (222) while finishing second in Hart voting. 

25 Years Old, Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2022 (2):  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  60 Goals, 46 Assists, 106 Points, +20, 13.8 Point Shares.

Matthews repeated as the Richard winner and became the first Maple Leaf to have a 60-Goal year.  He also won the Hart and Ted Lindsay Trophy and was first in Even Strength Goals (44) and Shots (348). 

25 Years Old, Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Like the Art Ross, the Maurice Richard Award is purely based on a statistic but an important one.  There might be some unique and surprise winners, but for the most part, this award generates Hall of Famers, and when Ovechkin is available, the winning percentage by year will skyrocket.

The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy is similar to the Art Ross Trophy in that there is one fixed mathematical perimeter, and it could have existed (albeit under a different name) since the NHL was formed.

The Montreal Canadiens donated the award in honor of Richard, who was the first player to score 50 Goals in an NHL season (which he did in 50 Games) and the first to score 500 in a career.  It was first issued in 1999.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 7 former Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 3 entering, yielding a percentage of 39.2.  

If we go by yearly winners, there is an increase to 9 eligible years, with 5 of them generating a Hockey Hall of Famer.  That is a 55.5 Percentage.

The following are the past players who have won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and have been enshrined.

1999:  Teemu Selanne, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Right Wing.  47 Goals, 60 Assists, 107 Points, +18, 14.3 Point Shares.  

Had the Richard existed earlier, this would be Selanne's third win and a successful defense.  As it stands, this was.  Selanne's only Richard trophy, in a year where he finished fifth for the Hart, third in Byng voting, and was a Second Team All-Star.  Selanne's Hall of Fame career also includes a Calder, a Masterton, and a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.   The "Finnish Flash" lit the lamp 684 times over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

2000:  Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers, Right Wing.  58 Goals, 36 Assists, 94 Points, -25, 13.5 Point Shares.  

The "Finnish Flash" gave way to the "Russian Rocket," who would have won the award in 1993/94 with 60 Goals.  This season, Bure was first in Even Strength Goals (45), Game-Winning Goals (14), and Shots (360), with a Second Team All-Star and a third-place finish in Hart balloting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

2001 (2):  Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers, Right Wing.  59 Goals, 33 Assists, 92 Points, -25, 13.5 Point Shares.  

In the third year of the Richard Trophy, we have our first repeat winner in Bure, who was ninth in Hart voting.  This was his last monster year, as he was beset with injuries, and he last played in the NHL in 2003, netting 428 Goals over 12 seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

2002:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  52 Goals, 44 Assists, 96 Points, +27, 14.4 Point Shares.  

Iginla was on his way to becoming a superstar, but this was the year he accomplished it.  The Calgary Wing also won the Art Ross and the Lester B. Pearson while earning First Team All-Star honors.  The runner-up for the Hart was also first in Even Strength Goals (35).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2004 Co-Winner (2):  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  41 Goals, 32 Assists, 73 Points, +21, 11.1 Point Shares.  

This was the first year where there were Rocket Richard had multiple winners, but with all due respect to Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk, Iginla would be the one who historically stood out.  Iginla was again the Hart runner-up and the first Richard winner to win the King Clancy Award.  He scored 525 Goals over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

The following are the players who have won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

2003:  Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche, Right Wing.  50 Goals, 48 Assists, 98 Points, +52, 14.6 Point Shares. 

Hejduk played all 14 of his NHL seasons with Colorado, and though he helped take the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2001, this was his best year.  The Czech Wing not only led the NHL in Goals, but he was also number one in Even Strength Goals (32) and Plus/Minus (+52) and was a Second Team All-Star.  Hejduk scored 375 Goals over his career.

Eligible Since 2016.  Ranked #100 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004 Co-Winner:  Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets, Left Wing.  41 Goals, 16 Assists, 57 Points, -35, 7.7 Point Shares.

Statistically, Nash is the most fascinating Richard winner to date, as the 2003/04 co-winner (with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jarome Iginla), and is the only one with a sub -30 Plus/Minus, though, to be fair, Columbus was horrible that the time.  This was also Nash's sophomore year, but his last major accolade in the NHL.  He did play until 2018, netting 437 Goals.

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks, Right Wing.  56 Goals, 37 Assists, 93 Points, +23, 12.7 Point Shares.

Cheechoo's season exploded when Joe Thornton was traded from Boston to the Sharks, and he became and remains the most unexpended Richard winner in award history.  He never had a season like that again and only had 170 Goals over his career.

Eligible Since 2018.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2007:  Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  52 Goals, 56 Assists, 108 Points, +2, 12.7 Point Shares.

Lecavalier was the first Center to win the Richard and was a Second Team All-Star.  A Stanley Cup Champion before, Lecavalier was fourth in Hart voting and won the King Clancy the season after.  He had 421 career Goals.

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the NHL Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2004:  Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers, Left Wing.  41 Goals, 46 Losses, 87 Points, -10, 10.6 Point Shares.

Kovalchuk was one of three winners of the 2004 Rocket Richard award, and unless the Atlanta Thrashers are resurrected from the dead, this will be the only winner from Hotlanta.  The Russian star would later have two 50-Goal seasons and scored 328 Goals in the NHL.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and are still active.

2008:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  65 Goals, 47 Assists, 112 Points, +28, 17.2 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was the first Richard winner (though far from the first player) to have a 60-plus Goal season, and he also won the Hart, Lester B. Pearson, and Art Ross and was a First Team All-Star.  He was also tops in Even Strength Goals (43), Power Play Goals (22), Game-Winning Goals (11), and Shots (446).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2009 (2):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  56 Goals, 54 Assists, 110 Points, +8, 14.5 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was a back-to-back Hart, Pearson, and First Team All-Star, and he was the league leader in Even Strength Goals (36) and Shots (528).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2010 Co-Winner:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  51 Goals, 58 Assists, 109 Points, +15, 14.7 Point Shares.

Crosby was only in his early 20s, but before he won his first Richard, he was already a Stanley Cup winner, a Hart winner, and a Ted Lindsay Award winner.  He did not win the Hart or Lindsay this season (he was third for the Hart), but "Sid the Kid" won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2010 Co-Winner:  Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  51 Goals, 54 Assists, 95 Points, -2, 12.8 Point Shares.

Stamkos won his first Richard Trophy and also led the NHL in Power Play Goals (24).  He was sixth in Hart voting.

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2011:  Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks, Right Wing.  50 Goals, 48 Assists, 98 Points, +9, 13.3 Point Shares.

Perry helped take the Ducks to a Stanley Cup win in 2007, and he not only won the Richard this season, but he was also the Hart Trophy winner.  He also topped the NHL in Even Strength Goals (32).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2012 (2):  Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  60 Goals, 37 Assists, 97 Points, +7, 14.6 Point Shares.

Stamkos joined the 60-Goal club, winning his second Richard in the process.  Earning Second Team All-Pro honors and finishing second in for the Hart, Stamkos would later lead the Lightning to two Stanley Cups (2020 & 2021).

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2013 (3):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  32 Goals, 24 Assists, 56 Points, +2, 8.0 Point Shares.

Ovechkin became the first man to win three Richard awards, and as he did in the first two, he was also the Hart Trophy winner.  He was again first in Even Strength Goals (16) and Shots (220).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2014 (4):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  51 Goals, 28 Assists, 79 Points, -35, 10.2 Point Shares.

Now the first four-time Richard winner, Ovechkin failed to win the Hart (he was only 23rd), but he landed another first-place finish in Power Play Goals (24) and Shots (386).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2015 (5):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  53 Goals, 28 Assists, 81 Points, +10, 12.6 Point Shares.

Not only did Ovechkin win his fifth Richard Trophy, but he also became the first to win it three years in a row.  Ovechkin was also second for the Hart and was the league leader in Power Play Goals (25), Game Winning Goals (11), and Shots (395).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2016 (6):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  50 Goals, 21 Assists, 71 Points, +21, 11.7 Point Shares.

Ovechkin secured his sixth Richard and fourth straight Richard while finishing sixth for the Hart.  He also was first in Even Strength Goals (31), Power Play Goals (19), and Shots (398).

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2017 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  44 Goals, 45 Assists, 89 Points, +17, 12.3 Point Shares.

Crosby was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy, but he captured a better one with his third Stanley Cup, a back-to-back win.  

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2018 (7):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  49 Goals, 38 Assists, 87 Points, +3, 11.2 Point Shares.

A new streak began in 2017/18 for Ovechkin, whose seventh Richard came with a much bigger prize.  Ovechkin led Washington to a Stanley Cup win this season while also winning the Conn Smythe.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2019 (8):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  51 Goals, 38 Assists, 89 Points, +7, 11.0 Point Shares.

Ovechkin was a First Team All-Star for the seventh time and was seventh in Hart voting.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2020 Co-winner:  David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, Right Wing.  48 Goals, 47 Assists, 95 Points, 21, 13.2 Point Shares.

Pastrnak had his breakout campaign, winning the Richard and securing a First Team All-Star at Right Wing.  He was also fourth in Hart voting. 

26 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2020 (9) Co-winner:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  48 Goals, 19 Assists, 67 Points, -12, 8.7 Point Shares.

Ovechkin won the Richard for the ninth time, and we don't know if we will be alive to see that record fall.  We also didn't think that we would be alive to see Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record eclipsed, but that looks to be Ovechkin's in the future. 

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2021:  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  41 Goals, 25 Assists, 66 Points, +21, 9.5 Point Shares.

Matthews won the Calder in 2017, and five years later, he won his second major individual award in the Richard.  The Leafs Center also led the NHL in Even Strength Goals (31), Game-Winning Goals (12), and Shots (222) while finishing second in Hart voting. 

25 Years Old, Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2022 (2):  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  60 Goals, 46 Assists, 106 Points, +20, 13.8 Point Shares.

Matthews repeated as the Richard winner and became the first Maple Leaf to have a 60-Goal year.  He also won the Hart and Ted Lindsay Trophy and was first in Even Strength Goals (44) and Shots (348). 

25 Years Old, Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Like the Art Ross, the Maurice Richard Award is purely based on a statistic but an important one.  There might be some unique and surprise winners, but for the most part, this award generates Hall of Famers, and when Ovechkin is available, the winning percentage by year will skyrocket.

The William M. Jennings Trophy is fascinating in that you could argue that the parameters existed decades before the first award was ever given.

From 1946 to 1981, the Vezina was awarded to the Goalie(s) on the team that let in the fewest goals.  The Vezina then switched to the best Goalie period, with the William M. Jennings Trophy (named after the long-time builder and owner of the New York Rangers) taking that over.  Like the previous rules for the Vezina, multiple Goalies on a team could win the Jennings, providing they appeared in 25 Games that year.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 29 former William M. Jennings winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with seven entering, yielding a percentage of 24.1.  

This period covers 46 years (though with multiple winners in different years) of Hall-eligible winners, of which 20 of them saw a William M. Jennings winner enter the Hall.  This yields a percentage of 43.5.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL William M. Jennings Award and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1983 (Co-Winner):  Billy Smith, New York Islanders.  18 Wins, 14 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.87 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 9.1 Point Shares.  

The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980-83), with this being the final one of the dynasty.  Smith was there for all of them, winning the Vezina the year before and the Conn Smythe this year.  He played in the NHL until 1989, retiring with a 305-233-105 record.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

1987 Co-Winner:  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.   22 Wins, 16 Losses, 6 Ties, 2.94 GAA, .891 Save Percentage, 7.7 Goalie Point Shares. 

Patrick Roy was already an established legend before he turned 21, as the year before, he won the Conn Smythe when he took the Canadiens to an unexpected Stanley Cup win.  Roy won his first of three Jennings Trophies and was tenth for the Vezina.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1988 Co-Winner (2):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.  23 Wins, 12 Losses, 9 Ties, 2.90 GAA, .900 Save Percentage, 8.7 Goalie Point Shares.

Along with his co-winner, Brian Heyward, Roy became the first player to win the Jennings in consecutive years.  He was named a Second Team All-Star and was eighth for the Vezina.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1989 Co-Winner (3):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.  33 Wins, 5 Losses, 6 Ties, 2.47 GAA, .908 Save Percentage, 9.3 Goalie Point Shares. 

Roy made history as the first player to win the Jennings in three straight years, and he was also the first to win the Jennings and the Vezina in the same season.  The Goalie also led the NHL in Save Percentage (.908) and GAA (2.74).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1991:  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  43 Wins, 19 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.47 GAA, .910 Save Percentage, 14.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Ed Belfour seemed to come out of nowhere in his rookie year, and he won the Calder, the Vezina, and the Jennings, the first player to do so.  Belfour led the NHL in Wins (43), Save Percentage (.910), and GAA (2.47).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1992 (4):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.  36 Wins, 22 Losses, 8, Ties, 2.36 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 13.5 Goalie Point Shares.

Roy became the first player to win four Jennings and his third Vezina, and in regards to the Hart, he was the runner-up.  He was also the NHL leader in Save Percentage for the fourth time (.914) and GAA for the second time (2.36).  Roy would lead Montreal to another Stanley Cup win in 1993.  Notably, this would be the first time the award was given to just one Goalie.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1993 (2):  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  41 Wins, 18 Losses, 11 Ties, 2.59 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 13.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Belfour won his second Jennings Trophy in the same year as he won his second Vezina.  “The Eagle” led the league in Shutouts (7) and was a First Team All-Star for the second time. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1994 Co-Winner:  Grant Fuhr, Buffalo Sabres.  13 Wins, 12 Losses, 3 Ties, 3.69 GAA, .883 Save Percentage, 3.9 Goalie Point Shares.

A member of five Stanley Cup Championships with the Edmonton Oilers, Grant Fuhr won the Vezina in 1988, but it was with Buffalo that he would win his first and only Jennings Award.  He later played for Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Calgary and had 403 career Wins.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

1994 Co-Winner:  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  30 Wins, 20 Losses, 6 Ties, 1.95 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 13.1 Goalie Point Shares.

This was Hasek’s breakout year as he won not only the Jennings but also the Vezina and was the runner-up for the Hart.  Hasek led the NHL in Save Percentage (.930), GAA (1.95), and Shutouts (7).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

1995 (3):  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  22 Wins, 15 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.28 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 6.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Belfour led the NHL in Shutouts for the fourth straight season and was named a Second Team All-Star.  He finished second for the Vezina that year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. 

1997 Co-Winner:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  37 Wins, 14 Losses, 13 Ties, 1.88 GAA, .927 Save Percentage, 12.4 Goalie Point Shares.

Martin Brodeur is considered one of the greatest Goalies of all time, and in terms of the William M. Jennings, he is one of the most decorated netminders ever with five wins.  Before his first win, Brodeur had already won the Calder and his first Stanley Cup.  This year, Brodeur was also a Second Team All-Star, second for the Vezina, fourth for the Hart, and led the NHL in GAA (1.88).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

1998 (2):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  43 Wins, 17 Losses, 8 Ties, 1.89 GAA, .917 Sabe Percentage, 11.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Brodeur won his second straight Jennings Trophy, with similar accolades in his first win.  He was again second for the Vezina, fourth for the Hart, and a Second Team All-Star.  This year began a four-year streak of leading the NHL in Wins.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

1999 Co-Winner (4):  Ed Belfour, Dallas Stars.  35 Wins, 15 Losses, 9 Ties, 1.99 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 9.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Now a Dallas Star, Belfour was seventh in Vezina voting, but he had his most rewarding NHL year as he helped Dallas win the Stanley Cup.  This was the only Jennings win where Belfour shared it with another Goalie.  Belfour went on to play for Toronto and Florida, retiring in 2007 with a career record of 484-320-125.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

2001:  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  37 Wins, 24 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.11 GAA, .921 Save Percentage, 13.9 Goalie Point Shares.

Between Hasek’s first and second Jennings win, Hasek won four Vezinas, two Harts, and two Lester B. Pearson Awards.  Hasek won his sixth Vezina this year, which would also be his final one as a Sabre.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2002 (5):  Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche.  32 Wins, 23 Losses, 8 Ties, 1.94 GAA, .925 Save Percentage, 13.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Patrick Roy forced a trade out of Montreal in 1996, and the team where he landed, Colorado, won a Stanley Cup with him in the net that year.  Roy won his fourth Cup in 2001, and this season, he won his fifth (and final) Jennings while earning a First Team All-Star selection and was also second for the Vezina and third for the Hart.  Roy played one more year before he retired as one of the most decorated players in hockey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

2003 (3):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  41 Wins, 23 Losses, 9 Ties, 2.02 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 11.4 Goalie Point Shares.

This year, he won the Jennings and captured a third Stanley Cup ring and his first Vezina.  In between Brodeur's second and third Jennings win, he won a Stanley Cup (2000) and never finished less than fifth for the Vezina.  Brodeur was also third in Hart balloting and began his second four-year streak leading the NHL in Wins.  It is worth noting that this was the only year in which the Jennings was shared between two teams, as Roman Cechmanek and Robert Esche of the Philadelphia Flyers also won.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

2004 (4):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  38 Wins, 26 Losses, 11 Ties, 2.03 GAA, .917 Save Percentage, 12.5 Goalie Point Shares. 

Brodeur repeated as a dual winner of the Jennings and Vezina, and, like the season before, he finished in third place for the Hart.  He would win two more Vezina Trophies, in 2007 and 2008, and was second in 2006.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

2008 (3):  Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings.  27 Wins, 10 Losses, 3 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.14 GAA, .902 Save Percentage, 4.5 Goalie Point Shares.

Hasek forced a trade out of Buffalo and promptly won his coveted Stanley Cup that year.  He won another this year in what was his final NHL season.  "The Dominator" won 389 Games with a career GAA of 2.20.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2010 (5):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  38 Wins, 26 Losses, 11 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.03 GAA, .916 Save Percentage, 12.5 Goalie Point Shares.

Brodeur tied Patrick Roy for the most all-time with his fifth Jennings win.  Brodeur was third in Vezina voting the last time he received a vote for that award.  He played until 2013, accumulating an all-time record of 691 Wins.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. 

2011:  Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.  38 Wins, 15 Losses, 7 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.11 GAA, .928 Save Percentage, 13.6 Goalie Point Shares.

A Second Team All-Star twice before in his career, Luongo led the NHL in Wins for the only time in his career.  He also was third in Vezina voting.    Luongo would take the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they went down to the Boston Bruins.  Later, Luongo returned to Florida, playing until 2019 and retiring with 489 Wins.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

The following are the players who have won the NHL William M. Jennings Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1982 Co-Winner:  Rick Wamsley, Montreal Canadiens.  23 Wins, 7 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.75 GAA, .893 Save Percentage, 9.2 Goalie Point Shares.  

It is fitting that the first-ever winner of a major award played for Montreal, and in the case of Rick Wamsley, this would be the only individual award he won.  He later won a Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989 and retired with a 204-131-46 Record.

Eligible since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com 

1982 Co-Winner:  Denis Herron, Montreal Canadiens.  12 Wins, 6 Losses, 8 Ties, 2.64 GAA, .911 Save Percentage, 6.6 Goalie Point Shares. 

Denis Herron won the Vezina the year before under the Vezina's last year of following the format of the William M. Jennings.  Herron's .911 Save Percentage led the NHL, which was the second time he did so.  He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the off-season and finished his career there, retiring with 146 Wins against 203 Losses.

Eligible since 1989.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1983 Co-Winner:  Roland Melanson, New York Islanders.  24 Wins, 12 Losses, 5 Ties, 2.66 GAA, .909 Save Percentage, 10.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Melanson was the backup for eventual Hall of Famer Billy Smith, but Melanson saw his share of playing time in three Stanley Cup wins, this year being the last one.  Melanson led the NHL in Save Percentage this season (.909) and did again the year after (.902).  He later played for Minnesota, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Montreal and left the game with 125 Wins.

Eligible since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1984 Co-Winner.  Al Jensen, Washington Capitals.   25 Wins, 13 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.92 GAA, .881 Save Percentage, 5.8 Goalie Point Shares. 

Jensen led the NHL in Shutouts (4) and was third in Vezina Trophy voting this year.  He would arguably have one more good year and only played in 179 NHL games.

Eligible since 1990.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1984 Co-Winner.  Pat Riggin, Washington Capitals.  21 Wins, 14 Losses, 2 Ties, 2.67 GAA, .889 Save Percentage, 6.0 Goalie Point Shares.         

Riggin led the NHL in Goals Against Average (2.67) this year, and his four Shutouts tied his teammate, Al Jensen, for the league lead.  The Goalie was a Second Team All-Star this year and was third (again tied with Jensen) for the Vezina.  The year after, Riggin was fourth for the Vezina, but this ended his run as an elite Goalie.  He had a record of 153-120-52.

Eligible since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1985 Co-Winner:  Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres.  25 Wins, 18 Losses, 10 Ties, 2.67 GAA, .887 Save Percentage, 8.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Barrasso won the Vezina and Calder the year before, and this season he was second for the Vezina but won the Jennings and was a Second Team All-Star.  He would have an up-and-down career, winning two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and winning 369 Games in between the pipes.

Eligible since 2006.  Ranked #14 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1985 Co-Winner:  Bob Sauve, Buffalo Sabres.  13 Wins, 10 Losses, 3 Ties, 3.23 GAA, .855 Save Percentage, 2.3 Goalie Point Shares.

Sauve was previously a co-winner for the Vezina in 1980, and this was his second and last individual award in the NHL.  It was also his final year as a Sabre, as he joined Chicago the year after.  He retired in 1989 after two years in New Jersey.

Eligible since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1986 Co-Winner:  Bob Froese, Philadelphia Flyers.  31 Wins, 10 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.55 GAA, .909 Save Percentage, 9.9 Goalie Point Shares.

This was by far Froese's best year in the National Hockey League, where he led the NHL in Wins (31), Save Percentage (.909), GAA (2.55), and Shutouts), and he was a Second Team All-Star who was second for the Vezina.  Froese never approached that year again, finishing with the New York Rangers for four years with a career record of 128-72-20

Eligible since 1993.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1986 Co-Winner:  Darren Jensen, Philadelphia Flyers.  15 Wins, 9 Losses, 1 Tie, 3.69 GAA, .883 Save Percentage, 9.9 Goalie Point Shares.       

As a star at the University of North Dakota, this was Jensen's second and final NHL season, as he was sent to the minors afterward.  Realistically, he barely qualified for this award and won it as a second banana Goalie in a high-scoring era.  His 3.69 is tied for the worst of any winner.

Eligible since 1989.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1987 Co-Winner:  Brian Heyward, Montreal Canadiens.  19 Wins, 13 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.82 GAA, .893 Save Percentage, 6.2 Goalie Point Shares.   

After four seasons in Winnipeg, Heyward was now a competent backup for Patrick Roy in Montreal.  In Heyward’s 37 Games this year, he was first in the NHL in GAA (2.82) and was sixth in Vezina voting.

Eligible since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1988 (2):  Brian Heyward, Montreal Canadiens.  22 Wins, 10 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.86 GAA, .896 Save Percentage, 6.9 Goalie Point Shares. 

Along with Patrick Roy, Heyward became the first back-to-back winner of the Jennings Trophy.  He might have been a backup, but he wasn't done making history.

Eligible since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1989 (3):  Brian Heyward, Montreal Canadiens.  20 Wins, 13 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.82 GAA, .887 Save Percentage, 5.3 Goalie Point Shares.       

Patrick Roy and Brian Heyward were the first players to win the William M. Jennings Trophy three years in a row, and this is arguably the only player to win three significant awards in a row who has zero chance for their respective Hall of Fame. 

Eligible since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1990 Co-Winner:  Reggie Lemelin, Boston Bruins.   22 Wins, 15 Losses, 2 Ties, 2.80 GAA, .892 Save Percentage, 6.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Prior to this season, Lemelin had four top-ten finishes for the Vezina, and this year would be his last one as he was fourth.  He played until 1993, accumulating 236 Wins over a 15-year career.

Eligible since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1990 Co-Winner:  Andy Moog, Boston Bruins 24 Wins, 10 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.89 GAA, .893 Save Percentage, 7.3 Goalie Point Shares.         

Andy Moog won three Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers before arriving in Boston, and this season, he was third in Vezina voting, which was the highest of his career.  He had seven other top-ten finishes for the Vezina.

Eligible since 2001.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1996 Co-Winner:  Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings.  39 Goals, 6 Losses, 5 Ties, 2.17 GAA, .911 Save Percentage, 6.6 Goalie Point Shares          

Osgood had his breakout season when he was a Second Team All-Star and runner-up for the Vezina behind Dominik Hasek.  The Goalie also led the NHL in Wins this year with 39.  Osgood won the Stanley Cup in the next two years with Detroit.

Eligible since 2014.  Ranked #20 on Notinhalloffame.com

1996 Co-Winner:  Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings.  21 Wins, 7 Losses, 2 Ties, 2.26 GAA, .903 Save Percentage, 4.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Mike Vernon was a Second Team All-Star and Stanley Cup winner with the Calgary Flames in 1989.  Vernon joined Detroit in 1994 and won the Jennings with Chris Osgood, with whom he took the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup win in 1997.  Vernon won the Conn Smythe that year, his last in Detroit.  He finished his career with San Jose, Florida, and closed his career as a Flame.

Eligible since 2005.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com

1997 Co-Winner:  Mike Dunham, New Jersey Devils.  8 Wins, 7 Losses, 1 Tie, 2.55 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 2.6 Goalie Point Shares. 

This was Dunham's rookie year, and he played in 26 Games, just enough to qualify for the Jennings Award, the only individual accolade he ever won.  After two years with New Jersey, Dunham was traded to Nashville, and he later played for Atlanta and both New York teams.

Eligible since 2010.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

1999 Co-Winner:  Roman Turek, Dallas Stars.  16 Wins, 3 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.29 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 3.7 Goalie Point Shares. 

Turek played just enough to qualify for the Jennings, and as Ed Belfour's backup, he won not only the Jennings but the Stanley Cup.  This was his last year in Dallas, as he was traded to St. Louis the following year.

Eligible since 2010.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2000 Co-Winner (2):  Roman Turek, St. Louis Blues.  42 Wins, 15 Losses, 9 Ties, 1.95 GAA, .912 Save Percentage, 10.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Turek went back-to-back in Jennings wins but was the first to do it with different teams.  This time, Turek was a first-string Goalie, and he had the best year of his life, finishing second in Vezina voting, sixth for the Hart, and was a Second Team All-Star.  He played one more season with the Blues before moving on to Calgary for three years.

Eligible since 2010.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2003 Co-Winner:  Roman Cechmanek, Philadelphia Flyers.  33 Wins, 15 Losses, 10 Ties, 1.83 GAA, .907 Save Percentage, 10.9 Goalie Point Shares.

Roman Cechmanek had a brief NHL career, consisting of only four seasons, and he was a former Second Team All-Star.  Cechmanek was third in Vezina voting this year, which would be his penultimate NHL campaign.

Eligible since 2012.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2003 Co-Winner:  Robert Esche, Philadelphia Flyers.  12 Wins, 9 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.20 GAA, .925 Save Percentage, 3.8 Goalie Point Shares.

Esche played eight years in the NHL, usually as a backup, and this was his lone season where he would win an award.  He had a lifetime record of 78-64-22.

Eligible since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2006:  Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames.  42 Wins, 20 Losses, 11 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.07 GAA, .923 Save Percentage, 16.2 Goalie Point Shares.

This was the best season of Kiprusoff's career, where he not only won the Jennings but was the Vezina Trophy winner and was third for the Hart.  He also led the NHL in Goals Against Average (2.07) and Shutouts (10) and played until 2013, finishing with a 305-192-68 record.

Eligible since 2016.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com

2007 Co-Winner:  Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild.  23 Wins, 8 Losses, 6 Ties/Overtime Losses, 1.97 GAA, .929 Save Percentage, 9.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Backstrom won his only award this year in the Jennings in his rookie year.  He played for the Wild until 2015 and had a final year in the NHL with Calgary before returning to play in his native Finland. 

Eligible since 2022.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2007 Co-Winner:  Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild.  22 Wins, 16 Losses, 1 Tie/Playoff Loss, 2.55 GAA, .911 Save Percentage, 7.8 Goalie Point Shares.

Fernandez was a late bloomer, as his best pro seasons in hockey came in the latter half of his career.  This was Fernandez's first individual award.

Eligible since 2012.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2008 Co-Winner (2):  Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings.  27 Wins, 9 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.09 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 6.6 Goalie Point Shares.     

Sharing the netminding duties with Dominik Hasek, Osgood won his lone GAA title this year.  Osgood won his third Stanley Cup this year, and he played until 2011, retiring with 401 Wins, 317 of which were as a Red Wing.  His 12 years between Jennings wins are the longest span.

Eligible since 2014.  Ranked #20 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2009 Co-Winner (2):  Manny Fernandez, Boston Bruins.  16 Wins, 8 Losses, 3 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.59 GAA, .910 Save Percentage, 4.9 Goalie Point Shares.

Fernandez became the second player to win the Jennings with two different teams, and he did so in what turned out to be his last NHL season.  He had a career record of 143-123-35.

Eligible since 2012.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

2009 Co-Winner:  Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins.   36 Wins, 11 Losses, 7 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.10 GAA, .933 Save Percentage, 14.7 Goalie Point Shares. 

If his teammate, Manny Fernandez, was a late bloomer, then what do you call Tim Thomas, who first became a bona fide presence in the NHL in his early 30s?  Thomas also won the Vezina and was the league leader in Save Percentage (.933) and Goals Against Average (2.10).  Two years later, Thomas led the NHL again in Save Percentage and GAA while also winning the Vezina.  More importantly, he would backstop the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win.

Eligible since 2017.  Ranked #77 on Notinhalloffame.com

2013 Co-Winner:  Ray Emery, Chicago Blackhawks.  17 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Ties/Overtime Losses, 1.94, .922 Save Percentage, 3.4 Goalie Point Shares.

Emery lost only one game all year and was seventh in Vezina voting, though he did not see much action in the playoffs that year.  Nevertheless, Emery won the Stanley Cup this year, giving him a ring.  Emery had played for Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Anaheim before this year, and he was in the NHL for two more years afterward, back as a Flyer.

Eligible since 2018.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.  

The following are the players who have won the William M. Jennings 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:

2011 Co-Winner:  Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks.  16 Wins, 4 Losses, 2 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.23 GAA, .923 Save Percentage, 5.6 Goalie Points Shares.

The Jennings win was the only major trophy of Schneider’s career, but he still had a nice career of 115-133-50 over 13 seasons.  Schneider shared this with Roberto Luongo.

Eligible in 2025.

2013 Co-Winner:  Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks.  19 Wins, 5 Losses, 5 Ties/Overtime Losses, 1.94 GAA, .926 Save Percentage, 6.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Crawford was eighth for the Vezina this year, and in the post-season, he was the main Goalie in their Stanley Cup win.

Eligible in 2023.

2015 Co-Winner (2):  Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks.  32 Wins, 20 Losses, 5 Ties, 2.27 GAA, .924 Save Percentage, 11.9 Goalie Point Shares.

In Crawford's second Jennings win, he was again the primary Goalie for the Blackhawks in a Stanley Cup win.  Crawford was also sixth for the Vezina this year.  Crawford tied with Carey Price of Montreal for this award.

Eligible in 2023.

2020 Co-Winner:  Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins.  26 Wins, 8 Losses, 6 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.12 GAA, .929 Save Percentage, 9.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Rask won the 2014 Vezina, and the career Bruin won his only Jennings Trophy this year and was the Vezina runner-up.  He also led the NHL in GAA (2.12).  Rask only played two more years and retired with a 308-165-66 record.

Eligible in 2025.

The following are the players who have won the William M. Jennings  Trophy and are still active.

2012 Co-Winner:  Jaroslav Halak, St. Louis Blues.  26 Wins, 12 Losses, 7 Ties, 1.97 GAA, .926 Save Percentage, 9.1 Goalie Points Shares.

Halak was in his fifth NHL season and was sixth in Vezina voting.

37 Years Old, Playing for the New York Rangers.

2012 Co-Winner:  Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues.  23 Wins, 10 Losses, 4 Ties, 1.56 GAA, .940 Save Percentage, 9.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Brian Elliott's 1.56 GAA is by far the lowest among William M. Jennings Award winners, which was league-leading, as was his .940 Save Percentage.  Elliott was fifth in Vezina voting that year.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2014:  Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings.  27 Wins, 17 Losses, 4 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.07 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 7.4 Goalie Point Shares.

Two years before, Quick was a Second Team All-Star, leading the Kings to a Stanley Cup win while winning the Conn Smythe.  Quick again won the Cup this year while finishing fifth in Vezina voting.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Los Angeles Kings.

2015 Co-Winner:  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens.  44 Wins, 16 Losses, 6 Ties/Overtime Losses, 1.96 GAA, .933 Save Percentage, 16.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Carey Price had the best season of his career, where he not only won the Jennings but also captured the Vezina, Hart, and Ted Lindsay Awards.  If Price gets into the Hockey Hall of Fame, this was the year he did it.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Montreal Canadiens.

2016 Co-Winner:  John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks.  21 Wins, 13 Losses, 4 Ties/Overtime Losses, 1.96 GAA, .920 Save Percentage, 6.5 Goalie Point Shares. 

Gibson was also an All-Rookie and seventh for the Calder this year but has not been in serious contention for any award since.

29 Years OldPlaying for the Anaheim Ducks.

2016 Co-Winner:  Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks.  22 Wins, 9 Losses, 7 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.17 GAA, .919 Save Percentage, 7.0 Goalie Point Shares. 

Andersen became the first Danish winner of the Jennings, a feat he accomplished in only his third season.  He was traded to the Maple Leafs the following year.

33 Years OldPlaying for the Carolina Hurricanes.

2017:  Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals.  42 Wins, 13 Losses, 6 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.07 GAA, .925 Save Percentage, 12.3 Goalie Point Shares. 

Holtby won the Vezina the year before, and this season's Jennings was a nice touch.  For an encore, in 2018, Holtby was the Goalie in Washington's first Stanley Cup Championship.

33 Years OldFree Agent.

2018 (2):  Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings.  33 Wins, 28 Losses, 3 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.40 GAA, .921 Save Percentage, 12.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Quick won his second Jennings, but it was not in a Stanley Cup-winning year like his first.  He was ninth in Vezina voting this season.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Los Angeles Kings.

2019 Co-Winner:  Robin Lehner, New York Islanders.  25 Wins, 13 Losses, 5 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.13 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 10.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Lehner was in his ninth NHL season, but only one in New York, though it was excellent.  Finishing third in Vezina voting, Lehner also won the Bill Masterton Trophy for overcoming his battle with many addictions and the transparency thereof. 

31 Years OldPlaying for the Vegas Golden Knights.

2019 Co-Winner:  Thomas Griess, New York Islanders.  23 Wins, 14 Losses, 2 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.28 GAA, .927 Save Percentage, 8.7 Goalie Point Shares.

Griess won his first and only major award this year in his most efficient season.  Neither Griess, nor his co-winner, Robin Lehner, will get into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but they have a significant trophy on their mantle. 

36 Years OldPlaying for the St. Louis Blues.

2020 Co-Winner (2):  Jaroslav Halak, Boston Bruins.  18 Wins, 6 Losses, 6 Ties, 2.39 GAA, .919 Save Percentage, 6.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Halak won his second Jennings with his second team, this time backing up Tuukka Rask.

37 Years OldPlaying for the New York Rangers.

2021 Co-Winner:  Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights.  26 Wins, 10 Losses, 0 Ties, 2.39 GAA, .919 Save Percentage, 8.0 Goalie Point Shares.

A three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Penguins, Fleury was taken by Vegas in the Expansion Draft, where he immediately made them a contender.  Sharing the Jennings with Robin Lehner, Fleury also won this season’s Vezina Trophy.

38 Years OldPlaying for the Minnesota Wild.

2021 Co-Winner (2):  Robin Lehner, Vegas Golden Knights.  13 Wins, 4 Losses, 2 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.29 GAA, .913 Save Percentage, 10.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Lehner won his second Jennings with Vegas, where he served as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup. 

31 Years OldPlaying for the Vegas Golden Knights.

2022 Co-Winner:  Antti Raanta, Carolina Hurricanes.  15 Wins, 5 Losses, 4 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.45 GAA, .912 Save Percentage, 4.3 Goalie Point Shares.

This was Raanta’s fourth NHL team and ninth NHL season, and he has been a solid second-string Goalie everywhere he went.  The Jennings win was his first major individual award, though he won a Stanley Cup seven years earlier with Chicago.

33 Years OldPlaying for the Carolina Hurricanes.

2022 Co-Winner (2):  Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes.  35 Wins, 14 Losses, 3 Ties/Overtime Losses, 2.17 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 10.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Andersen won his first Jennings with the Ducks in 2016 and then was traded to Toronto.  After five years with the Maple Leafs, he signed with Carolina and won his second Jennings in his debut year as a Cane.  He was also fourth in Vezina voting.

33 Years OldPlaying for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The William M. Jennings Award might be the only major hockey award that was made for legends and journeymen, and this won't change in the future.   

First awarded in 1988, the King Clancy Memorial Award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice who has also made significant contributions to his community.

The award is named after King Clancy, who played for the original Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, was later a successful coach and executive, and was known for his philanthropy.

An award like this often is given to a player, usually a very good one, near the end of his career, though this should not be viewed as a “lifetime achievement award”, as players whit little to no philanthropic endeavors will not win.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 28 former Frank J. Selke Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 11 entering, yielding a percentage of 39.2.  

If we go by yearly winners, there is a small increase to 29 eligible years with 12 of them generating a Hockey Hall of Famer.  That is a 41.4 Percentage.

The following are the past players who have won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1988:  Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  10 Goals, 13 Assists, 23 Points, +2, 0.6 Point Shares.  

By this point, Lanny was still an effective leader but was not necessarily at a point where he was putting the puck in the net.  Still good in doing the unsung work of the game, McDonald only score 23 Points this season, but was a season away from retirement, but more importantly winning his first Stanley Cup.  Lanny won the inaugural award for his charitable work both in Calgary and Toronto, and is an excellent first choice for this award.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1989:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders, Center.  17 Goals, 28 Assists, 45 Points, -7, 2.6 Point Shares.  

Like Lanny McDonald, Bryan Trottier was in clear decline at this point and was coming off his worst performance of the year, though he would have four more seasons in the NHL each of which would follow the pattern of being his worst offensive output.  Trottier was however a bona fide star earlier in his career with the Islanders Dynasty and was active in Special Olympics and Make-A-Wish Program.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1990:  Kevin Lowe, Edmonton Oilers, Defenseman.  7 Goals, 26 Assists, 33 Points, +18, 6.0 Point Shares. 

Lowe was in the second half of his career, but was already a proven winner with four Stanley Cups and a fifth one this year.  The Defenseman was active in the community with Christmas-related charities.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

1991:  Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins, Defense.  21 Goals, 60 Assists, 81 Points, +11, 11.2 Point Shares.  

This is the first King Clancy winner who had a solid career after winning this award.  Bourque was only 31 and was still a Norris Trophy Winner and Stanley Cup Champion after this accolade.  Bourque was a community leader in Boston, and this year he served as the Honourable Chairman for Boston’s Floating Hospital.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

1995:  Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames, Center.  21 Goals, 29 Assists, 50 Points, +11, 5.5 Point Shares.  

Joe Nieuwendyk was in the prime of his career at this point and would soon move on to the Dallas Stars and win the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe, a performance that might have put him over the Hall of Fame hump.  The Forward, who was the Flames captain at the time, spearheaded the team’s humanitarian efforts in the community.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

2002:  Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes, Center.  27 Goals, 50 Assists, 77 Points, +4, 8.7 Point Shares.  

Francis also won his third Lady Byng this season, and won the Clancy based on his work with Duke’s Children’s Hospital.  He is one of the fev players to have over 1,700 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

2003:  Brendan Shanahan, Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing.  30 Goals, 38 Assists, 68 Points, +5, 7.9 Point Shares.  

Shanahan’s charitable endeavors featured the creation of a program that assisted in the purchase and installation of smoke detectors in low-income homes.  The power forward won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and had 1,354 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

2004:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  41 Goals, 32 Assists, 73 Points, +21, 11.1 Point Shares.  

Iginla was in the prime of his career, capturing his second Rocket Richard award as the game’s leading goal scorer, and he was also named a Second Team All-Star.  Within the community, Iginla was at the center of the Flames’ philanthropic endeavors and he personally donated 1,000 dollars for every goal he scored.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2012:  Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators, Right Wing.  27 Goals, 32 Assists, 59 Points, +16, 7.5 Point Shares.  

Alfredsson won the Calder in 1996, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award the year after this King Clancy win.  While he was a Senator (15 year), Alfredsson was a pillar of the local Ottawa community and was constant in his charitable work.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

2016:  Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Center.  11 Goals, 44 Assists, 55 Points, 0, 5.4 Point Shares.

The Canucks Captain, along with his brother, Daniel created the Sedin Foundation in 2014, and underwent plans for Clubhouse 36, an after-school program for at-risk kids.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

2018:  Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Left Wing.  23 Goals, 32 Assists, 55 Points, -21, 5.4 Point Shares.

See below!  Daniel was involved in the same charities that Henrik was, and you have to wonder how he was not a co-winner with his twin two years earlier.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

2018 (2):  Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Center.  3 Goals, 47 Assists, 50 Points, -22, 2.7 Point Shares.

Henrik was the co-winner with his twin brother, Daniel, and this is likely the only time that we will ever see a repeat winner.  The Sedins were in their final season, and their charitable donations across Vancouver and beyond made them legends.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

The following are the players who have won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1991:  Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing.  23 Goals, 30 Assists, 53 Points, +27, 4.6 Point Shares. 

Dave Taylor, who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Kings, would win his only individual trophies this season as not only did he capture the Clancy, he was also awarded the Bill Masterton.  Taylor was 35 when he won this accolade and had his best years behind him.  Still, his charitable work in SoCal, especially involving those with speech impediments earned this award.  

Eligible Since 1997.  Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1993:  Dave Poulin, Boston Bruins, Center.  16 Goals, 33 Assists, 49 Points, +29, 3.5 Point Shares.

Dave Poulin had a solid career and was one of the better defensive forwards in the game.  1993 was his last decent year and he would retire two years later.  In this season, Poulin was honored for his work as the Co-Chairman of the March of Dimes.

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.    

1994:  Adam Graves, New York Rangers, Left Wing.  52 Goals, 27 Assists, 79 Points, +27, 9.8 Point Shares.

To date, Adam Graves is the youngest winner of the King Clancy, and the 1993-94 Season was by far his most memorable.  This was the season where he would win in his second Stanley Cup, and was a major part of the win.  This is also the only season where he was named a post season All-Star.  Still, this was his peak, and a career worthy of Hall of Very Good, which should not detract from the work he did to win the Clancy.  Graves was the Celebrity Chairman of New York’s Dynamic Family Program, and he did other charitable work in NYC.

Eligible Since 2006.  Ranked #67 on Notinhalloffame.com.    

1996:  Kris King, Winnipeg Jets, Left Wing.  9 Goals, 11 Assists, 20 Points, -7, 0.0 Point Shares.  

The King Clancy Award would be the only NHL Award that fourteen-year NHL veteran, Kris King would win.  The rugged forward was a fan favorite but was never going to be considered a Hall of Famer, but he was to those he helped.  King was the Team Captain, and the man who spearheaded the Jets charities.

Eligible Since 2004.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.    

1997:  Trevor Linden, Vancouver Canucks, Center.  9 Goals, 31 Assists, 40 Points, -5, 3.3 Point Shares. 

Linden’s King Clancy win was the only major award that he won, but the ultra-popular player was one of the most beloved players in Vancouver’s history.  Linden won the Clancy by developing the “Captain’s Crew”, a program that brought underprivileged kids to his private suite to games.  

Eligible Since 2011.  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1998:  Kelly Chase, St. Louis Blues, Right Wing.  4 Goals, 3 Assists, 7 Points, +10, -0.3 Point Shares. 

Not only is this the only NHL Award that Kelly Chase won, this is the only time he was remotely close.  Chase was a goon, who never had 100 career Points but off the ice, his charitable efforts made him a saint.  He was involved with the Gateway Project, which helped mentally challenged kids get involved with sports.

Eligible Since 2003.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.    

1999:  Rob Ray, Buffalo Sabres, Right Wing.  0 Goals, 4 Assists, 4 Points, -2, -0.3 Point Shares. 

Scoring only 4 Points in this campaign, like Kelly Chase, Rob Ray was a popular figure for his fisticuffs.  Ray, who would play a total of 900 NHL Games and would lead the NHL in Penalty Minutes twice, including his King Clancy Award winning season.  Despite his tough guy exterior, Ray’s charitable work included the March of Dimes, Walk America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Eligible Since 2007.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.    

2000:  Curtis Joseph, Toronto Maple Leafs, Goalie.  36 Wins, 20 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.49 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 13.4 Point Shares.

Joseph was the first Goalie to win the King Clancy, and this would be the only major award he won, though he was in the top ten for the Vezina six times, including a third-place finish this year.  He helped a lot of sick kids, starting “Cujo’s Kids”, placing ill children in luxury suites for Leafs home games, and he also developed a room at the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto that resembled the Leafs locker room.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #16 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2001:  Shjon Podein, Colorado Avalabche, Right Wing.  15 Goals, 17 Assists, 32 Points, +7, 2.9 Point Shares.

Podein formed the Shjon Podein Children’s Foundation designed to help sick and underprivileged children.  The Avs would win the Stanley Cup this year

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals, Goalie.  20 Wins, 28 Losses, 11 Ties/Overtime Losses, 3.53 GAA, .896, 11.0 Point Shares.

Kolzig became the second Goalie to win the King Clancy, and the veteran won based on his co-founding of “Athletes against Autism”, which was generated by discovering his own son had the affliction.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2007:  Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  22 Goals, 53 Assists, 75 Points, -21, 6.9 Point Shares.

Koivu won the Bill Masterton Trophy win in 2002 after coming back from cancer, and he started his own cancer foundation, which by this time had raised over 2.5 million dollars.

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2008:  Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  40 Goals, 52 Assists, 92 Points, -17, 10.7 Point Shares.

Lecavalier was already a long time established offensive star for the Lightning, and was a Stanley Cup champ with the Bolts four years prior.  The Center had formed his own charitable foundation, which won him this award.

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2009:  Ethan Moreau, Edmonton Oilers, Left Wing.  14 Goals, 12 Assists, 26 Points, +0, 1.9 Point Shares.

Moreau was in the 13th of a 16-year career, 11 of which were as an Oiler.  The gritty player worked within the Edmonton’s inner city specifically with High Schools.

Eligible Since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2010:  Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes, Right Wing.  18 Goals, 37 Assists, 55 Points, +3, 5.5 Point Shares. 

Doan was with the Coyotes for all of his 21 seasons (20 when the franchise was in Arizona), and he spearheaded most of the team’s charitable endeavors.  He won the Mark Messier Leadership Award two years later and had 972 career Points.  

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #58 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Doug Weight, New York Islanders, Center.  2 Goals, 7 Assists, 9 Points, -3, 0.5 Point Shares. 

Weight won his final year of a 20-season run, and his charity and philanthropy spread across six teams. 

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #63 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2014:  Andrew Ference, Edmonton Oilers, Defense.  3 Goals, 15 Assists, 18 Points, -18, 2.4 Point Shares. 

Ference was then the Oilers Team Captain, and was in charge of the November Project, designed to increase community involvement.  This was his third last season of a 16-year career.  

Eligible Since 2019.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2015:  Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing.  17 Goals, 49 Assists, 66 Points, -6, 6.7 Point Shares. 

Zetterberg had long been active in the community of Detroit and was also raising money for relief efforts in Ethiopia, Guatemala and Nepal.  He played his entire career with Detroit, where he won a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe and scored 960 Points.

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the NHL King Clancy Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2021:  Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators, Goalie.  10 Wins, 12 Losses, 1 Tie/Overtime Loss, 2.84 GAA, .907 Save Percentage, 3.8 Point Shares.

Rinne was in his final season, where he established himself as one of the best players in the history of the young franchise of Nashville.  The Finnish Goalie won the Clancy for the co-creation (with Shea Weber) of the 365 Fund, raising money for cancer.  He also participated in the Predators’ “Feed the Frontline” initiative to supply meals to the frontline workers during COVID.

Eligible in 2024.

2022:  P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils, Defense.  5 Goals, 17 Assists, 22 Points, -8, 3.4 Point Shares.

Subban concluded his NHL career this year, and while he was playing in New Jersey, his main work was in Montreal, where he raised $1 million is support of Le Spot, a mental health organization.  He also donated to Ukrainian relief, COVID relief and diversity and inclusion in hockey.

Eligible in 2025.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL King Clancy Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and are still active.

2013:  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  10 Goals, 22 Assists, 32 Points, +24, 12.6 Point Shares, 4.3 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron formed Patrice’s Pals, a charity that brings hospital patients and sick kids to watch Bruins games in luxury suites.  Bergeron won five Frank J. Selke trophies.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2017:  Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets, Left Wing.  26 Goals, 25 Assists, 51 Points, -4, 5.9 Point Shares.

Foligno donated over $1 million to children’s hospitals in the Columbus and Boston area, and created a foundation in honor of his mother in 2009.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2019:  Jason Zucker, Minnesota Wild, Left Wing.  21 Goals, 21 Assists, 42 Points, -9, 4.1 Point Shares.

Zucker began a foundation the year before that raised over $1 million for the Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

30 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2020:  Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild, Defense.  6 Goals, 18 Assists, 24 Points, -7, 3.6 Point Shares.

Dumba was a founding member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, and he helped to spearhead the “Rebuild Minnesota” project to help business impacted by the George Floyd protests.  He also raised funds for COVID-19 relief.

28 Years Old, Playing for the Minnesota Wild.

The King Clancy Memorial Award can generate players of all skill level, but their class is always high.  This may not be the best Hall of Fame metric, but it does measure heart.

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the forward who demonstrates the most skill on the defensive side of the game.  It is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

Named after Frank J. Selke, the former General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, the trophy was first awarded in the 1977/78 Season. 

The results are as follows:

There are currently 20 former Frank J. Selke Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 7 entering, yielding a percentage of 35.0.  

If we go by yearly winners, there is a sizable increase to 30 eligible years with 13 of them generating a Hockey Hall of Famer.  That is a 43.3 Percentage.

The following are the past players who have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1978:  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  15 Goals, 16 Assists, 31 Points, +11, 1.9 Point Shares, 0.7 Defensive Point Shares. 

Sure enough, a player from Montreal won an inaugural award.  Bob Gainey knew his role, which was to play both ends of the ice, and smother attackers.  The Habs won the Stanley Cup this year, with Gainey capturing his third.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1979 (2):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  20 Goals, 18 Assists, 38 Points, +12, 2.4 Point Shares, 1.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

The value of Gainey was well established this year, as Gainey, not only won the second ever Selke Award, he won a fourth Stanley Cup, where his skills landed him the Conn Smythe.  Gainey was not only the first ever repeat Selke winner, but the first to win the Selke and Smythe in the same year.  It didn’t take long!

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1980 (3):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  14 Goals, 19 Assists, 33 Points, -1, 1.8 Point Shares, 0.7 Defensive Point Shares.  

The voters chose Gainey again, and we have three awards, and the same winner.  Gainey remained solid in his role, which was a lot easier on a team as deep as Montreal.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1981 (4):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  23 Goals, 24 Assists, 47 Points, +13, 3.2 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.  

Gainey won the fourth (also his fourth) Selke, which was also his last.  The two-way star, won a fifth Cup in 1986, and played his entire career with Montreal.  The Left Wing would accumulate 501 Points over 16 Seasons and was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1983:  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  23 Goals, 62 Assists, 85 Points, +37, 6.1 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.  

Clarke was always an excellent two-way player, but he was far removed from his Stanley Cup winning/Hart Trophy years.  The grizzled veteran was in his penultimate season, and previously had two top Selke finishes.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.  

1988:  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  17 Goals, 21 Assists, 38 Points, +14, 2.4 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.  

Carbonneau won his first Stanley Cup two years earlier, and was the runner-up for the Selke last year.  The Center won his first Selke and followed in the footsteps of Bob Gainey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1989 (2):  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  26 Goals, 30 Assists, 56 Points, +37, 5.0 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Carbonneau became the first player since Gainey to win a second Selke, and he also did so in consecutive fashion.  He would finish second and fourth in Selke voting over the next two seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1992 (3):  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  18 Goals, 21 Assists, 39 Points, +2, 2.8 Point Shares, 1.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Now the second player (again after Bob Gainey) to become a three-time Selke winner, Carbonneau’s win gave Montreal seven of the first fifteen.  Carbonneau helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup the next season, and in 1999, as a Dallas Star, Carbonneau won a third Cup.  He amassed 663 Points over 19 Seasons in the NHL.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1993:  Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  32 Goals, 95 Assists, 127 Points, +32, 11.0 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares.  

Doug Gilmour had the best year of his career, taking the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Conference Final where many feel they were screwed out of a trip to the Stanley Cup.  Gilmour had career-highs in Points (127), and became the first Selke winner to break 100 Points.  Also, the Hart Trophy runner-up this season, Gilmour was the runner-up in 1994 for the Selke, and prior to the win, had three consecutive fifth-place finished.  Retiring in 2008, Gilmour had 1,414 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.  

1994:  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing.  56 Goals, 64 Assists, 120 Points, +48, 13.8 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Fedorov made Selke history as the first European to win the award, and was also the first off of a 50-Goal year.  The Russian star also won the Hart, making more history as the first player to win the Hart, the Pearson and the Selke in the same year.  What a campaign!

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

1995:  Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  11 Goals, 48 Assists, 59 Points, +30, 5.8 Point Shares, 1.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

Francis had one of the longest careers in the NHL, spanning over 1,700 Games, and three Stanley Cups, and when he won the Selke, he was in the middle of it all.  This season, he also won the first of three Lady Byng Awards, and was the Selke runner-up the year after.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

1996 (2):  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing.  39 Goals, 68 Assists, 107 Points, +49, 12.0 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.  

Fedorov joined the multi-Selke club, and was fifth for the Hart.  He never contended for any major individual award again, but he later won three Stanley Cups with Detroit.  Fedorov tallied 1,179 Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

2000:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  35 Goals, 44 Assists, 79 Points, +28, 9.8 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.  

Yzerman was already a legend in Detroit by this time, having already led the Red Wings to two Stanley Cups and winning a Pearson Award.  Stevie Y’s best years were behind him, but he was still a potent player, and he won his only Selke, and was eighth in Hart voting.  He would win another Cup for Detroit, and concluded his career with 1,755 Points in a stellar 22-year career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.  

The following are the players who have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1982:  Steve Kasper, Boston Bruins, Center.  20 Goals, 31 Assists, 51 Points, -18, 2.5 Point Shares, 0.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Kasper was the first Selke winner not named Bob Gainey, and he won this as an NHL sophomore.  While he played until 1993, Kasper never captured another award, but had a nice career that totalled 468 Points.  

Eligible Since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1984:  Doug Jarvis, Washington Capitals, Center.  13 Goals, 29 Assists, 42 Points, +6, 2.1 Point Shares, 1.5 Defensive Point Shares. 

Jarvis was the first to win the Selke who had more Defensive Point Shares than Offensive Point Shares, which was common place for the Center.  A four-time Stanley Cup Champion with Montreal, Jarvis at one time was the NHL Iron Man with 964 Games.

Eligible Since 1991.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1985:  Craig Ramsay, Buffalo Sabres, Left Wing.  12 Goals, 21 Assists, 33 Points, +17, 1.8 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.

This was Ramsay’s last year in the NHL, and at this point he was primarily focused on the defensive side of the ice.  The career-Sabre was the runner-up for the Selke three times before, and had 672 career Points over 14 seasons.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1986:  Troy Murray, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  45 Goals, 54 Assists, 99 Points, +32, 8.5 Point Shares, 1.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Murray never had another year like this again, though he did have a long career in the NHL.  Finishing tenth in Hart voting this season, Murray had two other top-ten Selke finishes that bookended this one.  He won a Stanley Cup in his last year (1996) with the Avalanche, and had 584 career Points.

Eligible Since 1999.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Dave Poulin, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  25 Goals, 45 Assists, 70 Points, +47, 6.3 Point Shares, 2.0 Defensive Point Shares.

The Flyers become the first team to have two Selke winners with Poulin’s win.  Poulin, who won the King Clancy Award in 1993, was second for the Selke that year, and was one of the more beloved teammates in hockey.

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1990:  Rick Meagher, St. Louis Blues, Center.  8 Goals, 17 Assists, 25 Points, +4, 0.7 Point Shares, 1.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

How defensive was Rick Meagher?  He had NEGATIVE Offesnive Point Shares (-0.5), to his DPD of 1.2.  Bluntly, we have a problem with a forward who can’t get a positive integer in OPS winning any award, but this was a player who was excellent the defensive role.  Megaher only played one more year, and had 309 Points over 12 years of service.  

Eligible Since 1994.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1991:  Dirk Graham, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing.  24 Goals, 21 Assists, 45 Points, +12, 3.8 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares. 

Graham won his only major award this year, though he would have two other seventh-place finishes (1989 & 1993) for the Selke.  He had 489 career Points over 12 Seasons. 

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997:  Michael Peca, Buffalo Sabres, Center.  20 Goals, 29 Assists, 49 Points, +26, 5.1 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Peca was in his fourth NHL year, but only his second in Buffalo, where the gifted and gritty two-way player won his first of two Selkes.  He ed the league in Short-Handed Goals with 6.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #272 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1998:  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  23 Goals, 19 Assists, 42 Points, +19, 5.7 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.

Sergei Makarov might be the first European to win the award, but Jeri Lehtinen still carved a spot as Scandinavia’s first Selke winner.  Lehtinen was in his third campaign, and was third for the Selke the year before.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1999 (2):  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  20 Goals, 32 Assists, 52 Points, +29, 6.5 Point Shares, 2.9 Defensive Point Shares.

Lehtinen was a back-to-back winner, but it was an extra sweet award for the Finnish Wing, as he was integral to Dallas’s first Stanley Cup win.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2001:  John Madden, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing.  23 Goals, 15 Assists, 38 Points, +24, 4.6 Point Shares, 1.9 Defensive Point Shares.

New Jersey became a defensive power in this era, and John Madden was a large part of that.  Madden helped the Devils win two Stanley Cups, and he was a Selke second-place finisher on three other occasions.  He later won a third Cup with Chicago in 2010.

Eligible Since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2002 (2):  Michael Peca, New York Islanders, Center.  20 Goals, 29 Assists, 87 Points, +26, 5.1 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Peca won his second Selke, and became the first to win one for different teams, with number two coming in his debut year in New York.  The 60 Points he scored was the highest of his career, and would have 465 in total.  Notably, from 1997 to 2004 (he missed 2000-01) he always finished in the top five in Selke balloting.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #272 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003 (3):  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  31 Goals, 17 Assists, 38 Points, +39, 7.5 Point Shares, 3.2 Defensive Point Shares.

Lehtinen captured his third and final Selke this year and became the first winner to have over three Defensive Point Shares.  Playing his entire career in Dallas, Lehtinen was the Selke runner-up in 2006, was third two other years and had 514 career Points.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  24 Goals, 16 Assists, 40 Points, +22, 6.0 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.

We have been saying a lot in this section that many of these winners know/knew their role, but does anyone fit this better than Kris Draper.  A 20-year NHL veteran, with the latter 17 in Detroit Red, Draper’s 2003-04 was arguably his best, with career-highs in Goals (24), Points and Point Shares (6.0), and even received a Hart Trophy vote.  

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes, Center. 31 Goals, 39 Assists, 70 Points, +8, 6.8 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

Brind’Amour was a seasoned veteran, who debuted in 1989, but he never finished higher than ninth for the Selke, but this would be the most memorable season of his career.  Not only did Brind’Amour win the Selke, he was tenth in Hart voting (his best result), he helped lead the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup.  

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2007 (2):  Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes, Center. 26 Goals, 56 Assists, 82 Points, +7, 8.2 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares. 

Brind’Amour won his second straight (and final) Selke Award, and he while he was very strong defensively, he had his first 80-Point plus year since 1995-96.  The Center played three more years, compiling 1,184 Points. 

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks, Center.  41 Goals, 32 Assists, 73 Points, +24, 10.4 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares. 

This was Kesler lone Selke, but he contended for it often, with five other top five finishes, and two at second-place.  Kesler had 573 Points over 15 Seasons; 10 with the Canucks and five with Anaheim.

Eligible Since 2022.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2008:  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  31 Goals, 66 Assists, 97 Points, +41, 12.6 Point Shares, 3.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Datsyuk was no stranger to awards, as he was already a two-time Stanley Cup winner, and would win his third consecutive Lady Byng this season.  This year, Datsyuk added his first Selke, was first in Plus/<inus (+41) and was ninth in Hart voting.  His 3.7 Defensive Point Shares is a current record for any Selke winner.  

Eligible in 2024.

2009 (2):  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  32 Goals, 65 Assists, 97 Points, +34, 11.5 Point Shares, 2.6 Defensive Point Shares.

As phenomenal as Datsyuk was in 2008/09, he was just as good this year, where the Russian not only his second Selke, but fourth Lady Byng.  Datsyuk, for the first and only time, was a Second Team All-Star, and had his highest finish for the Hart, third.

Eligible in 2024.

2010 (3):  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  27 Goals, 65 Assists, 70 Points, +17, 8.6 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares.

This was Selke’s third consecutive and last Selke, but he would land third in voting the next three seasons.  Datsyuk stayed with the Red Wings until 2016, compiling 918 Points over 14 years.  He continued his career in Europe until 2021.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and are still active.

2012:  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  22 Goals, 42 Assists, 64 Points, +36, 8.3 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron debuted for the Bruins in 2003, and year-by-year would methodically work his way to becoming one of hockey’s most complete players.  Helping Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011, Bergeron, who was in the top five in Selke voting the two years earlier, won his first major award this year, with his first Selke win.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2013:  Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  23 Goals, 25 Assists, 48 Points, +28, 7.6 Point Shares, 2.0 Defensive Point Shares.

Toews was a massive part of Chicago’s return to greatness in the 2010s, and he won the Conn Smyther in the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win in 2010.  Chicago won the Cup again, and Toews, who was second in Smythe voting two years earlier, won it this season, the same campaign where Toews won a second Stanley Cup and earned Second Team All-Star honors.  Toews did not win a second Selke, but in 2015, he was second, won the Mark Messier Leadership Award and more importantly a third Stanley Cup.  He has eight top ten Selke finishes.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2014 (2):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  30 Goals, 32 Assists, 62 Points, +38, 9.2 Point Shares, 2.8 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron captured the King Clancy Award in 2013 and was the runner-up for the Selke that year, thus denying him of back-to-back honors (for now).  The Bruins Center would win it this year, while finishing fifth in Hart voting, his highest tally.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2015 (3):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  23 Goals, 32 Assists, 55 Points, +2, 6.4 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Back-to-back Selke wins did come for Bergeron with his third win in four years, though Boston had an overall poor season, as they failed to make the playoffs.  The early golf season was no fault of Bergeron, who was their leading scorer.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2016:  Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  25 Goals, 49 Assists, 74 Points, +34, 9.7 Point Shares, 3.3 Defensive Point Shares.

The Slovenian star had already won two Stanley Cups by this time, and he was in the top three in Selke in voting the seasons before.  Kopitar won his first Selke this season, as well as his first Lady Byng.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2017 (4):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  21 Goals, 32 Assists, 53 Points, +12, 6.6 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.

In 2015-16, Bergeron was the Selke runner-up, but he won it this season, earning his fourth in six years.  This tied him with Bob Gainey for the most Selke wins.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2018 (2):  Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  35 Goals, 57 Assists, 92 Points, +21, 11.0 Point Shares, 3.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Kopitar had his best season, putting up a career-high in Goals (35), Points (92) and Defensive Point Shares (3.7), and was third in Hart voting.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2019:  Ryan O’Reilly, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  28 Goals, 37 Assists, 59 Points, +22, 8.8 Point Shares, 3.0 Defensive Point Shares.

St. Louis finally on their first Stanley Cup, and Ryan O’Reilly, who joined the Blues this year, deserved a lot of the credit. O’Reilly won the Smythe this year, was second for the Lady Byng, and was also 13h in Hart voting.

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the forward who demonstrates the most skill on the defensive side of the game.  It is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

Named after Frank J. Selke, the former General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, the trophy was first awarded in the 1977/78 Season. 

The results are as follows:

There are currently 20 former Frank J. Selke Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 7 entering, yielding a percentage of 35.0.  

If we go by yearly winners, there is a sizable increase to 30 eligible years with 13 of them generating a Hockey Hall of Famer.  That is a 43.3 Percentage.

The following are the past players who have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1978:  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  15 Goals, 16 Assists, 31 Points, +11, 1.9 Point Shares, 0.7 Defensive Point Shares. 

Sure enough, a player from Montreal won an inaugural award.  Bob Gainey knew his role, which was to play both ends of the ice, and smother attackers.  The Habs won the Stanley Cup this year, with Gainey capturing his third.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1979 (2):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  20 Goals, 18 Assists, 38 Points, +12, 2.4 Point Shares, 1.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

The value of Gainey was well established this year, as Gainey, not only won the second ever Selke Award, he won a fourth Stanley Cup, where his skills landed him the Conn Smythe.  Gainey was not only the first ever repeat Selke winner, but the first to win the Selke and Smythe in the same year.  It didn’t take long!

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1980 (3):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  14 Goals, 19 Assists, 33 Points, -1, 1.8 Point Shares, 0.7 Defensive Point Shares.  

The voters chose Gainey again, and we have three awards, and the same winner.  Gainey remained solid in his role, which was a lot easier on a team as deep as Montreal.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1981 (4):  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  23 Goals, 24 Assists, 47 Points, +13, 3.2 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.  

Gainey won the fourth (also his fourth) Selke, which was also his last.  The two-way star, won a fifth Cup in 1986, and played his entire career with Montreal.  The Left Wing would accumulate 501 Points over 16 Seasons and was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.  

1983:  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  23 Goals, 62 Assists, 85 Points, +37, 6.1 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.  

Clarke was always an excellent two-way player, but he was far removed from his Stanley Cup winning/Hart Trophy years.  The grizzled veteran was in his penultimate season, and previously had two top Selke finishes.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.  

1988:  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  17 Goals, 21 Assists, 38 Points, +14, 2.4 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.  

Carbonneau won his first Stanley Cup two years earlier, and was the runner-up for the Selke last year.  The Center won his first Selke and followed in the footsteps of Bob Gainey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1989 (2):  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  26 Goals, 30 Assists, 56 Points, +37, 5.0 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Carbonneau became the first player since Gainey to win a second Selke, and he also did so in consecutive fashion.  He would finish second and fourth in Selke voting over the next two seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1992 (3):  Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  18 Goals, 21 Assists, 39 Points, +2, 2.8 Point Shares, 1.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Now the second player (again after Bob Gainey) to become a three-time Selke winner, Carbonneau’s win gave Montreal seven of the first fifteen.  Carbonneau helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup the next season, and in 1999, as a Dallas Star, Carbonneau won a third Cup.  He amassed 663 Points over 19 Seasons in the NHL.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.  

1993:  Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  32 Goals, 95 Assists, 127 Points, +32, 11.0 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares.  

Doug Gilmour had the best year of his career, taking the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Conference Final where many feel they were screwed out of a trip to the Stanley Cup.  Gilmour had career-highs in Points (127), and became the first Selke winner to break 100 Points.  Also, the Hart Trophy runner-up this season, Gilmour was the runner-up in 1994 for the Selke, and prior to the win, had three consecutive fifth-place finished.  Retiring in 2008, Gilmour had 1,414 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.  

1994:  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing.  56 Goals, 64 Assists, 120 Points, +48, 13.8 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.  

Fedorov made Selke history as the first European to win the award, and was also the first off of a 50-Goal year.  The Russian star also won the Hart, making more history as the first player to win the Hart, the Pearson and the Selke in the same year.  What a campaign!

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

1995:  Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  11 Goals, 48 Assists, 59 Points, +30, 5.8 Point Shares, 1.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

Francis had one of the longest careers in the NHL, spanning over 1,700 Games, and three Stanley Cups, and when he won the Selke, he was in the middle of it all.  This season, he also won the first of three Lady Byng Awards, and was the Selke runner-up the year after.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

1996 (2):  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing.  39 Goals, 68 Assists, 107 Points, +49, 12.0 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.  

Fedorov joined the multi-Selke club, and was fifth for the Hart.  He never contended for any major individual award again, but he later won three Stanley Cups with Detroit.  Fedorov tallied 1,179 Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.  

2000:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  35 Goals, 44 Assists, 79 Points, +28, 9.8 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.  

Yzerman was already a legend in Detroit by this time, having already led the Red Wings to two Stanley Cups and winning a Pearson Award.  Stevie Y’s best years were behind him, but he was still a potent player, and he won his only Selke, and was eighth in Hart voting.  He would win another Cup for Detroit, and concluded his career with 1,755 Points in a stellar 22-year career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.  

The following are the players who have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1982:  Steve Kasper, Boston Bruins, Center.  20 Goals, 31 Assists, 51 Points, -18, 2.5 Point Shares, 0.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Kasper was the first Selke winner not named Bob Gainey, and he won this as an NHL sophomore.  While he played until 1993, Kasper never captured another award, but had a nice career that totalled 468 Points.  

Eligible Since 1996.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1984:  Doug Jarvis, Washington Capitals, Center.  13 Goals, 29 Assists, 42 Points, +6, 2.1 Point Shares, 1.5 Defensive Point Shares. 

Jarvis was the first to win the Selke who had more Defensive Point Shares than Offensive Point Shares, which was common place for the Center.  A four-time Stanley Cup Champion with Montreal, Jarvis at one time was the NHL Iron Man with 964 Games.

Eligible Since 1991.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1985:  Craig Ramsay, Buffalo Sabres, Left Wing.  12 Goals, 21 Assists, 33 Points, +17, 1.8 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.

This was Ramsay’s last year in the NHL, and at this point he was primarily focused on the defensive side of the ice.  The career-Sabre was the runner-up for the Selke three times before, and had 672 career Points over 14 seasons.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1986:  Troy Murray, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  45 Goals, 54 Assists, 99 Points, +32, 8.5 Point Shares, 1.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Murray never had another year like this again, though he did have a long career in the NHL.  Finishing tenth in Hart voting this season, Murray had two other top-ten Selke finishes that bookended this one.  He won a Stanley Cup in his last year (1996) with the Avalanche, and had 584 career Points.

Eligible Since 1999.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Dave Poulin, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  25 Goals, 45 Assists, 70 Points, +47, 6.3 Point Shares, 2.0 Defensive Point Shares.

The Flyers become the first team to have two Selke winners with Poulin’s win.  Poulin, who won the King Clancy Award in 1993, was second for the Selke that year, and was one of the more beloved teammates in hockey.

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1990:  Rick Meagher, St. Louis Blues, Center.  8 Goals, 17 Assists, 25 Points, +4, 0.7 Point Shares, 1.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

How defensive was Rick Meagher?  He had NEGATIVE Offesnive Point Shares (-0.5), to his DPD of 1.2.  Bluntly, we have a problem with a forward who can’t get a positive integer in OPS winning any award, but this was a player who was excellent the defensive role.  Megaher only played one more year, and had 309 Points over 12 years of service.  

Eligible Since 1994.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1991:  Dirk Graham, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing.  24 Goals, 21 Assists, 45 Points, +12, 3.8 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares. 

Graham won his only major award this year, though he would have two other seventh-place finishes (1989 & 1993) for the Selke.  He had 489 career Points over 12 Seasons. 

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997:  Michael Peca, Buffalo Sabres, Center.  20 Goals, 29 Assists, 49 Points, +26, 5.1 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Peca was in his fourth NHL year, but only his second in Buffalo, where the gifted and gritty two-way player won his first of two Selkes.  He ed the league in Short-Handed Goals with 6.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #272 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1998:  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  23 Goals, 19 Assists, 42 Points, +19, 5.7 Point Shares, 1.8 Defensive Point Shares.

Sergei Makarov might be the first European to win the award, but Jeri Lehtinen still carved a spot as Scandinavia’s first Selke winner.  Lehtinen was in his third campaign, and was third for the Selke the year before.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1999 (2):  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  20 Goals, 32 Assists, 52 Points, +29, 6.5 Point Shares, 2.9 Defensive Point Shares.

Lehtinen was a back-to-back winner, but it was an extra sweet award for the Finnish Wing, as he was integral to Dallas’s first Stanley Cup win.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2001:  John Madden, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing.  23 Goals, 15 Assists, 38 Points, +24, 4.6 Point Shares, 1.9 Defensive Point Shares.

New Jersey became a defensive power in this era, and John Madden was a large part of that.  Madden helped the Devils win two Stanley Cups, and he was a Selke second-place finisher on three other occasions.  He later won a third Cup with Chicago in 2010.

Eligible Since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2002 (2):  Michael Peca, New York Islanders, Center.  20 Goals, 29 Assists, 87 Points, +26, 5.1 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Peca won his second Selke, and became the first to win one for different teams, with number two coming in his debut year in New York.  The 60 Points he scored was the highest of his career, and would have 465 in total.  Notably, from 1997 to 2004 (he missed 2000-01) he always finished in the top five in Selke balloting.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #272 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003 (3):  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars, Right Wing.  31 Goals, 17 Assists, 38 Points, +39, 7.5 Point Shares, 3.2 Defensive Point Shares.

Lehtinen captured his third and final Selke this year and became the first winner to have over three Defensive Point Shares.  Playing his entire career in Dallas, Lehtinen was the Selke runner-up in 2006, was third two other years and had 514 career Points.

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  24 Goals, 16 Assists, 40 Points, +22, 6.0 Point Shares, 2.1 Defensive Point Shares.

We have been saying a lot in this section that many of these winners know/knew their role, but does anyone fit this better than Kris Draper.  A 20-year NHL veteran, with the latter 17 in Detroit Red, Draper’s 2003-04 was arguably his best, with career-highs in Goals (24), Points and Point Shares (6.0), and even received a Hart Trophy vote.  

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes, Center. 31 Goals, 39 Assists, 70 Points, +8, 6.8 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares. 

Brind’Amour was a seasoned veteran, who debuted in 1989, but he never finished higher than ninth for the Selke, but this would be the most memorable season of his career.  Not only did Brind’Amour win the Selke, he was tenth in Hart voting (his best result), he helped lead the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup.  

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2007 (2):  Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes, Center. 26 Goals, 56 Assists, 82 Points, +7, 8.2 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares. 

Brind’Amour won his second straight (and final) Selke Award, and he while he was very strong defensively, he had his first 80-Point plus year since 1995-96.  The Center played three more years, compiling 1,184 Points. 

Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks, Center.  41 Goals, 32 Assists, 73 Points, +24, 10.4 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares. 

This was Kesler lone Selke, but he contended for it often, with five other top five finishes, and two at second-place.  Kesler had 573 Points over 15 Seasons; 10 with the Canucks and five with Anaheim.

Eligible Since 2022.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2008:  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  31 Goals, 66 Assists, 97 Points, +41, 12.6 Point Shares, 3.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Datsyuk was no stranger to awards, as he was already a two-time Stanley Cup winner, and would win his third consecutive Lady Byng this season.  This year, Datsyuk added his first Selke, was first in Plus/<inus (+41) and was ninth in Hart voting.  His 3.7 Defensive Point Shares is a current record for any Selke winner.  

Eligible in 2024.

2009 (2):  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  32 Goals, 65 Assists, 97 Points, +34, 11.5 Point Shares, 2.6 Defensive Point Shares.

As phenomenal as Datsyuk was in 2008/09, he was just as good this year, where the Russian not only his second Selke, but fourth Lady Byng.  Datsyuk, for the first and only time, was a Second Team All-Star, and had his highest finish for the Hart, third.

Eligible in 2024.

2010 (3):  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  27 Goals, 65 Assists, 70 Points, +17, 8.6 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares.

This was Selke’s third consecutive and last Selke, but he would land third in voting the next three seasons.  Datsyuk stayed with the Red Wings until 2016, compiling 918 Points over 14 years.  He continued his career in Europe until 2021.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and are still active.

2012:  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  22 Goals, 42 Assists, 64 Points, +36, 8.3 Point Shares, 2.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron debuted for the Bruins in 2003, and year-by-year would methodically work his way to becoming one of hockey’s most complete players.  Helping Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011, Bergeron, who was in the top five in Selke voting the two years earlier, won his first major award this year, with his first Selke win.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2013:  Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  23 Goals, 25 Assists, 48 Points, +28, 7.6 Point Shares, 2.0 Defensive Point Shares.

Toews was a massive part of Chicago’s return to greatness in the 2010s, and he won the Conn Smyther in the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win in 2010.  Chicago won the Cup again, and Toews, who was second in Smythe voting two years earlier, won it this season, the same campaign where Toews won a second Stanley Cup and earned Second Team All-Star honors.  Toews did not win a second Selke, but in 2015, he was second, won the Mark Messier Leadership Award and more importantly a third Stanley Cup.  He has eight top ten Selke finishes.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2014 (2):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  30 Goals, 32 Assists, 62 Points, +38, 9.2 Point Shares, 2.8 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron captured the King Clancy Award in 2013 and was the runner-up for the Selke that year, thus denying him of back-to-back honors (for now).  The Bruins Center would win it this year, while finishing fifth in Hart voting, his highest tally.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2015 (3):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  23 Goals, 32 Assists, 55 Points, +2, 6.4 Point Shares, 1.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Back-to-back Selke wins did come for Bergeron with his third win in four years, though Boston had an overall poor season, as they failed to make the playoffs.  The early golf season was no fault of Bergeron, who was their leading scorer.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2016:  Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  25 Goals, 49 Assists, 74 Points, +34, 9.7 Point Shares, 3.3 Defensive Point Shares.

The Slovenian star had already won two Stanley Cups by this time, and he was in the top three in Selke in voting the seasons before.  Kopitar won his first Selke this season, as well as his first Lady Byng.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2017 (4):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  21 Goals, 32 Assists, 53 Points, +12, 6.6 Point Shares, 2.5 Defensive Point Shares.

In 2015-16, Bergeron was the Selke runner-up, but he won it this season, earning his fourth in six years.  This tied him with Bob Gainey for the most Selke wins.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

2018 (2):  Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  35 Goals, 57 Assists, 92 Points, +21, 11.0 Point Shares, 3.7 Defensive Point Shares.

Kopitar had his best season, putting up a career-high in Goals (35), Points (92) and Defensive Point Shares (3.7), and was third in Hart voting.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2019:  Ryan O’Reilly, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  28 Goals, 37 Assists, 59 Points, +22, 8.8 Point Shares, 3.0 Defensive Point Shares.

St. Louis finally on their first Stanley Cup, and Ryan O’Reilly, who joined the Blues this year, deserved a lot of the credit. O’Reilly won the Smythe this year, was second for the Lady Byng, and was also 13h in Hart voting.

31 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Blues.

2020:  Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  22 Goals, 37 Assists, 59 Points, +21, 6.6 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares.

Couturier won the Selke in his ninth NHL campaign, and had four prior top ten Selke finishes, including a second-place tally two years earlier.

30 Years Old, Playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

2021:  Alexsander Barkov, Florida Panthers, Center.  26 Goals, 32 Assists, 58 Points, +12, 7.3 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.

Like other Selke winners, Barkov was a previous Lady Byng winner 2019), and had twice been in the top ten in Selke voting.  He was also in sixth place for the Hart this year. 

27 Years Old, Playing for the Florida Panthers.

2022 (5):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  25 Goals, 40 Assists, 65 Points, +26, 7.6 Point Shares, 2.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron set the new benchmark for Selke wins with his fifth, though it took a five-year gap from his fourth win.  In between Bergeron’s fourth and fifth Selke, he remained a contender for the Award, finishing third, third, second and second respectively, while also winning another important accolade, the Mark Messier Leadership Award. 

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

Based on some of the recent winners, the Frank J. Selke Trophy will trend higher into Hall induction in the future.

31 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Blues.

2020:  Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  22 Goals, 37 Assists, 59 Points, +21, 6.6 Point Shares, 2.2 Defensive Point Shares.

Couturier won the Selke in his ninth NHL campaign, and had four prior top ten Selke finishes, including a second-place tally two years earlier.

30 Years Old, Playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

2021:  Alexsander Barkov, Florida Panthers, Center.  26 Goals, 32 Assists, 58 Points, +12, 7.3 Point Shares, 1.4 Defensive Point Shares.

Like other Selke winners, Barkov was a previous Lady Byng winner 2019), and had twice been in the top ten in Selke voting.  He was also in sixth place for the Hart this year. 

27 Years Old, Playing for the Florida Panthers.

2022 (5):  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins, Center.  25 Goals, 40 Assists, 65 Points, +26, 7.6 Point Shares, 2.6 Defensive Point Shares.

Bergeron set the new benchmark for Selke wins with his fifth, though it took a five-year gap from his fourth win.  In between Bergeron’s fourth and fifth Selke, he remained a contender for the Award, finishing third, third, second and second respectively, while also winning another important accolade, the Mark Messier Leadership Award. 

37 Years Old, Playing for the Boston Bruins.

Based on some of the recent winners, the Frank J. Selke Trophy will trend higher into Hall induction in the future.

The Hart is not the only award considered the MVP in Hockey, as in the 1971-72 Season, the Lester B. Pearson Award was created, which is where the players vote on who they feel is the league MVP.  In 2010, it was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award, in honor of the Hall of Famer who spearheaded the creation of the NHLPA.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 20 former Ted Lindsay Award winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with 18 entering, yielding a percentage of 90.0.  

This covers 33 years of Hall-eligible winners, of which 31 of them saw a Conn Smythe winner enter the Hall.  This yields a percentage of 93.9.

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

1971:  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, Center:  76 Goals, 76 Assists, 152 Points, +69, 18.5 Point Shares.      

A year after he led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup, Phil Esposito won the first ever Lester B. Pearson Award on the strength of hockey’s first ever 76 Goal Season, a number he matched in Assists.  His 152 Points landed him another Art Ross Trophy, and he was a First Team All-Star for the third straight season.  Esposito was not the Hart Trophy winner, as despite his incredible accomplishments, the honor went to Bobby Orr, who had 139 Points and 22.8 Point Shares.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1972:  Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers, Center:  46 Goals, 63 Assists, 109 Points, +61, 13.6 Point Shares. 

Jean Ratelle had his best season in hockey where he had career-highs in the big three offensive stats (46 Goals, 63 Assists and 109 Points).  Ratelle was the league-leader in Even Strength Goals (40) and Shot Percentage (25.1%) and with only four Penalty Minutes, he was an easy choice for the Lady Byng. Ratelle was only fourth for the Hart this year (Bobby Orr won it), and he was a Second Team All-Star at Center behind Phil Esposito.  Ratelle scored 1,267 Points over his career

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

1973:  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center:  37 Goals, 67 Assists, 104 Points, +32,  10.3 Point Shares.        

For the first time, an expansion team had a player win the Hart when Bobby Clarke took it for the first of three times. The Center, who had won the Bill Masterton Award the year before, was the Second Team All-Star behind Phil Esposito, but bested the Bruin for the Lester B. Pearson and also the Hart Trophy, as much of Philadelphia’s success this season was led by Clarke, but the best was coming for Philadelphia and the “Broad Street Bullies”.  Clarke would lead the Flyers to the next two Stanley Cups, and he also won a second and third Hart.  Clarke played the entirety of his career with Philadelphia, retiring in 1984 with 1,210 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1974 (2):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, Center.   68 Goals, 77 Assists, 145 Points, +51, 17.0 Point Shares.  

This was Esposito’s second Lester B. Pearson Trophy and making him the first to become a multi-time winner.  In between his two Pearson wins, Esposito won his second Stanley Cup, and two Art Ross Trophies.  This season, Esposito won his fifth Art Ross Trophy, was a First Team All-Star for the sixth time, and was also the winner of the Lester B. Pearson.  Esposito was also the NHL’s Goal leader for the sixth consecutive season, and this was also the fifth straight year a Bruin won the Hart. The charismatic Center was a Second Team All-Star the year after, and he was then traded to the New York Rangers where he played until he retired in 1981.  Esposito accumulated 717 Goals and 1,590 Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defense.   46 Goals, 89 Assists, 135 Points, +80,  21.5 Point Shares.         

You could argue that Bobby Orr’s Lester B. Pearson Trophy 1975 was a surprise.  It was not that he wasn’t worthy, but the shock was that he had never won it before despite the hardware being only five years old.  Previously, Orr won three Hart Trophies, two Stanley Cups, seven Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe and an Art Ross.  This season, he would win his second Art Ross trophy in 1974-75, and to date he was the first, last and only blueliner to win that honor.  Orr was also the first Defenseman to win the Pearson. A knee injury derailed his career, and he only scored 55 Points over his final three years in hockey, the latter two being in a Blackhawks uniform.  He was fast-tracked into the Hall, and there will never be another Defenseman like him again.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1976:  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing.   56 Goals, 69 Assists, 125 Points, +67, 13.8 Point Shares.  

The Montreal Canadiens have had many dynasties over their existence, and in the 1970s, their offensive leader was Guy Lafleur. A First Team All-Star the Year before, Lafleur was so again this year and he won his first Art Ross.  The Right Wing was third this year for the Hart and Lady Byng, but more importantly, he led the Habs to a Stanley Cup win, and his second overall.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1977 (2):  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing.  56 Goals, 80 Assists, 136 Points, +89, 15.7 Point Shares. 

Guy Lafleur took them to their second straight Stanley Cup and he also won the Hart Trophy.   The Habs star won his second Art Ross and earned his third First Team All-Star Selection.  This would be the only season where he won the Conn Smythe as well as leading the league in Assists (80).  Notably, LaFleur became the first back-to-back Pearson/Lindsay winner.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1978 (3):  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing.  60 Goals, 72 Assists, 132 Points, +73, 15.8 Point Shares.  

Lafleur was named a First Team All-Star for the fourth of what would be six straight selections, and would also mark his second Hart and third and final Art Ross Trophy.  The Right Wing played with Montreal until he was forced to retire in the 1984-85 Season. After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he came out of retirement for three seasons, one with the New York Rangers and two with Quebec.  He would retire for good in 1991, leaving the NHL with 1,353 Points, and was the first ever three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1979:  Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  59 Goals, 71 Assists, 130 Points, +22, 13.3 Point Shares.         

Dionne was a First Team All-Star two years before, and this season he was a Second Team All-Star behind Bryan Trottier of the New York Islanders, who also won the Hart Trophy.  Dionne was third for the Hart this season, and was the first King to win the Pearson.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1980 (2):  Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings, Center.   53 Goals, 84 Assists, 137 Points, +34, 13.5 Point Shares  

Dionne went back-to-back with his second Pearson, and he was a First Team All-Star, besting Wayne Gretzky, who beat him for the Hart.  This makes Dionne the only multiple Pearson winner never to win a Hart.  This might be true, but Dionne won the Art Ross Trophy this year and he had three more 100 Point years.  Dionne, who originally played with Detroit, finished his career with the New York Rangers in 1989 and retired with 1,307 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1982:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  92 Goals, 120 Assists, 212 Points, +80, 19.7 Point Shares.        

92 Goals.  When Phil Esposito lit the lamp 76 times, that record seemed unbreakable, but this year, Gretzky had 92 Goals and hit the 50 Goal mark after only 39 Games! Not only the Gretzky set new records in Goal scoring, he broke his own Assists mark (120), and broke the 200 Point plain with his personal best 212.  Gretzky also for the first time was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+80).  This was Gretzky’s second Art Ross and First Team All-Star, but for the first time he won the Lester B. Pearson Award, meaning his peers could no longer deny his talent.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1983 (2):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  71 Goals, 125 Assists, 196 Points, +61, 18.0 Point Shares.  

Gretzky was again an offensive juggernaut, and for the third year in a row, he broke the single-season Assists mark.  He repeated the awards he won last year, with an Art Ross, Hart and First Team All-Star, but this year he led the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup appearance.  They lost to the New York Islanders, but we knew was set to come. Notably, Gretzky became the first player to win the Hart four years in a row.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1984 (3):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  87 Goals, 118 Assists, 205 Points, +78, 19.6 Point Shares.  

Imagine having a season where you score 87 Goals, 118 Assists and 205 Points, and none of those are personal highs.  Gretzky was just that good.  This was Gretzky’s fifth straight Hart (becoming the first to do have five straight), and he also won his fourth Art Ross and First Team All-Star, and he captured his fifth Hart Trophy.  The coup de gras for Gretzky was leading Edmonton to their first Stanley Cup win.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1985 (4):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  73 Goals, 135 Assists, 208 Points, +100, 19.6 Point Shares.  

Gretzky matched his idol’s (Gordie Howe) mark in Hart wins, but unlike Howe, Gretzky did it in six consecutive years.  This would be the fourth straight year the Gretzky led the NHL in Goals, and he also set a career-high in Plus/Minus with +100. In regards to his trophy case, Gretzky repeated as the Art Ross winner, Lester B. Pearson winner and First Team All-Star, but this time he added a new award, the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the Oilers won their second Stanley Cup.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1986:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  48 Goals, 93 Assists, 131 Points, -8, 10.9 Point Shares.     

Mario Lemieux was only in his second season in the NHL, but he already saved the Pittsburgh Penguins from relocating. Lemieux was a Second Team All-Star behind Gretzky, and he was second to him for the Hart too.  He was the first Pearson winner for the Penguins.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1987 (5):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  62 Goals, 121 Assists, 183 Points, +69, 17.6 Point Shares.  

Gretzky did it again with an unprecedented eighth Hart Trophy, and he did so while collecting yet another First Team All-Star and Art Ross while leading the NHL in Goals for the fifth and final time.  This would also be Gretzky’s fifth and final Lester B. Pearson Award.  Gretzky took the Oilers to their third Stanley Cup win, and did so again the year after.  He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and won his ninth Hart there.  After a brief stint with St. Louis in 1996 and three final years with the Rangers, Gretzky retired as the all-time leader in Goals (894), Assists (1,963) and Points (2,857).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1988 (2):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  70 Goals, 98 Assists, 168 Points, +23, 16.2 Point Shares.  

This year, Mario Lemieux brought the Pittsburgh Penguins their first Hart Trophy winner, and playing at Center, he did the unthinkable by unseating Gretzky as the First Team All-Star.  Lemieux led the NHL in Goals for the first time, and this year he also notched his first Art Ross Trophy.  His peers already knew how magnificent he was, as this was Lemieux’s second Pearson Award.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1989:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  65 Goals, 90 Assists, 155 Points, +17, 14.4 Point Shares.     

Steve Yzerman never won the Hart, but this season he won the Lindsay on the year he had career-highs in Goals (60), Assists (90) and Points (155).  This was the year that returned the Red Wings to prominence, and Yzerman was the first Red Wing to win the Pearson.  Yzerman led the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups, won a Conn Smythe and had 1,755 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1990: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  45 Goals, 84 Assists, 129 Points, +19, 11.3 Point Shares. 

The Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, which meant that Mark Messier would become the Oilers’ leader. Messier did what Gretzky couldn’t without the other…win the Stanley Cup.  Messier’s 129 Points were a career-high, and he was named a First Team All-Star this year. What Messier this season should be celebrated a lot more than it is, and we say that even though Messier won the Hart that year!

1991: Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues, Right Wing.  86 Goals, 45 Assists, 131 Points, +23, 15.4 Point Shares.  

Brett Hull led the NHL in Goals for three seasons in a row, and in all three of them, he had at least 70.  This was Hull’s highwater mark, and he would also secure the Hart Trophy.  A three-time First Team All-Star, Hull later won a Stanley Cup as a Dallas Star in 1999 and a Detroit Red Wing in 2002.  Retiring in 2006, Hull had 527 career Goals.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1992 (2):  Mark Messier, New York Rangers, Center.   35 Goals, 72 Assists, 107 Points, +31, 9.9 Point Shares.    

Messier became the first player to win the Pearson with two different teams.  The Center was now the leader of the Rangers, and he was also the winner of the Hart Trophy and a First Team All-Star.  Messier’s leadership would take the Rangers to a 1994 Stanley Cup, and he was so good at that role, that the National Hockey League would create a “Mark Messier Leadership Award”.   When he retired, Messier scored 1,887 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

1993 (3):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  69 Goals, 91 Assists, 160 Points, +55, 16.2 Point Shares.        

Since his second Lester B. Pearson Award, Lemieux went on to win the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup, and injuries prevented him from full seasons, which kept the Hart from his grabs.  This year, he only played 60 Games, but he won the Art Ross with 160 Points and led the NHL in Plus/Minus (+55).  Lemieux would also win the Hart, was a First Team All-Star and he was the Bill Masterton Award winner.  Why did he only play 60 Games?  Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, yet came back to finish the season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1994:  Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  56 Goals, 64 Assists, 120 Points, +48, 13.8 Point Shares.      

Making history as the first non-Canadian and first European to win the Pearson, Sergei Fedorov was in his fourth NHL season and this was best statistical season by far.  Fedorov was a First Team All-Star, Hart Trophy winner and Frank J. Selke winner this year, and he would later win three Stanley Cups for Detroit.  The Russian later won another Selke Trophy and he would later play for Anaheim, Columbus and Washington.  Fedorov scored 1,179 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

1995:  Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  29 Goals, 41 Assists, 70 Points, +27, 8.8 Point Shares.   

The Philadelphia Flyers gave an awful lot to get Eric Lindros, and while it might not have been worth it, it was still a Pearson winner.  Lindros was a First Team All-Star this year as well as the coveted Hart Trophy winner in this strike-shortened year.  Lindros also won his only Art Ross this year, and he was a 1.14 PPG player over his 13 NHL Seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

1996 (4):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  69 Goals, 92 Assists, 161 Points, +10, 17.4 Point Shares.

Lemieux also won his third Hart and fifth Art Ross trophy this season, while also earning First Team All-Star honors.  The Center was a First Team All-Star and Art Ross winner the next year, and he retired after that.  He came back in 2000, now as a player/owner albeit on the ice on a reduced role due to his past injuries and fatigue.  He played his last game in 2006, accumulating 1,723 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1997:  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres, Goalie.   37 Wins, 20 Losses, 10 Ties, 2.27 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 17.2 Point Shares.          

Dominik Hasek was already considered one of the best Goalies in Hockey, but this year he was elevated to the best player in the world. This season, Hasek won his third Vezina Trophy and earned his third First Team All-Star, and he was also won the Hart.  Hasek was also first in Save Percentage for the fourth year in the row. He also made history as the first Czech player to win the Pearson.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

1998 (2):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres, Goalie.   33 Wins, 23 Losses, 13 Ties, 2.09 GAA, .932 Save Percentage, 18.6 Point Shares.     

In terms of accolades, Hasek repeated his efforts of 1997 with a Hart, Lester B. Pearson, a Vezina and a First Team All-Star, and he again led the NHL in Save Percentage.  Hasek would later win two more Vezina Trophies.  In 1999, Hasek took Buffalo on his back and carried them to a Stanley Cup Final.  The Czech Goalie grew frustrated and asked for a trade, which he got when he was sent to Detroit.  He would win two Stanley Cups with Detroit and then played in Europe, retiring in 2011.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2001:  Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche, Center.  54 Goals, 64 Assists, 118 Points, +45, 15.9 Point Shares.

Sakic was the first Nordiques/Avalanche player to win the Lester B. Pearson, which he did in his 13thseason.  Sakic had a career-high 54 Goals, was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+45) and he was also the winner of the Lady Byng and the Hart Trophy.  This year, Sakic and the Avs won the Stanley Cup, which was their second, having won it in 1996.  The Center was also named a First Team All-Star, and would be again in two of the next three years.  Sakic played his entire career with Quebec/Colorado, retiring in 2009 with 1,641 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

2002:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  52 Goals, 44 Assists, 96 Points, +27, 14.4 Point Shares.

Iginla was a First Team All-Star for the first of what would be three times, and he was also the Maurice Richard and Art Ross Trophy winner this year.  Iginla did not win the Hart as he was the runner-up to the Montreal Goalie, Jose Theodore.  He played with the Flames until 2013, and would later play for Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado and Los Angeles, and had an even 1,300 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2004:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning, Right Wing.  38 Goals, 56 Assists, 94 Points, +35, 13.2 Point Shares.

It was a breakout campaign for St. Louis who was in his sixth season, and fourth in Tampa Bay after playing for Calgary in seasons one and two.  St. Louis became the first Lightning player to win the Pearson, and he also won the Hart, Art Ross, was a First Team All-Star and was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+35).  St. Louis led Tampa to the Stanley Cup that year.  After this year, St. Louis was a Second Team All-Star four times, won another Art Ross and would also win three Lady Byng Trophies.  He played until 2015, after a year and a half with the Rangers.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

2011:  Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Left Wing.  41 Goals, 63 Assists, 104 Points +30, 14.3 Point Shares

Along with his twin brother, Henrik, Daniel Sedin played his entire 17-year career with the Vancouver Canucks, with his best season coming right in the middle of it.  Sedin was a First Team All-Star this year, and he would also win the Art Ross, the only time in his career he accomplished either of those.  Sedin was second in Hart voting, finishing behind Corey Perry of Anaheim.  Sedin retired with 1,041 career Points. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

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

1981:  Mike Liut, St. Louis Blues, Goalie.  33 Wins, 14 Losses, 13 Ties, 3.35 GAA, .894 Save Percentage, 11.6 Point Shares. 

Mike Liut was named a First Team All-Star and he was the runner-up for the Hart, finishing behind Wayne Gretzky.  Gretzky won his second Hart this year, but his peers named Liut the Pearson winner, making Liut the first Goalie to win the award. Playing until 1992, Liut was a Second Team All-Star in 1986-87 when he was playing with the Hartford Whalers. Liut finished his career with two and a half seasons in Washington, and he had an overall record of 293-271-74.

Eligible since 1995.  Ranked #85 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003:  Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks, Left Wing.  48 Goals, 56 Assists, 104 Points, +6, 13.5 Point Shares.  

Naslund was not only the first Vancouver Canuck to win the Pearson, he was also the first from Sweden to capture the trophy. Naslund was in year two of his three-year run as a First Team All-Star, and he was the runner-up for the Hart to Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche.  Naslund played in the NHL until 2009, with his last year being as a New York Ranger.  The Swedish Wing had 869 NHL Points.

Eligible since 2012.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the Ted Lindsay Award 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:

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

1999:  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins, Right Wing.   44 Goals, 83 Assists, 127 Points, +17, 14.6 Point Shares.  

This was Jagr’s ninth season in the NHL, and they were all spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Winning his third Art Ross Trophy, Jagr had career highs in Assists (83) and Points (127), and he was also the Hart Trophy winner, and he previously helped Pittsburgh win two Stanley Cups.

50 Years Old, Playing in Europe.

2000 (2):  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins, Right Wing.  42 Goals, 54 Assists, 96 Points, +25, 12.2 Point Shares.

Jagr went back-to-back for the Pearson, and this was the third straight year he led the NHL in Assists and it was also his third straight Art Ross and First Team All-Star.  Jagr was second for the Hart this year, and the year after he had his fourth consecutive Art Ross and First Team All-Star.

50 Years Old, Playing in Europe.

2006 (3):  Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers, Right Wing.   54 Goals, 69 Assists, 123 Points, +34, 15.5 Point Shares.

This was a comeback year of sorts for Jagr, who had his first three-digit year in scoring since 2000-01.  This was his last season where he hit at least 100, but he remained a scorer, playing for Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey, Florida and Calgary. He won the Bill Masterton in 2016-17 and accumulated a colossal 1,921 career Points.

50 Years Old, Playing in Europe.

2007:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  36 Goals, 84 Assists, 120 Points, +10, 13.3 Point Shares.

“Sid the Kid” did not win the Calder, as that went to his long-time rival, Alex Ovechkin.  Crosby would however beat him to a Lester B. Pearson win, which he collected in his sophomore season.  Crosby would also win his first Art Ross, was named a First Team All-Star, he also won the prestigious Hart Trophy.  There was a lot more to come for Crosby.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2008:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  65 Goals, 47 Assists, 112 Points, +28, 17.2 Point Shares.

Ovechkin won his first Lester B. Pearson in his third season, which was also the first by a Washington Capital.  A First Team All-Star in all of his seasons to date, Ovechkin also won the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Rocket Richard Award for his 65 Goals.  

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2009 (2):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  56 Goals, 54 Assists, 110 Points, +8, 14.5 Point Shares.

The Russian Center repeated most of his honors in his back-to-back Pearson win.  Ovechkin repeated as the Rocket Richard winner, and was a First Team All-Star for his fourth consecutive season.  He would also win his second straight Hart.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2010 (3):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  50 Goals, 59 Assists, 109 Points, +45, 15.6 Point Shares. 

Ovechkin remained in hickey elite, capturing his third consecutive Lester B. Pearson, which was now renamed the Ted Lindsay Award.  Again, a First Team All-Star, Ovechkin missed out on the Hart, losing to Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2012:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  50 Goals, 59 Assists, 109 Points, +18, 13.4 Point Shares.

The first three seasons for Evgeni Malkin was nothing short of stunning.  Malkin won the Calder in 2006-07, was a First Team All-Star in all three years, and was the Art Ross Winner in 2008-09, while winning the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe. Malkin’s two years after was riddled with injuries, but he made up for it in 2011-12 with a second Art Ross, and his first Hart.  Malkin was a First Team All-Star for the fourth time, and he also won the Hart Trophy. He would go on to win two more Cups with Pittsburgh.

34 Years OldPlaying for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2013 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  15 Goals, 41 Assists, 56 Points, +26, 7.5 Point Shares.

In between his first and second Ted Lindsay Award, Crosby won a Stanley Cup in 2009, was a Second Team All-Star (2010), won a Rocket Richard Trophy (2009) and a Mark Messier Leadership Award (2010).  A First Team All-Star this year, Crosby was second for the Hart to Ovechkin.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2014 (3):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  36 Goals, 84 Assists, 120 Points, +18, 13.3 Point Shares. 

Crosby went back-to-back in Ted Lindsay wins, and this season he collected another Art Ross, a Hart, and a First Team All-Star Selection.  Crosby later won two more Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2015:  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  44 Wins, 16 Losses, 5 Ties, 1.96 GAA, .933 Save Percentage, 16.2 Point Shares.

This was the eighth NHL season for Price, who as of this writing has only played for the Montreal Canadiens.  Price led the NHL in Wins (44), Save Percentage (.933) and Goals Against Average (1.96), and he not only won the Hart, he also captured the Vezina, William M. Jennings, Hart Trophy, and he was also a First Team All-Star. This is the only year that Price was a post-season All-Star.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Montreal Canadiens.

2016:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing.  46 Goals, 60 Assists, 106 Points, +17, 15.0 Point Shares.

This was Kane’s ninth season in the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawk had already accomplished so much before his Ted Lindsay win.  Kane won the Calder, and was already a two-time First Team All-Star, and a three-time Stanley Cup winner.  This season, Kane was a First Team All-Star for a third time, and also won his first Art Ross and Hart Trophy.  Kane has been a First Team All-Star for a fourth time and earned a Second Team All-Star.  He is already a member of the 1,000 Point club.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2017:  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  30 Goals, 70 Assists, 100 Points, +27, 12.8 Point Shares.

McDavid was in his second season, where he not only won the Ted Lindsay, but was the winner of the Art Ross and the Hart.  This season also brought in the first of three straight First Team All-Stars.

26 Years OldPlaying for the Edmonton Oilers.

2018 (2):  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  41 Goals, 67 Assists, 108 Points, +20, 13.1 Points Shares.

McDavid won his second straight Ted Lindsay Award, and it coincided with his second Art Ross and First Team All-Star Selection.  The Oiler was only fifth in Hart voting, finishing behind Taylor Hall (winner, New Jersey), Nathan McKinnon (Colorado), Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles) and Claude Giroux (Philadelphia).

26 Years Old.  Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2019:  Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, Right Wing.  41 Goals, 87 Assists, 128 Points, +24, 14.6 Point Shares.

Kucherov was in his sixth NHL season (all with Tampa) and he would win not only the Hart but his first Art Ross and Hart Trophy.  Kucherov was a First Team All-Star for the Second straight time and the year after he was a Second Team All-Star and led the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2020.

29 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2020:  Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  43 Goals, 67 Assists, 110 Points, -7, 12.8 Point Shares.

Draisaitl’s Ted Lindsay Award win marked the first time that a German player won the most coveted individual award in Hockey. Draisaitl was in his sixth season in hockey (all with Edmonton) and this year he also won the Hart, Art Ross, and was a First Team All-Star.

27 Years OldPlaying for the Edmonton Oilers.

2021 (3):  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  44 Goals, 79 Assists, 123 Points, +28, 13.0 Points Shares.

McDavid captured his third Ted Lindsay, while adding a second Hart and fourth Art Ross.  There are only a handful of players who accomplished as many awards as McDavid did in such a short period of time. 

26 Years Old.  Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2022:  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  60 Goals, 46 Assists, 106 Points, +20, 13.2 Points Shares.

It took over 40 years before the Maple Leafs had their first Ted Lindsay Award winner, and it took a 60 Goal winner to it.  Matthews also won the Hart Trophy, his first, and beat out Connor McDavid as this year’s First Team All-Star at Center. 

25 Years Old.  Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As expected, the Ted Lindsay Award is like the Hart Trophy as an excellent indicator for Hall of Fame induction.   

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is a unique award that does not necessarily reflect on-ice accomplishments.  It was created to honor Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars, who died on January 15, 1968, after sustaining an injury during a game.  The award is given to the player who best exemplifies the quality of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.  Each NHL team nominates one player from their squad for the accolade.

Generally, the player who wins this award often returns from a serious injury or any other ailment that could be career-threatening.  

The results are as follows:

There are currently 42 former Bill Masterton Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 12 entering, yielding a percentage of 27.3.  

Nothing changes if we go by yearly winners, as there has never been a duplicate winner for the Bill Masterton Memorial Award.  There is no rule stating that you can't be a repeat winner, but the parameters make it difficult to repeat.  

The following are the past players who have won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1971:  Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers, Center.  26 Goals, 46 Assists, 72 Points, +27, 7.3 Point Shares.  

Ratelle was one of the cleanest players in hockey and was also one of the classiest.  This win was like a lifetime achievement award, even though his career was only at the mid-way mark, though that was not then known.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.  

1972:  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center.  35 Goals, 46 Assists, 81 Points, +24, 9.4 Point Shares.  

In 1972, Clarke was a rising star and had overcome diabetes to play at a high level.  He would become an elite player shortly after and a three-time Hart Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup Champion.  Clarke also became the first Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner who would also win the Hart at one time in his career.  Considering Bobby Clarke was only 22 when he won this, it would not start a trend where young players would win the Masterton.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1974:  Henri Richard, Montreal Canadiens.  19 Goals, 36 Assists, 55 Points, +7, 4.3 Point Shores.  

Like Rattelle, this win is viewed as a lifetime achievement award for Henri Richard, whose career was nearing the end.  "The Pocket Rocket" would win a whopping 11 Stanley Cups in a career spent entirely with Montreal.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1976:  Rod Gilbert, New York Rangers, Right Wing.  36 Goals, 50 Assists, 86 Points, -8, 7.6 Point Shores.

Gilbert played his entire career with the Rangers, and this was near the end of it.  The forward scored 1,021 Points, and he overcame a back injury early in his career. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

1979:  Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens, Defense.  7 Goals, 26 Assists, 33 Points, +47, 8.3 Point Shores.

Serge Savard won his eight Stanley Cups with the Habs and was also a Second Team All-Star this year, the only time he earned this honor.  The Defenseman was the first Bill Masterton Memorial Award winner to be named a post-season NHL All-Star in the same season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1983:  Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames, Right Wing.  66 Goals, 32 Assists, 98 Points, -1, 9.8 Points Shares. 

McDonald was one of the most popular players with fans and teammates alike, and this was his most remarkable season in terms of stats.  McDonald would score 66 Goals and 98 Points, both career-highs, and be named a Second Team All-Star, the first time he earned a post-season All-Star accolade.  In his final NHL campaign, he would win the Stanley Cup with the Flames.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1984:  Brad Park, Detroit Red Wings, Defense.  5 Goals, 53 Assists, 58 Points, -31, 5.4 Point Shares. 

This was Brad Park's first season in Detroit and his penultimate campaign in the NHL.  He was one the more beloved players in the league and was still a strong performer as he had 58 Points this year.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1993:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  69 Goals, 91 Assists, 160 Points, +55, 16.8 Point Shares

Choosing Mario Lemieux had to be the easiest decision in this award's history.  Lemieux returned to hockey after contracting Hodgkin's lymphoma, and despite missing 22 Games, he would win the Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Art Ross Trophy.  No other player who won the Bill Masterton award has a year this good in the same campaign.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1994:  Cam Neely, Boston Bruins, Right Wing.  50 Goals, 24 Assists, 74 Points, +12, 9.6 Point Shares. 

Cam Neely had injury upon injury pile up, and he only played 22 Games in 1991-92 and 1992-93 combined.  He came during this year and scored 50 Goals while only playing 49 Games, and he would be named a Second Team All-Star.  He would only be able to play 89 Games more in the NHL, and he had to retire at the age of 30.  Neely went down in history as one of the most popular Bruins players ever, which says a lot when you think of all the legends who wore the "B."   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

1995:  Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo Sabres, Center.  12 Goals, 15 Assists, 27 Points, +2, 3.2 Point Shares. 

In the year prior, Pat LaFontaine suffered a severe concussion, and the post-concussion syndrome forced him to miss most of that season and this season.  He returned to play 22 Games and scored 27 Points.  LaFontaine would later suffer more concussions and would be forced to retire in 1998.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

2003:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  2 Goals, 6 Assists, 8 Points, +6, 0.8 Point Shares.  

By this point in his career, Steve Yzerman had already won three Stanley Cups, but he suffered a massive knee injury and would have a knee realignment done.  The Red Wings star would come back to play 16 Games this year.  Yzerman would play two more seasons and score 1,755 Points in his Hall of Fame career.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

2006:  Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Right Wing.  40 Goals, 50 Assists, 90 Points, +28, 11.4 Point Shares. 

This was a true comeback year for Teemu Selanne in every sense of the word.  Selanne recovered from knee surgery to have a 90 Point campaign, which was the first time he reached that plateau in seven years.  Selanne would have a 94-point year the season after and take the Ducks to win the Stanley Cup.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

The following are the players who have won the Bill Masteron Memorial Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1968:  Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing.  14 Goals, 30 Assists, 44 Points, +17, 3.8 Point Shares.

The inaugural winner was Claude Provost, one of the best two-way players of his day, and in 1968, he was nearing the end of his career.  This year, Provost had won his eighth of nine Stanley Cups, and he would play two more seasons in the NHL.  

Eligible Since 1973.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1969:  Ted Hampson, Oakland Seals, Center.  26 Goals, 49 Assists, 75 Points, -13, 6.7 Point Shares.

After an injury-riddled 1967-68 season, Oakland Seals' Team Captain, Ted Hampson, responded with the best year of his career with a 75 Point outage.  Hampson combined NHL/WHA career would see him accumulate 556 Points.  He would later win the Paul Deneau Award in the WHA as that league's most gentlemanly player.  

Eligible Since 1979.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1970:  Pit Martin, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  30 Goals, 33 Assists, 63 Points, +21, 7.1 Point Shares.    

While Pit Martin was not the best player on the Chicago Blackhawks, he was the heartbeat of the team.  Martin helped Chicago go from worst to first that year, and he would score 63 Points as well post his first (of three) 30 Goal seasons.

Eligible Since 1982.  Ranked #148 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1973:  Lowell McDonald, Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Wing.  34 Goals, 41 Assists, 75 Points, +36, 8.0 Point Shares. 

Lowell McDonald only played 10 Games in the year before due to severe cartilage damage to his knees.  The 1972-73 Season campaign saw the Penguin score 75 Points, which was then a record for him.  He would score 390 Points over 506 NHL Games.  

Eligible Since 1981.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1975:  Don Luce, Buffalo Sabres, Center.  33 Goals, 43 Assists, 76 Points, +61, 7.9 Point Shares. 

This was the best season that Don Luce ever had as his 33 Goals, and 76 Points were a career-high.  Luce scored 526 Points over his career and would finish in the top ten in Frank J. Selke Award three times.  This was the only award that Luce would win.  

Eligible Since 1985.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1977:  Ed Westfall, New York Islanders, Right Wing.  14 Goals, 33 Assists, 47 Points, +21, 3.3 Point Shares.

Westfall would win this award for being one of the game's great on-ice leaders, which occurred late in his career.  Westfall won two Stanley Cups earlier with the Boston Bruins and scored 625 Points in total.

Eligible Since 1982.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1978:  Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  37 Goals, 36 Assists, 73 Points, -4, 7.0 Point Shares. 

Goring would win this based on carving out a successful NHL career despite being slight in stature.  Goring would win the Lady Byng Trophy, making him the first Masterton winner to secure a second award in the same year.  He would later join the New York Islanders and win four Stanley Cups.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1980:  Al MacAdam, Minnesota North Stars.  42 Goals, 51 Assists, 93 Points, +36, 9.4 Point Shares. 

MacAdam was a gritty player who, in 1979-80, would post his best career numbers.  That year he would 42 Goals, 51 Assists, and 93 Points, all career-highs, as was his +36. 

Eligible Since 1988.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1981:  Blake Dunlop, St. Louis Blues, Center.  20 Goals, 67 Assists, 87 Points, +15, 5.6 Point Shares.

This was Dunlop's best year, where he had 67 Assists and 87 Points, both career-highs.  

Eligible Since 1987.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1982:  Glenn Resch, Colorado Rockies, Goalie.  16 Wins, 31 Losses, 4.04 GAA, .879 Save Percentage, 9.0 Point Shares. 

The Colorado Rockies of the NHL were never any good, but Glenn Resch brought them respectability.  He had previously been a Second Team All-Star twice and a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the New York Islanders.   Resch was also the first Goalie to win the Masterton.

Eligible Since 1990.  Ranked #143 on Notinhalloffame.com

1985:  Anders Hedberg, New York Rangers, Right Wing.  20 Goals, 31 Assists, 51 Points, -14, 3.0 Point Shares.

Anders Hedberg became the first European to win this award, and he was an initial trailblazer in showing the NHL that Swedish players could compete at an elite level in North America.  This was Hedberg's final season in the NHL, and he would score 51 Points and 855 in the NHL and WHA combined.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Ranked #218 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1986:  Charlie Simmer, Boston Bruins, Left Wing.  36 Goals, 24 Assists, 60 Points, +13, 5.5 Point Shares.

Charlie Simmer scored 60 Points this year and remained a good NHL sniper despite having extensive ligament damage.  He was a former two-time First Team All-Star and would put the puck in the net 342 times over his career.  

Eligible Since 1991.  Ranked #116 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Doug Jarvis, Hartford Whalers, Center.  9 Goals, 13 Assists, 22 Points, 0, 0.3 Point Shares.

This was a special season where Doug Jarvis would break the record of consecutive games of 915 Games.  He would eventually play 964 Games in a row, a since-broken record.  

Eligible Since 1991.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1988:  Bob Bourne, Los Angeles Kings, Center.  7 Goals, 11 Assists, 18 Points, -31, -0.8 Point Shares. 

This was the final season of Bob Bourne’s career and 14th overall.  Bourne had previously won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and would score 582 Points overall.  

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1989:  Tim Kerr, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing.  48 Goals, 40 Assists, 88 Points, -4, 8.1 Point Shares. 

From 1983-84 to 1986-87, Tim Kerr was a 50 Goal scorer, but in 1987-88, he could only play eight games due to knee and shoulder issues.  He bounced back this season to score 48 Goals.  

Eligible Since 1996.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com

1990:  Gord Kluzak, Boston Bruins, Defense.  0 Goals, 2 Assists, 2 Points, +4, 0.7 Point Shares.

Gord Kluzak was the first overall draft pick in 1982, and for the first few years, the blueliner was the shutdown blueliner they expected him to be.  Sadly, he suffered a knee injury after knee injury, and in 1988-89 he could only play three Games.  This year, he fought back, but knee surgeries held him to only eight games, but the fact that he played at all bordered on miraculous.  He played two more games, and after his tenth knee surgery, he had to call it a career.  

Eligible Since 1994.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1991:  Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings 

Dave Taylor spent all of his 17 years in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings.  This was year 14.  Taylor was one of the most respected players in hockey, and he also won the King Clancy Award this year, making him the first to win both in the same season.  

Eligible Since 1997.  Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com

1992:  Mark Fitzpatrick, New York Islanders, Goalie.   11 Wins, 13 Losses, 5 Ties, 3.20 GAA, .902 Save Percentage, 6.2 Point Shares.

Mark Fitzpatrick missed most of the previous campaign due to Eosinophilia-myalgia, a potentially fatal neural disease.  He would come back to play 30 games in the net for the Isles this year.  He would play until the 1999-00 Season. 

Eligible Since 2003.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1996:  Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames, Left Wing.  22 Goals, 22 Assist, 42 Points, +15, 5.3 Point Shares. 

Gary Roberts suffered nerve issues with his neck that caused him to miss most of the 1994-95 season, and he could only play 35 Games this year.  In what could have been a career-ending injury, Roberts continued to play more than a decade more until he was 42.  

Eligible Since 2011.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997:  Tony Granato, San Jose Sharks, Right Wing.  25 Goals, 15 Assists, 40 Points, -7, 4.2 Point Shares.

Tony Granato would have a head injury in a game in January of 1996 that was so bad that he suffered bleeding in the left lobe of his brain.  He would return to hockey after brain surgery, where the Shark would have a 40 Point campaign.  

Eligible Since 2004.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1998:  Jamie McLennan, St. Louis Blues, Goalie.  16 Wins, 8 Losses, 2.17 GAA, .903 Save Percentage, 3.4 Point Shares. 

Jamie McLennan was playing for the New York Islanders, and he suffered from bacterial meningitis that would be life-threatening.  McLennan missed a lot of time, and he would come back to the NHL with St. Louis, where he played 30 Games with a 2.17 GAA.

Eligible Since 2010.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1999:  John Cullen, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points, -2, -0.2 Point Shares. 

The career of John Cullen seemed to end when he contacted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1997.  The Center had to sit out the 1997-98 season, but he managed to come back to the NHL and was in four Games for the Lightning that year before he retired for good.  

Eligible Since 2002.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2000:  Ken Daneyko, New Jersey Devils, Defense.  0 Goals, 6 Assists, 6 Points, +13, 3.0 Point Shares.

Ken Daneyko did not come back from an injury, but he did battle alcoholism, which is a potent disease in its own right.  Daneyko had a long career in hockey, with all 20 seasons being served in a New Jersey Devils jersey.  He would win three Stanley Cups over his career.  

Eligible Since 2006.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2001:  Adam Graves, New York Rangers, Left Wing.  10 Goals, 16 Assists, 26 Points, -16, 0.5 Point Shares. 

We have used the term "Lifetime Achievement Award" concerning this particular accolade, and we will use it again for Adam Graves' 2001 Masterton win.  The Left Wing was a grizzled vet by this time and had previously won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994. 

Eligible Since 2006.  Ranked #67 on Notinhalloffame.com

2002:  Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens, Center.  0 Goals, 2 Assists, 2 Points, 0, 0.1 Point Shares. 

Saku Koivu was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma in September before the season, and he was expected to miss the entire year.  Koivu shocked everyone by returning with three games left in the year, and he would also participate in the playoffs.  

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Bryan Berard, Chicago Blackhawks, Defense.  13 Goals, 34 Assists, 47 Points, -24, 6.1 Point Shares. 

In 1997 Brian Berard was the Calder Trophy winner and would later suffer an injury to his eye.  Berard would be legally blind in one eye, and he won this award due to his perseverance to continue to play.  This season would see Berard score a career-high 47 Points.

Eligible Since 2011.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2008:  Jason Blake, Toronto Maple Leafs, Left Wing.  15 Goals, 37 Assists, 52 Points, -4, 4.2 Point Shares. 

Jason Blake would be diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia but would play the entire year.  He would have 52 Points this campaign.  

Eligible Since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2009:  Steve Sullivan, Nashville Predators, Left Wing.  11 Goals, 21 Assists, 32 Points, +2, 3.3 Point Shares. 

After having a 60 Point year in 2006-07, Steve Sullivan would later have issues that would cause him to miss a year and parts of two others due to fragmented disc and groin issues.  

Eligible Since 2016.  Ranked #225 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2010:  Jose Theodore, Washington Capitals, Goalie.  30 Wins, 7 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.81 GAA, .911 Save Percentage, 8.0 Point Shares.

Jose Theodore was a surprise winner of the Hart Trophy and Vezina in 2002; this was his best year since that campaign.  This year, Theodore had to deal with the death of his young son due to the complications of premature birth.  

Eligible Since 2016.  Ranked #186 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Ian Laperriere, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing.  No Games. 

In the 2010 playoffs, Laperriere blocked a shot with his face, resulting in post-concussion syndrome.  This would make him the first player to win this after his career was technically over.  He would not play this year, and for that matter, ever again.  

Eligible Since 2013.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2013:  Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild, Goalie.  1 Win, 1 Loss, 3.24 GAA, .863 Save Percentage, 0.0 Point Shares.  

Josh Harding would come back after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the off-season and would manage to play in five regular season games and the playoffs.  Harding played in 29 Games the following season and would lead the NHL in Save Percentage (.933) and Goals Against Average (1.66).  That was the last year for Harding as he had a broken foot to begin the 2014-15 season, and after issues with his MS came up, he never played in the NHL again.  

Eligible Since 2018.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2014:  Dominic Moore, New York Rangers, Center.  6 Goals, 12 Assists, 18 Points, 0, 1.4 Point Shares.

Moore returned to the NHL after taking 18 months off to tend to his wife, Katie, who was battling a rare form of liver cancer.  She passed away in January 2013.  Moore returned to the league with the New York Rangers playing 73 Games.  

Eligible Since 2021.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the NHL Bill Masterton Trophy who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame: 

2015:  Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild, Goalie.  36 Wins, 14 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.07 GAA, .929 Save Percentage, 12.6 Point Shares.

Devan Dubnyk was carving out a decent career, though it was unremarkable.  He had played 171 Games in the net for the Edmonton Oilers and was traded to the Nashville Predators in 2014 but only played there for two Games.  The Goalie signed with the Arizona Coyotes, where he played for 19 Games, had a 2.72 Goals Against Average and was traded mid-season to the Minnesota Wild.  Dubnyk then went on fire, taking them to the playoffs, where he went 27-9-2 with a 1.78 GAA.  He would be named an All-Star and was a Second Team All-Star that year.  He has since gone to two more All-Star Games with Minnesota.  

Eligible in 2024.

2020:  Bobby Ryan, Ottawa Senators, Left Wing.  5 Goals, 3 Assists, 8 Points, +3, 0.4 Point Shares.

Ryan scored a hat trick on his first game after taking time off to deal with his PTSD and alcohol issues.  He was open about his ailment and could play one more season.    

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the past players who have won the NHL Bill Masterton Trophy and are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and are still active.

2007:  Phil Kessel, Boston Bruins, Right Wing.  11 Goals, 18 Assists, 29 Points, -12, 2.0 Point Shares.

Phil Kessel became the first rookie player to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.  Kessel contracted testicular cancer and missed 12 Games this year.  He still managed to have a 29 Point year.  Kessel would later win a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh and set the iron-man mark for consecutive games played.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.

2012:  Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing.  33 Goals, 32 Assists, 65 Points, +2, 9.0 Point Shares. 

In the 2010-11 season, Max Pacioretty was knocked out of a game with a concussion and a fractured vertebra.  He returned with his first 65 Point season.  

34 Years Old, Playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.

2016:  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins, Right Wing.  27 Goals, 39 Assists, 66 Points, +23, 9.2 Point Shares.

How was Jaromir Jagr still playing in the NHL and at a level where he scored 66 Points.  How is that not showing off a dedication to hockey?  

50 Years Old, Playing for HC Kladno in the Czech League.

2017:  Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators, Goalie.  25 Wins, 11 Losses, 4 Ties, 2.28 GAA, .926 Save Percentage, 9.2 Point Shares.

Anderson had a rough personal year as he had taken some time off mid-season, where he had to tend to his wife, who was diagnosed with cancer.  He returned and took the Senators to a surprise conference Final.  

41 Years Old, Playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

2018:  Brian Boyle, New Jersey Devils, Center.  13 Goals, 10 Assists, 23 Points, -9, 2.0 Point Shares.

Brian Boyle was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia in training camp, which caused him to miss the start of the season.  Boyle returned in November and had a 23 Point season.  

38 Years Old, Free Agent.

2019:  Robin Lehner, New York Islanders, Goalie.  25 Wins, 13 Losses, 5 Ties, 2.13 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 10.2 Point Shares.

Robin Lehner went public in the off-season about his battles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder.  He came back with a career-high 2.13 Goals Against Average over 46 Games.  He would also win the William M. Jennings Award, making him the first to win the Jennings and Masterton in the same year.  

31 Years Old, Playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.

2021:  Oskar Lindblom, Philadelphia Flyers, Left Wing.  8 Goals, 6 Assists, 14 Points, -9, 0.7 Point Shares.  

Lindblom was diagnosed during the previous season with Ewing's Sarcoma but was able to return for Philadelphia's post-season.  He had a full and healthy year in 2020/21.

25 Years Old, Playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

2022:  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  1 Win, 4 Losses, 3.63 GAA, 8.78 Save Percentage, 0.4 Point Shares.  

Price, who won the 2015 Hart and Vezina, had to overcome severe knee issues and a battle with substance abuse.  It was incredible that he played at all this year.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bill Masterton Trophy has been historically awarded to the man who overcame the most to keep playing and failing that, acting as a de facto lifetime achievement award.  It will never reflect greatness on the ice, but mostly the battle to get on to it.  As prestigious as this accolade is, it has little, if any, impact on Hockey Hall of Fame induction.

The playoffs are obviously more important than the regular season, yet the playoff MVP always takes a back seat to the regular season MVP.  If we are of the belief (and many of us are) that this is where legends rise, the Conn Smythe Trophy, given annually to the best playoff performer should tell an accurate Hall of Fame tale.

The award is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime Owner, General Manager and Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  It was first awarded in 1965.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 38 former Conn Smythe winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with all 26 entering, yielding a percentage of 68.4.  

This covered 44 years of Hall-eligible winners, of which 32 of them saw a Conn Smythe winner enter the Hall.  This yields a percentage of 72.7.

The following are the past players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1965:  Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadians, Center.  8 Goals, 8 Assists, 16 Points, -1. 


This was Beliveau’s sixth of ten Stanley Cups, and while this was his only Conn Smythe, he would lead in Playoff Assists two more times.  He would score 172 Points in NHL Playoff hockey and has the most all time for the Montreal Canadians.  In regular season action, Beliveau is a two-time Hart, one-time Art Ross and six-time First Team All-Star.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1967:  Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  3 Goals, 5 Assists, 8 Points, +1. 

The last Stanley Cup for Keon (of four), is also currently the last one for the Maple Leafs.  His eight Points are the fewest of any Conn Smythe winner (Toronto’s Jim Pappin, led all skaters with 15), but it was the way he shut down the inaugural winner, Jean Beliveau, that pushed him to the win.    Previously, Keon won the Calder, twice won the Lady Byng and was a two-time Second Team All-Star.  Playoff-wise, Keon had 67 total Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1968:  Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues, Goalie.  8 Wins, 10 Losses, 2.43 GAA, .916 Save Percentage.

Yes, this was a losing record but the hockey pundits knew that Hall was the reason that the Blues were as competitive as they were in the Finals.  Hall had already won the Stanley Cup before with Chicago, was a former Calder winner, and won his second Vezina and seventh First Team All-Star the year after season.  He played three more years before he retired.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1969:  Serge Savard, Montreal Canadians, Defenseman.  4 Goals, 6 Assists, 10 Points +2.

A member of the Habs’ “Big Three” of their great defensive corps, Serge Savard would win seven Stanley Cups, with this being his second, and he became the first Defenseman to win the Norris.  In future playoffs (1976 & 1978), he would lead all skaters in Plus/Minus and overall score 68 Points in 138 Playoff Games.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1970:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defenseman.  9 Goals, 11 Assists, 20 Points +24.

What a year!  Orr won not only his first Conn Smythe, but also his first Stanley Cup and Hart Trophy.  He also secured his third Norris, making him the first and only player to win the Norris, Hart and Conn Smythe in the same season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1971:  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadians, Goalie.  12 Wins, 8 Losses, 3.01 GAA, .914 Save Percentage. 

Is this not one of the coolest facts in sports?  Ken Dryden won the Conn Smythe BEFORE he won the Calder Trophy!  Dryden was called up late in the 1970-71 season and played only 6 games but one the starting job.  Dryden’s overall playoff record is 80 and 32 with a 2.40 GAA and six Stanley Cups.  This was Dryden’s only Conn Smythe, but he put together much better statistical performances in later playoff years.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1972 (2):  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defenseman.  5 Goals, 19 Assists, 24 Points +20.

Orr accomplished the same sick feat that he did two years before, winning the Hart, Norris, Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe in the same year, while also becoming the first player to win the Conn Smythe twice.  The trailblazing Defenseman never won another Cup, but had an overall playoff total of 92 Points in 74 Games.  Orr is the first and only eight-time Norris winner, and hen his career was over, he was fast-tracked into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1973:  Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadians, Right Wing.  15 Goals, 10 Assists, 25 Points, +6.

Cournoyer was named a Second Team All-Star for the fourth and final time, and he had his best post-season in hockey, becoming the first player to score 25 Points in a playoff.  He won eight Stanley Cups, this year being his sixth, and scored 127 Points in total playoff action.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

1974:  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.  12 Wins, 5 Losses, 2.02 GAA, .933 Save Percentage. 

This is the year where Bernie Parent became a legend and a future Hockey Hall of Famer.  Parent would take the “Broad Steeet Bullies” to the promised land and cement his hockey legacy in this postseason.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975 (2):  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.  10 Wins, 5 Losses, 1.89 GAA, .924 Save Percentage. 

Parent became the second player to win two Conn Smythes, and the first to win it back-to-back.  In his two Conn Smythe winning years, Parent won the Vezina and was a First Team All-Star, but he was not the same Goalie afterward, and was no longer in the elite group of netminders, though he did enough to get into the Hall of Fame.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1977:  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadians, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 17 Assists, 26 Points, +20.

Guy Lafleur won five Stanley Cups over his career, this one being his third where he won his only Conn Smythe.  It was an incredible season for Lafleur, who also won the Hart, the Pearson and the Art Ross.   This may have been Lafleur’s only Conn Smythe, but he was in contention for the next two as he was the leading scorer in this playoff and the next two.  He would amass 134 Playoff Points in 128 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1978:  Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadians, Defense.  4 Goals, 17 Assists, 21 Points, +21.

One of the best blueliners in Canadiens history, Robinson captured six Stanley Cups with Montreal, with the one in 1978 being his fourth.  He led all playoff skaters in Assists (17), Points (21) and Plus/Minus (+21), and the two-time Norris winner accumulated 144 Points in his playoff history.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

1979:  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadians, Defense.  6 Goals, 10 Assists, 16 Points, +4.

Bob Gainey earned a reputation as one of the best defensive forwards of his day, and fittingly he won the first four Frank J. Selke Awards (including his second this year) as the league’s best defensive forward.  Gainey won his fourth of five Stanley Cups this year, and this was his best performance, averaging a Point per Game.  He had 73 Points on 182 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1980:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders, Center.  12 Goals, 17 Assists, 29 Points, +8.

It was appropriate that Bryan Trottier, who the year before brought the Islanders their first Hart and Art Ross, would be the man who in New York’s first Stanley Cup, took home the first Conn Smythe.  Trottier led the Isles to the titles in the next three years, and later was a supporting figure in Pittsburgh’s first two Cups.  Trottier accumulated 169 Points in 175 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1982:  Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, Right Wing.  17 Goals, 10 Assists, 27 Points, +7.

In the third year of the Islanders dynasty, a third Conn Smythe winner emerged with their prime sniper, Mike Bossy.  The five-time First Team All-Star Right led all players in 17 Goals, the same amount he led in the year before and after.  He arguably had a claim to have won the Conn Smythe in 1981, as he was first in Goals (17), Assists (18) and Points (35), but as seen above he fell to goring.  This playoff, Bossy also had three Game-Winning Goals.  Overall, Bossy had 160 Playoff Points in 128 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

1983:  Billy Smith, New York Islanders, Goalie.  13 Wins, 3 Losses, 2.69 GAA, .913 Save Percentage.

Billy Smith won the last Conn Smythe of the Islanders dynasty, and became the first player to win the Smythe and William M. Jennings Trophy the year before.  A Vezina winner the year before, Smith was a member of all four New York Stanley Cup wins, Smith led all playoff Goalies in Save Percentage (.913), and for five years in a row (1980-84) had the most Wins in the playoffs.  His overall playoff record was 88-36. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

1984:  Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  8 Goals, 18 Assists, 26 Points, +9.

The Islanders dynasty passed the torch to the Oilers dynasty, and it was Mark Messier, the man who would have a leadership trophy named after him that won it first for Edmonton.  The Smythe was an intriguing win for Messier, who was converted from Left Wing to Center for the playoffs, and his end-to-end play was the engine that kickstarted it all.  Messier won five more Stanley Cups (four with Edmonton and one with the Rangers), and arguably, he had a case for the 1990 win, when he led all skaters in Assists (22) and Points (31), but that went to Goalie, Bill Ranford.  The two-time Hart winner had 295 career Points in the playoffs.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

1985:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  17 Goals, 30 Assists, 47 Points, +27.

Considering the number of awards that Wayne Gretzky won, the knowledge that he was not the first Conn Smythe winner in Oilers history is a little surprising, but when “The Great One” did win it, he did so epically.  Gretzky was not only the first Conn Smythe winner to break 30 Points, he broke 40, and still holds the record for Points in the post-season with 47.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1986:  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  15 Wins. 5 Losses, 1.93 GAA, .923 Save Percentage.

Patrick Roy followed into the Canadiens footsteps of Ken Dryden, who it felt like came out of nowhere to backstop Montreal to a Stanley Cup Title.  This year, Roy stood on his head to take a team to a championship, and usher in a new legend in Quebec-based hockey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1988 (2):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  12 Goals, 31 Assists, 34 Points, +10.

Gretzky won his second Conn Smythe on his fourth and final Cup win, and he did so as the second player to have at least 40 Points in a playoff.  He won two more Cups with the Oilers, and tallied a whopping 382 Points in 208 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1989:  Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames, Defenseman.  7 Goals, 24 Assists, 31 Points, +6.

The story of Calgary’s Stanley Cup was Lanny MacDonald winning it in his last year, but the best player was Defenseman, Al MacInnis.  This was MacInnis’s only Cup, but he would later win a Norris Trophy with the St. Louis Blues.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1991:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  16 Goals, 28 Assists, 44 Points, +14.

Mario Lemieux’s Conn Smythe win was the culmination of his arrival in Pittsburgh years earlier, which saved the franchise from leaving Western Pennsylvania.  He became the second player after Gretzky to eclipse 540 Points in a playoff.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1992 (2):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  16 Goals, 18 Assists, 34 Points, +6.

Lemieux is not the first multi-time winner of the Conn Smythe, but he is the first to do so back-to-back.  Not only did Super Mario lead the playoffs in Goals (16) and Points (8) while also topping the standings in Game-Winning Goals with 5.  He would total an outstanding 172 Playoff Points in 107 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1993 (2):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  16 Wins. 4 Losses, 2.13 GAA, .929 Save Percentage.

Roy again took a team that should not have won it all, but did so based mostly on their Goalie, who won a Vezina and four William M. Jennings Trophies in between the two Smythes. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1994:  Brian Leetch, New York Rangers, Defense.  11 Goals, 23 Assists, 34 Points, +19.

Mark Messier received the most attention when the Rangers brought back the Stanley Cup in 1994, but it was their star Defenseman, that captured the Conn Smythe.  The two-time Norris winner led the playoffs in Assists (23), Points (34), Plus/Minus (+19) and Game-Winning Goals (4).  Over his playoff career (all but one appearance with the Rangers), he had 97 Points in 95 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1996:  Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche, Center.  18 Goals, 16 Assists, 34 Points, +10.

Sakic was dominant in Colorado’s first Stanley Cup win, leading the skaters in Goals (18), Points (34), Shots (98) and Game-Winning Goals (6), showing that he was money when it mattered most.  He did not win the Conn Smythe in 2001 (that went to Goalie, Patrick Roy), but Sakic against was first in Goals (13), Points (26) and Game-Winning Goals (3).  Sakic’s playoff career saw the Center have 188 Points in 172 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

1998:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  6 Goals, 18 Assists, 24 Points, +10.

Yzerman was already a grizzled veteran at this stage, but the leader of the Red Wings was still a top player who led by example.  “Stevie Y” took Detroit to three Stanley Cups, with this year being his second.  He led all playoff performers in Assists (18) and Points (24), and in Detroit’s third Stanley Cup in 2002, he had 23 Points over those four series.  Yzerman amassed 185 Points in 196 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1999:  Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars, Center.  11 Goals, 10 Assists, 21 Points, +7.

Nieuwendyk won three Stanley Cups with three different teams, with 1999 in Dallas being his second (the others were Calgary in 1989 and New Jersey in 2003).  The veteran led all skaters in Goals (11), Even-Strength Goals (8) and Game-Winning Goals (6), and had 116 Playoff Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

2000:  Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils, Defense.  3 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Points, +9.

11 Points do not seem like much for a Conn Smythe winner, even a Defenseman, but the Devils strategy was all about lockdown defense, and Stevens could do that, as well as provide the necessary offensive rush.  Stevens was a member of New Jersey’s three Stanley Cups, all employing the same strategy, and in this win, his +9 was enough to lead all skaters in this dead-puck era. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

2001 (3):  Patrick Roy, Colorado Rockies, Goalie.  16 Wins, 7 Losses, 1.70 GAA, .934 Save Percentage.

An awful lot happened from the second Conn Smythe to the third, as Roy, forced his way out of Montreal, was traded to Colorado, and backstopped them to a Stanley Cup in their first year after relocation.  He was at his best in this year’s playoff, leading all Goalies in Save Percentage (.934), Goals Against Average (1.70), and Shutouts (4), and over his playoff career had 151 Wins against 17 Losses with 23 Shutouts and a 2.30 GAA.  Roy is the only player to win three Conn Smythes. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

2002:  Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings, Defense.  5 Goals, 11 Assists, 16 Points, +6.

Lidstrom anchored Detroit to four Stanley Cups, and you had to know that the seven-time Norris winner would capture at least one Conn Smythe.  The Defenseman scored 183 Points in 263 Playoff Games, all with Detroit.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

2007:  Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks, Defense.  3 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Points, +2.

Niedermayer, who won the Norris three years before, also was named a First Team All-Star for the third time this year, but it was the Stanley Cup win that was the biggest reward of all.  His defensive prowess and leadership took the Ducks over the hump, and he knew what it took to do this, as Niedermayer was a three-time Cup winner with New Jersey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1966:  Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings, Goalie.  6 Wins, 5 Losses, 10 Points +2.

It only took until year two for the Conn Smythe to go to a player on the losing side, as Crozier’s Red Wings fell to the Montreal Canadiens.  It was a gutsy performance by Crozier, who suffered a leg injury in Game 4 of the Finals, but did the best he could.  Crozier, who was a First Team All-Star and Calder winner the year before, never won another award, but he played until 1977, notably with the second half as a Buffalo Sabre.  He had a career record of 113-118-43.  

Eligible Since 1980.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1976:  Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing.  19 Goals, 5 Assists, 24 Points +14.

Leach won the Stanley Cup the year before, but despite the Conn Sythe win, the Flyers went down in the Finals to the Montreal Canadiens.  To date, he is the only skater to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team.  In this season’s playoffs, he led all players in Goals (24), Even Strength Goals (17) and Shot Percentage (31.1), and it ended his most successful year, where he was a Second Team All-Star, and was first in Goals with 61.

Eligible Since 1986.  Ranked #46 Notinhalloffame.com.

1981:  Butch Goring, New York Islanders, Center.  10 Goals, 10 Assists, 20 Points +6.

When the Islanders traded for Goring at last year’s trading deadline, he was viewed as the final piece of the puzzle, and he was, aiding New York in their first Stanley Cup win.  This year, Goring, was the playoff leader in Shooting Percentage (27.8), had two Short-Handed Goals, and in the next two Cup Titles for New York, Goring remained a strong performer, who would total 62 Points in the four playoff-winning years.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Ranked #34 Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers, Goalie.  15 Wins, 11 Losses, 2.76 GAA, .908 Save Percentage.

It is always bittersweet to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team, and he became the second Flyer (the first being Reggie Leach) to do so.  Hextall logged the most time of any Goalie in this year’s playoff (1,542), and it ended the most dynamic rookie years of any non-Calder winner (he was second to Luc Robitaille of Los Angeles).  He also won the Vezina this year.  Hextall never equalled this success, nor did he ever win a Stanley Cup, but he had a nice long career.

Eligible Since 2002.  Ranked #50 Notinhalloffame.com.

1990:  Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers, Goalie.  16 Wins, 6 Losses, 2.53 GAA, .912 Save Percentage.

Ranford’s best moment in Pro Hockey came as Edmonton’s Goalie in their fifth Stanley Cup, a title they had to win one without Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey.  Ranford took over for the struggling Grant Fuhr, and won all of Edmonton’s 16 Wins, and might have won this over Messier as his contributions were unexpected.  He never won another Stanley Cup, or any other major award in the NHL.

Eligible Since 2002.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1995:  Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing.  13 Goals, 3 Assists, 16 Points, +12.

Claude Lemieux is not likely to enter the Hocket Hall of Fame, but if there was a post-season Hall, Lemieux would be an early induction.  Winning the first Conn Smythe for New Jersey, Lemieux’s 13 Goals were playoff leading, as was his 13 in 1997.  He overall won 4 Stanley Cups, scoring 158 Points in 234 Playoff Games.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997:  Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings, Goalie.  16 Wins, 4 Losses, 1.79 GAA, .927 Save Percentage.

Vernon backstopped Calgary to their first Stanley Cup, but he was better this run with Detroit with his only playoff GAA under two.  This was his last year as a Red Wing, and he had a 77-56 playoff record with a GAA of 2.68.

Eligible Since 2005.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003:  Jean-Sebastien Giguere, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Goalie.  15 Wins, 6 Losses, 1.62 GAA, .945 Save Percentage.

If you win the Stanley Cup on a losing team, the chances are that you are a Goalie, and that is what we have in 2003 with Giguere, who took the Ducks further than they had any right to be this season.  He would, however, backstop Anaheim to a Cup in 2007.

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #276 Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  12 Goals, 14 Assists, 26 Points, +5.

The Lightning won their first Stanley Cup in 2004, and it was Richards, who also won the franchise’s first Lady Byng this year that won the Conn Smythe.  Leading all players with Points (26), Richards later won a second Stanley Cup as a Chicago Blackhawk in 2015.  He overall had 105 Playoff Points.

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #60 Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Goalie.  15 Wins, 8 Losses, 2.13 GAA, .920 Save Percentage.

Ward led the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup in his rookie year, but this did not usher in a Hall of Fame career.  The Goalie, who was outstanding in the '06 Playoffs, only had one more playoff appearance (2009), though he played in the NHL until 2019.

Eligible Since 2022.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2008:  Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing.  13 Goals, 14 Assists, 27 Points, +16.

Zetterberg led the skaters in Goals (13), Points (27), Plus/Minus (+16) and Shots (116) and had 4 Game-Winning Goals.  A Red Wing for his entire career, Zetterberg had 120 Points across 137 Playoff Games.

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins, Goalie.  16 Wins, 9 Losses, 1.98 GAA, .940 Save Percentage.

Thomas came out of obscurity in his early 30s and was a Vezina Trophy winner in 2009 and in this season, which was obviously sweeter as it included a Stanley Cup ring and a Conn Smythe.  He led the playoffs in Save Percentage (.940) and Shutouts (4).

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

 

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe 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:

2014:  Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 16 Assists, 25 Points, +13.

Williams had a long career scoring 797 Points over 19 NHL Seasons, but was never a superstar.  Already a two-time Stanley Cup winner (one with Carolina and one with L.A.), Williams had the best performance of his career in the 2014 Playoffs, leading the playoffs in Plus/Minus +13, and doing all the little things that help you win Games.  Williams won’t get into the Hall, but the Smythe is a nice consolation.

Eligible in 2023.

2015:  Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks, Defense.  3 Goals, 18 Assists, 21 Points, +16.

Chicago won three Stanley Cups in the 2010s, and they had three different Conn Smythe winners, all of whom played on all three winning teams.  Keith won two Norris Trophies before this Cup, would lead all players in the 2015 Playoffs in Assists (18) and Plus/Minus (+16).   

Eligible in 2025.

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are still active.

2009:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  14 Goals, 22 Assists, 36 Points, +3.

Malkin was in his third NHL Season, and he won the Art Ross as well as his first Stanley Cup.  Three years later, he won the Hart, and is currently a three-time Stanley Cup champion.  

36 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2010:  Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  7 Goals, 23 Assists, 29 Points, -1.  

Toews was the dynamic young Center on the Blackhawks team that won their first Stanley Cup in almost 50 years, and he was first in Assists (22) and Power Play Goals (5).  He would help lead Chicago to Cups in 2013 and 2015, and was the Selke winner in 2013, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2012:  Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Goalie.  16 Wins, 4 Losses, 1.41 GAA, .946 Save Percentage.  

Quick was a Second Team All-Star this season, and he led the Playoff Goalies in Save Percentage (.946) and Shutouts (3), and would backstop Los Angeles to another Title two years after.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2013:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 10 Assists, 19 Points, +7.  

A member of all three Chicago Stanley Cup wins in the 2010s, this was the second, and only Conn Smythe win for Patrick Kane, who was first in Even Strength Goals (9).  Three years later, Kane won the Hart, Ted Lindsay Award and Art Ross.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2016:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  6 Goals, 13 Assists, 19 Points, -2.  

Crosby enjoyed his second Stanley Cup with the Penguins and did so in a year that he was the Hart runner-up. 

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2017 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  8 Goals, 19 Assists, 27 Points, +4.  

Like the season before, Crosby was the second-place finisher in the Hart, but he won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the top Goal Scorer.  Crosby did not lead the playoffs in Goals, but did so in Assists (19), and became the third player to win the Conn Smythe is back-to-back years.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2018:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  15 Goals, 12 Assists, 27 Points, +8.  

It is fitting that we go from Crosby to Ovechkin, as they have been rivals from day one.  Ovechkin finally took Washington to the promised land, and led all players in the post-season in Goals (15) and Shots (99), and this cemented the legacy of the two-time Hart winner.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2019:  Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues, Center.  8 Goals, 15 Assists, 23 Points, +2.  

Glenn Hall won St. Louis’s first Conn Smythe, but the Blues lost in the Finals, and we finally have the Cup raised in St. Louis, in their 52nd season.  O’Reilly, who won the 2014 Lady Byng, led all players in playoff scoring (23).

30 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Blues.

2020:  Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, Defense.  10 Goals, 12 Assists, 22 Points, +13.  

Hedman won the Norris two years earlier, and would have three Game-Winning Goals in this playoff.

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2021:  Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, Goalie.  16 Wins, 7 Losses, 1.90 GAA, .937 Save Percentage.  

Vasilevskiy was the runner-up for the Vezina this year, and led the NHL in Wins with 31.  In the playoffs, he faced the most Shots (699), but still had the highest Save Percentage (.937), while posting five Shutouts, which also led the post-season.

28 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2022:  Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, Defense.  8 Goals, 21 Assists, 29 Points, +7.  

Makar also won the Norris this year, joining a club that was founded by Bobby Orr.

24 Years Old, Playing for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Conn Smythe can help put a good player over the Hall of Fame hump, but you have to be also lucky; i.e., be on a team good enough to make the Finals.   

Named after Hockey Hall of Fame player, coach, and general manager, Art Ross, the award began in 1947-48 and is awarded to the player who accumulates the most Points in the regular season.  Unlike most awards, it is not arbitrary, as it is based purely on one statistic.  Notably, if players tie in Points, the tie-breaker goes to the player with the most Goals.  Generally, if you are the highest scorer in any sport in a season, you can expect this to generate multiple Hall of Fame inductees.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 20 former Art Ross winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with all 20 entering, yielding a percentage of 100.0.  

This covered 58 years of Hall-eligible winners, which obviously comes in at 100.0%.

The following are the past players who have won the Art Ross Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1948:  Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens, 30 Goals, 31 Assists, 61 Points, 7.5 Point Shares.

How fitting is it that a Montreal player won this award first?  Elmer Lach has already won two Stanley Cups for Montreal, and he won the coveted Hart Trophy in 1944-45.  He won his only Art Ross Trophy this season, narrowly beating New York's Buddy O'Connor by one Point.  Lach would finish third in Hart Trophy voting and was a First Team All-Star this season.  Lach played for the Habs until 1954, winning another Stanley Cup and earning another First Team All-Star before retiring.  He would have 623 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1949:  Roy Conacher, Chicago Blackhawks, 26 Goals, 42 Assists, 68 Points, 7.4 Points Shares.      

This season was by far the best season of Roy Conacher's career.  As a rookie with the Boston Bruins, he would lead the NHL in Goals (26) and win the Stanley Cup.  He won his second two years later, but individually this was his best year, where he had a career-high 68 Points, and the then Blackhawk winger would finish third in Hart Trophy voting and was a First Team All-Star for the first and only time.  Conacher played three more years and retired with 427 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

1950:  Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings, 22 Goals, 55 Assists, 78 Points, 9.0 Point Shares.

This would be Ted Lindsay's only Art Ross win, with him earning the second First Team All-Star of what would be eight over his career.  Finishing seventh in Hart Trophy voting this season, Lindsay would win his first Stanley Cup and three more in the 1950s.  Lindsay played until 1960, with another season in 1964-65.  He had 851 Points overall in his career. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1951:  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings.  43 Goals, 43 Assists, 86 Points, 12.1 Point Shares.  

Gordie Howe had already established himself as a star in the NHL after having been named a Second Team All-Star the last two seasons, but this year he destroyed everyone in the race for the Art Ross.  His 86 Points were 20 more than the second-place finisher (Rocket Richard), and he was third in Hart Trophy voting.  This win was just the beginning of Howe's association with the Art Ross. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1952 (2):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, 47 Goals, 39 Assists, 86 Points, 13.1 Point Shares.      

Gordie Howe became the first player to repeat as the Art Ross Trophy winner and the first to win the Hart Trophy in the same season.  Howe helped the Red Wings the Stanley Cup, which was second, as he helped them win in 1950.  Notably, Howe's closest competitor was his teammate, Ted Lindsay, who was 17 Points behind.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1953 (3):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, 47 Goals, 39 Assists, 86 Points, 15.5 Point Shares

Howe made history again as the first three-time winner, which he accomplished in three straight seasons.  Howe again would see his teammate, Ted Lindsay, and this time he led his closest competitor by 24 Points.  Howe repeated as the Hart Trophy winner. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1954 (4):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings.  33 Goals, 48 Assists, 81 Points, 11.6 Point Shares.      

Another year and another Art Ross Trophy for Howe, who made it four in a row.  Howe again led the Red Wings to another Stanley Cup, and he was again more than ten Points ahead of his nearest competitor, who this year was Rocket Richard, who had 67 Points.  Howe finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1955:  Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens.  38 Goals, 37 Assists, 75 Points, 10.3 Point Shares.

In the province of Quebec, this is the most controversial Art Ross Trophy winner, even though a member of the Montreal Canadiens won it.  Bernie Geoffrion beat his teammate, Rocket Richard, by one Point, which he accomplished when the league suspended Richard for striking an official.  Richard was so popular that they booed Geoffrion for winning the scoring title, and it was Richard who was named a First Team All-Star, and not Geoffrion, who was named to the Second Team.  Geoffrion's win marked the first time an Art Ross winner would not be a First Team All-Star. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1956:  Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens, 47 Goals, 41 Assists, 88 Points, 13.0 Point Shares.           

Playing his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens, Jean Beliveau won the Art Ross and the Hart Trophy this year.  This might have been Beliveau’s only Art Ross, but this was the second First Team All-Star of what would be six.  Beliveau would also win the Hart again in 1963-64, and this season he captured the first of his ten Stanley Cups.  The Quebecer played until 1971 and retired with 1,219 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1957 (5):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, 44 Goals, 45 Assists, 89 Points, 11.8 Point Shares.      

Howe would help the Red Wings win another Stanley Cup in 1955, and this season not only did he win his fifth Art Ross Trophy, but he also won his third Hart Trophy.  Howe's closest competitor was again his teammate, Ted Lindsay, who was only four Points behind.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1958:  Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens, 36 Goals, 48 Assists, 84 Points, 9.7 Point Shares.

Dickie Moore would also win his only Goal Scoring Title this season, and he was eighth in Hart Trophy voting.  Moore also helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup this year.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1959 (2):  Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens, 41 Goals, 55 Assists, 96 Points, 11.0 Point Shares.

Moore went back-to-back with Art Ross Trophies, and this was also his second (and final) First Team All-Star Selection.  Moore again won the Stanley Cup, this being the fourth of what would be six total.  Moore played until 1968, where he accumulated 607 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1960:  Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks, 39 Goals, 42 Assists, 81 Points, +27, 9.2 Point Shares. 

Bobby Hull narrowly defeated Bronco Horvath of the Boston Bruins by one Point to win his first Art Ross Trophy.  "The Golden Jet" was a First Team All-Star for the first time, and he also won his first Goal Scoring Title and finished second in Hart Trophy voting.  He would help Chicago win the Stanley Cup this season.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1961:  Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal, 50 Goals, 45 Assists, 95 Points, +3, 11.6 Point Shares

This was Geoffrion’s second and last Art Ross, and considering the drama he dealt with in his first one in 1955, this had to feel so much better.  Geoffrion did finish ahead of another teammate, Jean Beliveau, by five Points, but Habs fans were ok this time.  This season, Geoffrion was a First Team All-Star for the only time, and he also captured the Hart Trophy.  While Montreal did not win the Stanley Cup this year, he helped them win the previous five.  Geoffrion played for Montreal until 1966 and had two final seasons with the New York Rangers.  He retired with 822 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1962 (2):  Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks.  39 Goals, 42 Assists, 91 Points, +10, 10.0 Points Shares.

There was a tie in the Points standings for the first time, but Hull had 50 Goals to Andy Bathgate's 28, thus giving the Blackhawk his second Art Ross trophy.  Hull was third in Hart Trophy voting this season.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1963 (6):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings.  38 Goals., 48 Assists, 86 Points, +23, 9.5 Point Shares.

This was the last Art Ross of Gordie Howe's career, and it was also his final Hart Trophy, which coincidentally was also his sixth.  Howe defeated Andy Bathgate by five Points for this honor.  Overall, he was a 12-time First Team All-Star and retired in 1971.  He would return to hockey in the WHA in 1973, first with the Houston Aeros, then the New England Whalers, who became the Hartford Whalers of the NHL in 1979.  Howe stayed with the team for their first year in the NHL.  He retired with 2,358 combined Points in the NHL/WHA. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1964:  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks.   39 Goals, 50 Assists, 89 Points, +21, 10.7 Point Shares.

Stan Mikita was a First Team All-Star for the third straight year and fifth in Hart Trophy voting in his first Art Ross-winning season.  While this would not be Mikita's proverbial breakout season, he was cemented as an elite player.  Mikita won the scoring title by two points over Bobby Hull, his long-time teammate. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1965 (2):  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks.  28 Goals, 59 Assists, 87 Points, +29, 9.2 Point Shares.

Mikita went back-to-back in Art Ross Trophy wins, but he was not named a First Team All-Star, as that would go to Norm Ullman, who finished second in scoring to him.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1966:  Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks.  39 Goals, 42 Assists, 91 Points, +19, 11.8 Point Shares. 

Bobby Hull won his third and final Art Ross Trophy and did so the season after he secured his first Hart and only Lady Byng Trophy.  This year would see Hull win his second straight Hart.  Hull stayed in the NHL until 1972 (and would return in 1980 with the Jets); he was a nine-time First Team All-Star.  Hull would join the Winnipeg Jets in 1972, where he stayed during the NHL/WHA merger, and he played nine final games in pro hockey with the Hartford Whalers before retiring.  His combined NHL/WHA Points totaled 1,808.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1967 (3):  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks, 28 Goals, 59 Assists, +40, 87 Points, 10.2 Point Shares

Mikita returned as the scoring leader after Bobby Hull had it the year before, and he was 17 Points ahead of the nearest skater, which was Hull.  Mikita swept the major regular season awards with the Art Ross, the Hart Trophy, and the Lady Byng.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1968 (4):  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks, 28 Goals, 59 Assists, 87 Points, 0+-, 10.0 Point Shares.

This was Mikita's fourth and final Art Ross and the second back-to-back for the star.  Mikita's win also marked five consecutive Blackhawks winning the Art Ross.  Like the season before, Mikita also won the Hart and Lady Byng.  Mikita played until 1980, in a career that was spent entirely with Chicago.  He finished his career with 1,467 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1969:  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, 49 Goals, 77 Assists, 126 Points, +55, 15.1 Point Shares. 

As expansion diluted the talent pool, it was only a matter of time before there was a 100 Point Scorer.  This season there were three, with Gordie Howe (103), Bobby Hull (107), and this season's Art Ross Trophy winner, Phil Esposito (126).  The Boston Bruin would win his first Hart Trophy and make his First Team All-Star debut.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1970:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, 33 Goals, 87 Assists, 120 Points, +54, 19.5 Point Shares.       

What Bobby Orr accomplished this year was unprecedented.  This season, Orr became the first and, to date, only Defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy.  It was such a phenomenal year that Orr would lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship, and he won the Conn Smythe Award as the playoff MVP.  Orr would also win the Norris Trophy and the Hart Trophy this year.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1971 (2):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, 76 Goals, 76 Assists, 156 Points, +69, 18.5 Point Shares. 

The season before, Esposito, Orr, and company took Boston to a Stanley Cup win.  They did not win this season, but Esposito shattered the single-season Goal record and his own Points record.  Amazingly, he was not the Hart Trophy winner, as that went to Orr (who had 139 Points). 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1972 (3):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, 66 Goals, 67 Assists, 133 Points, +54, 16.7 Point Shares.

The Bruins won the Stanley Cup again, with Esposito having a lot to do with their success.  Orr repeated as the runner-up (117), and he was again the Hart Trophy winner, with Esposito coming in at third.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1973 (4):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, 55 Goals, 75 Assists, 130 Points, +17, 13.1 Point Shares. 

Esposito’s 130 Points were 26 more than Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia, his nearest competitor, and he repeated as the runner-up to the Hart, losing to Clarke.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1974 (5):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, 68 Goals, 77 Assists, 145 Points, +51, 17.0 Point Shares.

Esposito became the second player to earn five Art Ross Trophies and the second to have four straight wins.  This would be his last Art Ross, and he would also secure his second (and last) Hart Trophy.  Esposito would also have his sixth straight and final First Team All-Star this year.  He would be traded to the New York Rangers in 1975, and he retired after the 1980-81 Season, ending his career with 1,590 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975 (2):  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, 33 Goals, 87 Assists, 120 Points, +80, 21.5 Point Shares. 

It took Esposito's teammate, Bobby Orr, to break his Art Ross streak, and while it did end Esposito's run, this was the seventh year in a row where a Boston Bruin won the Art Ross.  In between his first and second Art Ross Trophy, Orr won another Stanley Cup, another Conn Smythe Trophy, four Norris Trophies, and two Hart Trophies.  This season, he would win his eighth and final Norris Trophy, and he was already cemented as the greatest Defenseman that ever lived, a mantle he still holds today.  Orr played until 1979 and was fast-tracked into the Hockey Hall that year.  He retired at the age of 30, as back issues forced him out of the game, and Orr would have 915 Points in only 657 career Games. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1976:  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, 56 Goals, 69 Assists, 125 Points, +89, 13.8 Point Shares.         

For the first time in the 1970s, a non-Boston Bruin won the Art Ross Trophy, and it went back to Montreal with Guy Lafleur, who had six more Points than Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia.  Lafleur, who had a Stanley Cup in 1973, would win his second this year.  He was third in Hart Trophy voting this year.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1977 (2):  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, 56 Goals, 80 Assists, 136 Points, +89, 15.7 Point Shares. 

Two touchdowns of points ahead of Marcel Dionne, Lafleur again won a Stanley Cup Ring with the Canadiens, this time winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.  The Quebecois superstar also won the Hart Trophy for the first time.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1978 (3):  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, 60 Goals, 72 Assists, 132 Points, +73, 15.8 Point Shares.  

Lafleur won his third straight Art Ross, his final time winning the coveted award.  This year also was his second and last Hart Trophy win, but it was year four of six straight First Team All-Star selections.  Montreal again won the Stanley Cup and captured another the year after making it four straight.  He played until 1985 and retired.  That would be short-lived, as he returned as a New York Ranger in 1988 and played two more years later with the Quebec Nordiques.  Lafleur would have 1,353 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1979:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders, 47 Goals, 87 Assists, 134 Points, +76, 13.6 Point Shares. 

It took a dozen years, but Bryan Trottier became the first player from an expansion team to win the Art Ross Trophy.  Trottier beat Marcel Dionne by four Points for the Award, and the Islander would also win the Hart Trophy.  Following this win, Trottier would lead New York to four consecutive Stanley Cups.  Trottier became a two-time First Team and two-time Second Team All-Star, and he later played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, earning two more Stanley Cups.  He retired in 1994 with 1,425 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1980:  Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings.  53 Goals, 84 Assists, 137 Points, +34, 13.5 Point Shares. 

Marcel Dionne tied Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers in Points, but Dionne got the nod for the Art Ross over "The Great One ." Dionne became the first King to win this award and was the runner-up for the Hart.  Over his career that spanned from 1971 to 1989, Dionne played for Detroit, L.A., and the New York Rangers, and he would have 1,307 Points. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1981:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers.  55 Goals, 109 Assists, 164 Points, +41, 14.3 Point Shares.      

Wayne Gretzky tied Marcel Dionne in Points the year before but lost out on the Art Ross due to a goal differential of two.  Gretzky did not have to worry about Dionne, who was second with 135 Points, but that was 29 behind the number of the Edmonton Oiler, who set the new benchmark for Points in a season.  Gretzky would win his second straight Hart Trophy this season.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1982 (2):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers.  92 Goals, 120 Assists, 212 Points, +80, 19.7 Point Shares. 

Wayne Gretzky broke so many records this year.  First, he shattered his own record with 212 Points, making him the first player to elevate the single-season Points record two years in a row in the Art Ross era.  Second, Gretzky set the single-season Goal mark with 92.  Third, he was the first player to have a 200 Point season.  Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders was the closest competitor with 212 Points.  Gretzky would again win the Hart, his third in a row.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1983 (3):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 80 Goals, 71 Assists, 196 Points, +61, 18.0 Point Shares.

Gretzky did it again, destroying any competitor for the Art Ross.  His nearest competitor was Peter Stastny, the Nordiques star from Czechoslovakia, who “only” had 124.  Gretzky again won the Hart Trophy, but this time his Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, a harbinger of what was to come.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1984 (4):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 87 Goals, 118 Assists, 205 Points, +78, 19.6 Point Shares.

Gretzky again reached the 200 Point threshold, and his teammate, Paul Coffey, at 126 Points, was the closest.  This year the Oilers broke through by winning the Stanley Cup, and Gretzky again captured the Hart Trophy.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1985:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 87 Goals, 118 Assists, 205 Points, +100, 19.6 Point Shares. 

Gretzky repeated as a Stanley Cup Champion, but he would win the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP this year.  By winning his fifth straight Art Ross Trophy, Gretzky broke the record that Gordie Howe and Phil Esposito shared regarding consecutive Art Ross winners.  Gretzky again destroyed his nearest competitor, Jari Kurri, who was also an Oiler.  Not surprisingly, he won his sixth consecutive Hart Trophy.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1986 (6):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 52 Goals, 163 Assists, 215 Points, +71, 17.0 Point Shares 

It was a bittersweet year for Gretzky as he broke his own mark by three Points, and his 215 Points have set a since unbreakable number.  He won the Hart Trophy again, but in the playoffs, the Oilers were upset in the divisional round, and he did not win a Stanley Cup.  Gretzky was again much further ahead than his nearest rival, but this year it was the up-and-coming Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins who had 141 Points.  This win would also tie Gordie Howe for the most Art Ross Trophies.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1987 (7):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 62 Goals, 121 Assists, 183 Points, +69, 17.6 Point Shares. 

The Edmonton Oilers were back on track, and they won their third Stanley Cup in four years, with Gretzky winning the Conn Smythe.  Gretzky set Art Ross Trophy history as he broke Howe's record of six Art Ross trophies, and he did it in seven straight years, also a record.  "The Great One" also secured his eighth consecutive Hart Trophy.  Once again, nobody was near Gretzky, as Jari Kurri, who was second, had 108 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1988:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, 62 Goals, 121 Assists, 183 Points, +23, 16.2 Point Shares. 

Gretzky had 149 Points this year, but his Art Ross trophy streak ended at seven when Mario Lemieux bet his total by 19.  Lemieux became the first Penguin to win the Art Ross, and this year he also was the first Penguin to win the Hart.  As you will see, Lemieux was just getting started!  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1989 (2):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, 62 Goals, 121 Assists, 183 Points, +41, 19.6 Point Shares.     

Lemieux was one Point shy of 200, and his 199 would be a career-high, as he went back-to-back in Art Ross Trophy wins.  Despite his 199 Points, Gretzky's 168 Points for his new team, Los Angeles, was enough to earn him the Hart. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1990 (8):  Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings, 40 Goals, 102 Assists, 142 Points, +8, 11.3 Point Shares.

After two years of not winning the Art Ross, Gretzky returned to the top of the scoring table, but this time it was as a Los Angeles King.  Gretzky, who won the Hart Trophy as a King the year before, finished fourth this year behind Mark Messier, his former teammate who led his former team, Edmonton, to their fifth Stanley Cup.  Messier was second in scoring to Gretzky, 13 behind.  As for Lemieux, he had 129 Points in only 59 Games. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1991 (9):  Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings.  41 Goals, 122 Assists, 163 Points, +30, 14.5 Point Shares

Gretzky went back-to-back again, and he was incredible this season.  While he did not win the Hart, he was 32 Points ahead of the one who did win it (and was second), Brett Hull.  Hull would, however, have 86 Goals, well more than twice as much as Gretzky.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1992 (3):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, 44 Goals, 87 Assists, 131 Points, +27, 12.4 Point Shares. 

Mario Lemieux may have only finished fifth in Hart voting, but he won the scoring title only with 64 Games.  More importantly, he led the Penguins to their second straight Stanley Cup win.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1993 (4):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins.   69 Goals, 91 Assists, 160 Points, +55, 16.8 Point Shares. 

Lemieux's 160 Points was a dozen more than his nearest competitor, Pat Lafontaine, but Lemieux had his Points in only 60 Games!  Despite only playing 60 Games, what he did was so impressive that the Hart Trophy voters could not help but vote for him.  Lemieux would also win the Bill Masterton Trophy this season.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1994 (10):  Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings.  38 Goals, 92 Assists, 130 Points, -25, 11.1 Point Shares. 

Arguably, his was the end of an era, as this was Gretzky's tenth and last Art Ross Trophy.  Nobody has won this more than the native of Brantford, Ontario, and it is likely that nobody will ever.  Gretzky did not win the Hart, as that went to Sergei Fedorov, who he beat by 10 Points to win Art Ross.  Gretzky never received any Hart votes, but he did have nine, which is more than any other player.  This season also saw Gretzky win his fourth of five Lady Byng Trophies, though notably, his -25 is the worst of any Art Ross winner.  He was an eight-time First Team All-Star and a seven-time Second Team All-Star, and he retired with 2,857 Points, well more than any other player.  As expected, the Hockey Hall relaxed their three-year wait, and he was inducted immediately.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1996 (5):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins.  69 Goals, 92 Assists, 161 Points, +10, 17.4 Point Shares.        

Mario Lemieux sat out the entire 1994-95 season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.  He returned the year after with a vengeance, winning his fifth Art Ross, beating his teammate, Jaromir Jagr, by 12 Points.  Lemieux would win the Hart Trophy for the third and final time.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1997 (6):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins.  50 Goals, 72 Assists, 122 Points, +27, 14.5 Point Shares.       

This win was the last Art Ross Trophy for Mario Lemieux, and he completed it with three two-year runs.  His 122 Points was his lowest Point win, but he was still 13 Points higher than Teemu Selanne, who was second.  Lemieux retired after this year but came back three years later, but this time as a player/owner, as he bought the team in 1999.  He continued to play until 2006 and retired with 1,723 Points. 

2002:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames.  52 Goals, 44 Assists, 96 Points, +27, 14.4 Point Shares. 

This would be the lone Art Ross for Jarome Iginla, and while he never had a 100 Point season, he would not need to in this era.  Iginla played most of his career with the Calgary Flames, and he would have 1,095 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

2003:  Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche.  29 Goals, 77 Assists, 106 Points, +52, 13.6 Point Shares.

Peter Forsberg became the first player in Colorado Avalanche franchise history and the first Swedish player to win the Art Ross.  To win the award, he eked out another Swede, Markus Naslund, by two Points.  Forsberg, who had already won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche, won the Hart Trophy this season.  Forsberg played until 2011 and retired with 885 Points in 708 Games.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2004:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.  38 Goals, 56 Assists, 94 Points, +35, 13.2 Point Shares.

After two unremarkable seasons with the Calgary Flames, Martin St. Louis became a surprise star with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  In the 2003-04 Season, Martin St. Louis won the Art Ross and also won the Hart Trophy.  St. Louis also took the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup this season.  He was a First Team All-Star this year and would be a Second Team All-Star four more times. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

2010:  Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks.  52 Goals, 44 Assists, 96 Points, +35, 13.5 Point Shares.

Henrik Sedin was the first Vancouver Canuck to win the Art Ross, which he won by besting both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin by three Points.  Sedin would also win the Hart Trophy this year, and he was a First Team All-Star this season and the one after.  Sedin played until 2018, all with Vancouver, and he would retire with 1,070 career Points. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

2011:  Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks.  41 Goals, 63 Assists, 104 Points, +30, 14.3 Point Shares. 

There have been players who have won the Art Ross in back-to-back years.  There have been different teammates who have won this accolade in two straight years.  This is the first time, and we think it is likely the only time we will have twins capture the Art Ross in two years.  Like his brother, Henrik, Daniel Sedin played his entire career with the Canucks, but he did not win the Hart like his brother, as he would finish second to Corey Perry.  Sedin played until 2018 and would have 1,041 career Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

2013 (2):  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.  17 Goals, 43 Assists, 60 Points, 0+-, 6.3 Point Shares.     

In the strike-shortened 48-game season, Martin St. Louis's 60 Points were the lowest for an Art Ross winner.  St. Louis would only finish ninth in Art Ross voting, but he did win his third Lady Byng this season.  St. Louis played until 2015, with two final years in the New York Rangers.  He retired with 1,033 Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

 

The following are the players who have won the Art Ross Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

None.

The following are the players who have won the Art Ross 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:

The following are the 

players who have 

won the Art Ros

s Trophy who are still active.

1995:  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins.   32 Goals, 38 Assists, 70 Points, +23, 12.6 Point Shares. 

This was Jagr's first Art Ross, and he narrowly beat Eric Lindros to get it.  Both stars had 70 Points in this strike-shortened year, but Jagr had three more Goals than Lindros.  Lindros would, however, edge out Jagr for the Hart Trophy.  Jagr was a First Team All-Star for the first time and had already won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh.  Historically, this is the first time a non-Canadian would win the Art Ross.  

50 Years Old, Playing in the Czech League.

1998 (2):  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins.  32 Goals, 38 Assists, 70 Points, +17, 12.6 Point Shares.  

Jagr would also lead the NHL in Assists for the first time this season.  The Czech star was a First Team and Second Team All-Star in the two prior years; this year, Peter Forsberg of Colorado was his closest competitor with 91 Points, and he was second to Dominik Hasek of Buffalo for the Hart.  

50 Years Old, Playing in the Czech League.

1999 (3):  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins.   44 Goals, 83 Assists, 127 Points,  +25, 14.6 Point Shares. 

Jagr became the second Penguin to win consecutive Art Ross Trophies, besting Teemu Selanne by 20 Points.  Jagr’s 127 Points would be a career-high, and for the first time in his career, he would win the Hart Trophy.  

50 Years Old, Playing in the Czech League.

2000 (4):  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins.  42 Goals, 54 Assists, 96 Points, +19, 12.2 Point Shares. 

The Czech star made it three in a row, and for the first time in an entire season in decades, we have an Art Ross Trophy winner under 100 Points.  Jagr narrowly beat Pavel Bure by two Points, though St. Louis Defenseman, Chris Pronger, beat them both for the Hart.  

50 Years Old, Playing in the Czech League.

2001 (5):  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins.   52 Goals, 69 Assists, 121 Points, +19, 14.1 Point Shares. 

2000-01 would be Jagr's last Art Ross Trophy, and he joined the four-in-a-row club.  Jagr was third in Hart voting, behind his teammate (and boss), Mario Lemieux, and Joe Sakic, who won the award and was only three Points behind Jagr.  This would be Jagr's last season with the Penguins, as he was traded to the Washington Capitals in the offseason.  Jagr later played for the New York Rangers, Avangard Omsk of the KHL, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, Florida, Calgary, and then the Czech League.  In the NHL, Jagr had 1,921 career Points.  

50 Years Old, Playing in the Czech League.

2006:  Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins & San Jose Sharks.  52 Goals, 69 Assists, 121 Points, +31, 13.3 Point Shares. 

The Art Ross Trophy winner's year was split between two teams for the first time in history.  In the season prior, Joe Thornton was the Bruins top star, but management questioned his leadership, and the Boston fan base began to turn on him.  Furthermore, Thornton was frustrated with the fate of the Bruins, and he needed a change of scenery, which he got 23 games into this season.  Thornton's Art Ross winning 121 Points, was split with 33 in Boston and 92 in San Jose.  Thornton was only two Points ahead of Jaromir Jagr, who he also edged out for the Hart Trophy this year.   Thornton, who was a First Team All-Star, would go on to have two more Second Team All-Stars.  

43 Years Old, Free Agent.

2007:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins.  36 Goals, 84 Assists, 120 Points, +10, 13.3 Point Shares 

Sidney Crosby became the third Pittsburgh Penguin to win the Art Ross Trophy, and he did so with a six-Point lead over the previous winner, Joe Thornton.  "Sid, the Kid" was just that, as he was only 19 when the year started, and he was in his second year in the NHL.  Crosby also won the Hart Trophy and was a First Team All-Star for the first time in his career.  Two years later, he would hoist the Stanley Cup.  

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2008:  Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals.  65 Goals, 47 Assists, 112 Points, +28, 17.2 Point Shares.

Ovechkin became the first Washington Capital and the first Russian to win the Art Ross this year.  This was Ovechkin's third season in hockey and his third consecutive First Team All-Star, and it was Ovechkin who defeated Sidney Crosby for the Calder.  Ovechkin also won the Hart Trophy this year.  Since that win, he went to three more First Team All-Stars, won two more Hart Trophies, and led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. 

37 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2009:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins.  35 Goals, 78 Assists, 113 Points, +17, 12.6 Point Shares. 

Malkin's win allowed Russian-born players to go back-to-back in Art Ross wins, and he became the fourth Penguin to win the trophy.  Malkin was only three points ahead of Ovechkin for the Art Ross but was second for the Hart to Ovechkin.  Ovechkin, Crosby, and the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup this season.  

36 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2012 (2):  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins.  50 Goals, 59 Assists, 109 Points, +18, 15.7 Point Shares. 

This season, Malkin won his second Art Ross, but he would win the Hart Trophy this season.  Malkin would lead the Penguins to win the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups.  

36 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2014 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins.  36 Goals, 68 Assists, 104 Points, +18, 13.5 Point Shares.

In between Crosby's first Art Ross and this one, he won a Stanley Cup and was a Second Team and First Team All-Star.  This season, he was again a First Team All-Star and a Hart Trophy winner.  Crosby and the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup for the next two seasons. 

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2015:  Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars.  36 Goals, 68 Assists, 104 Points, +1, 10.7 Point Shares.

Jamie Benn won the Art Ross by only one Point (edging out John Tavares), which was done in a season that bookended First Team All-Stars.  Benn was a Second Team All-Star this year and was only 12th in Hart Trophy voting, but he was an Art Ross winner.  This would be the first time a Minnesota North Star/Dallas Star player won the Art Ross. 

33 Years Old, Playing for the Dallas Stars.

2016:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks.  46 Goals, 60 Assists, 106 Points, +17, 15.0 Point Shares (2016)

Patrick Kane had already won three Stanley Cups with Chicago and was 16 Points ahead of last year's winner, Jamie Benn.  Kane would be a First Team All-Star for the second time, and this season he won the Hart Trophy.  

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2017:  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  30 Goals, 70 Assists, 100 Points, +27, 12.8 Point Shares. 

Connor McDavid was one of the most highly touted NHL prospects in years, and in his second year, he would win not only the Art Ross but the Hart Trophy as well.  He was 11 Points ahead of Sidney Crosby, who was also second in Hart Trophy voting.  

25 Years Old, Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2018 (2):  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  41 Goals, 67 Assists, 108 Points, +20, 13.1 Point Shares. 

McDavid won his second straight Art Ross, this time with a six-point lead over Claude Giroux.  The Oiler was fifth in Hart voting but did win the Lester B. Pearson Award, which was also his second in a row.  

25 Years Old, Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2019:  Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning.  41 Goals, 87 Assists, 128 Points, +24, 14.6 Point Shares. 

Connor McDavid could not make it three straight, as he was second, 12 Points behind Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov also won the Hart Trophy, and this was his second consecutive year as a First Team All-Star.  

29 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2020:  Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers.  43 Goals, 67 Assists, 110 Points, -7, 12.8 Point Shares. 

Germany boasted their first Art Ross winner in Leon Draisaitl, who also led the league in Assists and Game-Winning Goals (10).  The Oiler also secured his first First Team All-Star and the Hart and Ted Lindsay Award.  

27 Years Old, Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2021 (3):  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  33 Goals, 72 Assists, 105 Points, +21, 13.0 Point Shares. 

McDavid won his third Art Ross, and don't the Oilers love this award?  He also led the NHL in Assists for the second time and captured his second Hart and Ted Lindsay Award.  

25 Years Old, Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

2022 (4):  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  44 Goals, 79 Assists, 123 Points, +28, 14.0 Point Shares. 

This was the fourth win for McDavid, who did not win the Goal or Assists Title this year.  McDavid did not win the Hart or Ted Lindsay, as they went to Toronto's Auston Matthews.  He also was a Second Team All-Star behind McDavid.

25 Years Old, Playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

100 Percent.  It does not get better than that, so the only question is can this stay perfect?

The Calder Trophy

The National Hockey League has been ahead of the curve regarding creating individual awards, and they were the first of the major sports to have a dedicated trophy for the Rookie of the Year.  

Named after Frank Calder, the NHL's first President and the incumbent when the award was first issued in 1937, but that was the debut of that trophy.  The NHL began Rookie of the Year accolades in 1933, which we include in our piece.  It is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association. 

In hockey, we will see that winning the Calder does not mean that you are an automatic legend.  There is first ballot Hall of Famers and flame-outs on this list, but as the league expanded, it was easier for the Calder winners to stay on and put forth a Hall of Fame resume.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 73 former Calder Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible, with 34 entering, yielding a percentage of 46.6.  

If we go by yearly winners, nothing changes, as you cannot win this award twice.

The following are the past players who have won The Calder Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1935: Sweeney Schriner, New York Americans, Left Wing: 18 G, 22 A, 40 P, 4.5 PS

Schriner was the first Russian-born player in the NHL, though he was an infant when he moved to Canada.  Making the New York Americans in 1934/35, Schriner played there five seasons, earning First Team and a Second Team in his second and third year, respectively, both of which saw Schriner lead the NHL in Points.  Traded to the Maple Leafs in 1939, the Left Wing enjoyed another First Team All-Star and would win two Stanley Cups (1942 & 1945).  Overall, Schriner scored 407 Points in 484 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962.

1937:  Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  16 Goals, 29 Assists, 45 Points, 6.1 Point Shares.  

The official Calder is off to an excellent start at Syl Apps would lead the National Hockey League in Assists as a Rookie, and he built on that to be named a postseason All-Star five times.  More importantly, for Apps and the Maple Leafs, he would help them win three Stanley Cups and retire as a Point per Game player. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1939:  Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins, Goalie.  33-9-1 Tie, 1.56 GAA, 11.3 PS.  

Very few players had a start to their career like Frank Brimsek as not only was he the Calder Trophy winner, he also was the Vezina Trophy winner, a First Team All-Star, and he took the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup.  The native of Eveleth, Minnesota, would lead the Bruins to another Cup win in 1941, and he was also a Vezina Trophy winner in 1942. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1946:  Edgar Laprade, New York Rangers.  15 Goals, 19 Assists, 34 Points, 2.9 Point Shares.  

15 Goals, 19 Assists, 34 Points, 2.9 Point Shares.  Edgar Laprade played his entire career with the New York Rangers, and he would finish third in Lady Byng balloting that year.  He would win the Lady Byng in the 1949/50 season. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

1951:  Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings.  44 Wins, 13 Losses, 13 Ties, 1.56 GAA, 17.0 Goalie Point Shares.

In what would be a colossal opening year, Terry Sawchuk would lead the National Hockey League in Goalie Point Shares and was also a First Team All-Star.  Sawchuk was the leader in Wins his year and would be the next four seasons. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

1952:  Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens.  30 Goals, 24 Assists, 54 Points, 7.0 Point Shares.  

The future Hockey Hall of Famer would lead the NHL in Power-Play Goals.  The future Hart Trophy winner would win six Stanley Cups with a Hart and Art Ross Trophy win in 1961.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1953:  Gump Worsley, New York Rangers.  13 Wins, 29 Losses, 8 Ties, 3.02 GAA, 4.4 Goalie Point Shares.

The "Gump" would lose way more games than he won this season (16), and this would be a theme for Worsley, but he gave it everything he always had, which was why he would enter the Hockey Hall of Fame and would win two Vezina Trophies.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

1956:  Glenn Hall, Detroit Red Wings.  30 Wins, 24 Losses, 16 Ties, 2.10 GAA, 14.5 Goalie Point Shares

As a rookie, Glenn Hall was not only the Calder Trophy winner but also a Second Team All-Star, the leader in Shutouts and Minutes Played, and a second-place finish in Point Shares.  Hall would later be a multi-time postseason All-Star and first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1958:  Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs.  20 Goals, 16 Assists, 37 Points, 3.3 Point Shares.  

The "Big M" had a. good rookie season, but he would later become a six-time Stanley Cup winner and also a nine-time postseason All-Star.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1961:  Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs.  20 Goals, 25 Assists, 45 Points, 4.2 Point Shares.  

20 Goals, 25 Assists, 45 Points, 4.2 Point Shares.  With the Toronto Maple Leafs for most of his career, Dave Keon would later be a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the last Toronto Maple Leaf Stanley Cup Championship team.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1964:  Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens.  2 Goals, 28 Assists, 30 Points, 6.7 Point Shares.  

Laperriere was another great Quebecer to play for his home province team, where he was immediately one of the better Defensemen in the NHL.  Playing for the Montreal Canadiens his entire career, he was a Second Team All-Star as a rookie and would be a First Team All-Star the next two seasons after, which included a Norris Trophy win in 1966.  Laperriere would help the Habs win five Stanley Cups.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1967:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins.  13 Goals, 28 Assists, 41 Points, 6.0 Point Shares.

Any chance we have here to talk about Bobby Orr is always a blessing to us!  Orr is, without question, the most outstanding Defenseman that ever lived, and some will go as far as to say he is the best hockey player, period.  As a rookie, the Boston Bruin was a Second Team All-Star roster member.  Orr finished third in Norris Trophy voting but would go on to win the next eight.  He was a great player who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame without the mandatory three-year wait. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1970:  Tony Esposito, Chicago Blackhawks.  38 Wins, 17 Losses, 8 Ties, 2.17 GAA, 14.7 Goalie Point Shares.

This would be an incredible career for Tony Esposito, who, as a rookie, would not only win the Calder but the Vezina Trophy, the First Team NHL and was the league leader in Wins and Save Percentage.  He would win the Vezina two more times. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1971:  Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres.  38 Goals, 34 Assists, 72 Points, 6.5 Point Shares.

38 Goals, 34 Assists, 72 Points, 6.5 Point Shares.  One of the greatest Buffalo Sabres of all time, Gilbert Perreault, played his entire career in Western New York.  The Quebecer would later be named a Second Team All-Star on two occasions and a later Lady Byng Trophy winner.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

1972:  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  38 Wins, 8 Losses, 15

 Ties, 2.24 GAA, 15.0 Goalie Point Shares.

In terms of a brief career, nobody in any team sport equals that if Ken Dryden.  Before winning the Calder, Ken Dryden would win the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe, which made him more successful than any other Calder Trophy winner.  Dryden would later win four Vezina Trophy wins and hoist the Stanley Cup five more times.  Long story short, Ken Dryden was the best NHL Goalie of the 1970s. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1974:  Denis Potvin, New York Islanders.  17 Goals, 37 Assists, 54 Points, 6.5 Point Shares.  

Denis Potvin was the first piece in what would eventually become the New York Islanders dynasty that would win four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.  Potvin anchored the Islanders blueline, where he would win three Norris Trophies and was a five-time First Team All-Star.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

1976:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders.  32 Goals, 63 Assists, 95 Points, 8.6 Point Shares.  

See above!  With the Denis Potvin entry, we talked about him being the building block for the Islanders dynasty.  Here was the next massive piece of the puzzle was Bryan Trottier, who was eighth in the NHL in Assists as a Rookie and had an excellent finish of 95 Points.  Trottier would later win the Hart Trophy (1979), was a four-time postseason Al-Star and in addition to the four Stanley Cups he won with the Islanders, he would help the Pittsburgh Penguins two Cups in the early 1990s.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1978:  Mike Bossy, New York Islanders.  53 Goals, 38 Assists, 91 Points, 10.3 Point Shares.  

See above!  Again!  Potvin.  Trottier.  Mike Bossy.  Three Calder trophy winners in five years and all three Hall of Famers resulting in four Stanley Cups.  As a rookie, Mike Bossy scored 53 Goals and was second in that metric.  Except for his final season, he never had a year where he dipped below 50.  A Second Team All-Star as a Rookie, Bossy would later be a First Team All-Star five times.  His excellent career ended early at the age of 30 due to back issues.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

1980:  Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins.  17 Goals, 48 Assists, 65 Points, 10.3 Point Shares.  

When you had Bobby Orr, how lucky are you as an organization to land Ray Bourque?  The Boston Bruins Defenseman was a First Team All-Star as a rookie, and he would be named to either a First or Second Team All-Star every year after until the 1996/97 season.  Bourque would later win the Norris Trophy five times.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

1981:  Peter Stastny, Quebec Nordiques.  39 Goals, 70 Assists, 109 Points, 8.6 Point Shares.  

While some might point to Stastny's age (24) and that he had already been playing in his native Czechoslovakia for a while to paint this Calder win as tainted, this was a massive deal as Stastny had already established himself as the best player on the Czechoslovakian team and his defection (along with his brother Anton) ushered in others from the Iron Curtain to do the same.  As an NHL rookie, he scored 109 Points and would have five more 100 Point seasons.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

1982:  Dale Hawerchuk, Winnipeg Jets.  45 Goals, 58 Assists, 103 Points, 7.9 Point Shares.  

Scoring 103 Points as a rookie, Hawerchuk would later be a Second Team All-Star and runner-up for the Hart Trophy in the 1984/85 season.  He would score 1,409 Points over his National Hockey League career.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

1985:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins.  43 Goals, 57 Assists, 100 Points, 7.9 Point Shares.  

With a 100 Point season as a rookie, Mario Lemieux was just getting started.  He would win the Hart Trophy three times, the Art Ross six times, was a postseason NHL All-Star nine times, and took the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup win in 1991 and 1992.  He would become the player to rival Wayne Gretzky.  Lemieux retired in 1997 but returned in 2000 as a player owner and retired again in 2006.  Lemieux would later win three more Stanley Cups as an owner and is the only man in history to have his name etched on the Cup as a player and owner.  Had the Penguins never drafted him, there is an excellent chance that Pittsburgh would not have an NHL team today.  He was inducted immediately after his first retirement, and he would become the first player to win the Calder; he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and returned to action.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1987:  Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings.  45 Goals, 39 Assists, 84 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

In addition to winning the Calder, Luc Robitaille would be named a Second Team All-Star.  This was just the beginning of a great career that was spent predominantly with Los Angeles, and he would be named a First Team All-Star five times and a Second Team All-Star three times.  He retired with 1,394 points and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1988:  Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames.  51 Goals, 41 Assists, 92 Points, 8.7 Point Shares.  

Nieuwendyk would lead the NHL in Power Play Goals as a rookie and later in his career would win the Stanley Cup with three different teams; 1989 with Calgary, 1999 with Dallas (where he won the Conn Smythe), and 2003 with New Jersey. He finished his career with 1,126 Points.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1989:  Brian Leetch, New York Rangers.  23 Goals, 48 Assists, 71 Points, 9.0 Point Shares.  

Brian Leetch had an exceptional career in the NHL, and securing the Calder Trophy was just the beginning.  Leetch played for the Rangers most of his career, winning the Norris Trophy twice and leading his team to win the Stanley Cup in 1994, where he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.  He scored 1,028 Points and entered the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1990:  Sergei Makarov, Calgary Flames.  24 Goals, 62 Assists, 86 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

Makarov is the most controversial Calder Trophy winner as Makarov was over 30, but this was, in fact, his professional season as he played for the Soviet Union and was a star for the Red Army throughout the 1980s and through Canada Cups and other small tournaments he had played against the NHL's best many times.  Still, by the definition of what a rookie is, he qualified though he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame more on what he did Internationally.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

1991:  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  43 Wins, 19 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.47 GAA, 14.0 Goalie Point Shares.

Ed Belfour had many excellent seasons in the National Hockey League, and the argument can be made that this was his best one.  Belfour won the Vezina and William M. Jennings trophy and was the leader in Goals Against Average, Save Percentage, and Minutes Played.  Belfour would later earn his second Vezina as a Blackhawk two years later, and he was also a William M. Jennings Trophy winner three more times.  More importantly, "Eddie the Eagle" would backstop the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup win in 1999. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1992:  Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks.  34 Goals, 26 Assists, 60 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

This was a good season for "The Russian Rocket," but he would later have five 50 Goal Seasons, two of which would see him net 60.  Bure a First Team All-Star with the Canucks and later for the Florida Panthers would have back-to-back Second Team All-Star Selections, and Maurice Richard Trophy wins as the NHL's leading Goal Scorer.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. 

1993:  Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets.  76 Goals, 56 Assists, 132 Points, 13.4 Point Shares.  

Wow!!!  First off, Selanne was the first player from Finland to win the Calder, but there is so much more here.  Selanne scored 76 Goals and 132 Points, which are by far the most of any rookie and Calder winner.  Considering the current landscape, this could be untouchable.  Selanne would score the most goals this year, but this would be his best season by far of his career though "The Finnish Flash" was no flash in the pan (sorry, I couldn't resist).  Selanne would have three more 100 Point seasons, play into his early 40s and score 1,457 Points over his career.  He would win a Stanley Cup with the Ducks and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

1994:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  27 Wins, 11 Losses, 8 Ties, 8.9 Point Shares.  

Martin Brodeur is one of the most successful Goalies of all time, and save for seven games with the St. Louis Blues, and it was done with the Devils.  Brodeur would later win four Vezina Trophies, five William M. Jennings Trophies, and four Stanley Cups.  Brodeur had a good rookie year, but unlike other Calder winners who were Goalies, Brodeur's Calder year was not even in his top ten.  He is the all-time leader in Wins, Saves, Games Played (by a Goalie), and Minutes Played, and that may not change in 50 years.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

1995:  Peter Forsberg, Quebec Nordiques.  15 Goals, 35 Assists, 50 Points, 8.2 Point Shares. 

When the Philadelphia Flyers traded for Eric Lindros, there was a piece of the puzzle that was an unknown factor.  That was the NHL rights to Peter Forsberg, who would turn out (we think) to be the best player in the deal.  The Swedish star would later help the Colorado Avalanche win two Stanley Cups and, for his trophy case, the Hart Trophy and Art Ross in 2002/03.  He would also be a three First Team All-Star.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

1996.  Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators.  26 Goals, 35 Assists, 61 Points, 5.3 Point Shares.  

Daniel Alfredsson was the second straight Swedish player to win the Calder (following Peter Forsberg), and the Ottawa Senator would lead the team to their most tremendous success to date.  The greatest player in franchise history would score 1,157 Points and be named a Second Team All-Star in 2005/06.  

Inducted in 2022.

 

The following are the players who have won the Calder Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1933:  Carl Voss, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings, Center: 8 Goals, 16 Assists, 24 Points, 2.8 Point Shares.

Okay, Carl Voss is in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he was inducted as a builder in 1974 for his work as a referee and, later, referee-in-chief, not as a player.  This is not to say that he was not a good player; he was, but realistically was, a journeyman, as his 264 Games were not just in New York and Detroit.  Voss also played for Toronto, Ottawa, the St. Louis Eagles, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons, and Chicago and had 105 Points in total.  For this project, Voss belongs on this side of the ledger.

Eligible Since 1947. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1934:  Russ Blinco, Montreal Maroons, Center: 14 Goals, 9 Assists, 23 Points, 4.1 Point Shares.

Blinco was only in the NHL for six seasons, as a knee injury in the 1938 training camp led to his retirement at the end of the season.  He played the first five years of his career with the Maroons, winning a Stanley Cup in 1935, and was a Chicago Blackhawk in his last campaign.  He had 125 Points in 265 Games.

Eligible Since 1947. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1936:  Mike Karakas, Chicago Blackhawks, Goalie: 21-19-8, 1.85 GAA, 9.5 Point Shares.

Karakas is the first Goalie to win the Calder, and the native of Minnesota would have a nice career in the NHL, playing all but five Games in his eight seasons with Chicago.  A Second Team All-Star in 1945, he backstopped Chicago to a Stanley Cup in 1938.  He is an inaugural member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Eligible Since 1949. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1938:  Cully Dahlstrom, Chicago Blackhawks, Center:  10 Goals, 9 Assists, 19 Points, 1.3 Point Shares.  

Dahlstrom would have better seasons in the National Hockey League, but he would never have a season that could be considered excellent.  He would, however, win the Stanley Cup as a rookie with the Blackhawks, and his 206 Points in 345 Games were perfectly decent.   

Eligible Since 1948. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1940:  Kilby MacDonald, New York Rangers.  15 Goals, 13 Assists, 28 Points, 3.8 Point Shares.  

This would be the best season of Kilby MacDonald's brief four-year career as he would bounce back and forth between the Rangers and the minors after.  MacDonald, who also won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers this year, also served in the Army between stints in professional hockey.   

Eligible Since 1948.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1941:  John Quilty, Montreal Canadiens.  18 Goals, 16 Assists, 34 Points, 3.8 Point Shares

18 Goals, 16 Assists, 34 Points, 3.8 Point Shares.  This was by far and away the best season of John Quilty’s career, and after another season for the Montreal Canadiens, he would join the Canadian Military.  Quilty would later return but did not do much and retired with only 81 Points in 125 NHL Games.   

Eligible Since 1951.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1942:  Grant Warwick, New York Rangers.  16 Goals, 17 Assists, 33 Points, 3.0 Point Shares

16 Goals, 17 Assists, 33 Points, 3.0 Point Shares.  Warwick would play for nine seasons in the NHL and peaked with 42 Points in the 1944/45 Season.  He would play most of his career with the New York Rangers, with two seasons with Boston and a year with Montreal following.  

Eligible Since 1953.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1943: Gaye Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs.  24 Goals, 23 Assists, 47 Points, 4.0 Point Shares. 

The Calder Trophy win for Gaye Stewart had so much historical meaning.  The first is that he would become the first player to win the Calder after he won the Stanley Cup as he played for the Maple Leafs in three games in the 1942 Playoffs.  Like so many, Stewart's career took on a sabbatical as he joined the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, but he returned in the 1945/46 Season to lead the National Hockey League in Goals, and he was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy and the year after he helped Toronto win the 1947 Stanley Cup.  He was traded the following season to Chicago and was a Second Team All-Star that season.  He finished his career with 344 Points in 502 Games.  

Eligible Since 1956.  Ranked #118 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1944:  Gus Bodnar, Toronto Maple Leafs.  22 Goals, 40 Assists, 62 Points, 4.5 Point Shares.  

Bodnar's 62 Points were the best of his career, which was likely because it occurred in the depleted talent pool of the World War II NHL.  Bodnar's career was not Hall of Fame worthy, but it was a good one that spanned 12 years long, and he would win two Stanley Cups with Toronto in 1945 and 1947.  

Eligible Since 1958.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1945:  Frank McCool, Toronto Maple Leafs.  24 Wins, 22 Losses, 4 Ties, 3.22 GAA, 10.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Frank McCool had a very interesting and brief career.  The Goalie played hockey at Gonzaga and would join the Canadian Military to serve in World War II.  He would return to hockey, and this time it was at the professional level where he would operate between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs and take them to the Finals and win the Cup.  In the process, he recorded four Shutouts in the postseason and three straight, which still is tied for the record today.  So what did Frank McCool do for an encore?  Not much.  He would play 22 more games for the Leafs and retire shortly after due to ulcers.  

Eligible since 1949.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1947:  Howie Meeker, Toronto Maple Leafs.  27 Goals, 18 Assists, 45 Points, 4.5 Point Shares

The first season of Howie Meeker’s career was arguably his finest as he had career highs with 27 Goals and 45 Points as a rookie and would help the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.  Meeker would win two more Stanley Cups with Toronto and retired with 185 Points in 346 Games.  Meeker would later become more famous as a broadcaster.  

Eligible Since 1957.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1948:  Jim McFadden, Detroit Red Wings.  24 Goals, 24 Assists, 48 Points, 5.7 Point Shares.  

In terms of traditional statistics, Jim McFadden's best season was his rookie year, where he had career highs in Goals, Assists, and Points.  McFadden's career was not long, as it lasted seven seasons, four with Detroit and three with Chicago.  His last season in Motown would see him win the Stanley Cup.  

Eligible Since 1957.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1949:  Pentti Lund, New York Rangers.  14 Goals, 16 Assists, 30 Points, 2.6 Point Shares.  

This was the best season of Lund's career, where he had career highs in Points and would become the first European born to win the Calder.  Lund was born in Finland, although he arrived in Canada at six.  The Forward would last five years in the NHL. 

Eligible Since 1956.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1950:  Jack Gelineau, Boston Bruins (1950)

22 Wins, 30 Losses, 15 Ties, 3.28 GAA, 7.3 Point Shares.  Jack Gelineau may have had a losing record, but he was a machine in terms of workload.  The Boston Bruin was fifth in Goalie Point Shares this season and was third in the season after, but his overall career ended shortly after.  

Eligible Since 1957.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1954:  Camille Henry, New York Rangers.  24 Goals, 15 Assists, 39 Points, 5.4 Point Shares.

Camille Henry's rookie season would see him lead the National Hockey League in Power Play Goals (20).  Henry would regress and bounce around in the AHL but return to have a Second Team All-Star and Lady Byng-winning season in 1957/58.  Henry would finish in the top five in Lady Byng voting five more times, finish first in Power Play Goals two more times, and retire with 528 Points in 727 Games.  

Eligible Since 1973.  Ranked #190 on Notinhallofame.com.

1955: Ed Litzenberger, Montreal Canadiens & Chicago Blackhawks.  23 Goals, 28 Assists, 51 Points, 5.8 Point Shares

According to the story, the Montreal Canadiens “gifted” Litzenberger in a trade to the Chicago Blackhawks to keep the team viable in the NHL, basically so they would not go bankrupt!  He would score 51 Points as a rookie and would later be a Second Team All-Star in 1957, where he was sixth in Hart Trophy voting.  He retired with 416 Points in 619 Games. 

Eligible Since 1967.  Ranked #147 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1957:  Larry Regan, Boston Bruins.  14 Goals, 19 Assists, 33 Points, 2.8 Point Shares.

With all due respect to Larry Regan, he had a pedestrian career in professional hockey and did nothing more than what you saw this season.  The forward would only score 136 Points over his career in the NHL. 

Eligible in 1964.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1959:  Ralph Backstrom, Montreal Canadiens.  18 Goals, 22 Assists, 40 Points, 3.8 Point Shares

Ralph Backstrom would win six Stanley Cup Rings with the Montreal Canadiens and was also a six-time All-Star.  

Eligible in 1980.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1960:  Bill Hay, Chicago Blackhawks.  18 Goals, 37 Assists, 50 Points, 4.9 Point Shares.  

Bill Hay played all eight seasons in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he would win a Stanley Cup and a Calder, but these would be the only awards he would win.  He did enter the Hall as a builder for his work as the Calgary Flames CEO and work as the Hall's Chairman, but for our purposes, Hay was not (nor would he have been) enshrined as a player.  

Eligible Since 1970.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1962:  Bobby Rousseau, Montreal Canadiens.  21 Goals, 24 Assists, 45 Points, 4.3 Point Shares.  

Rousseau would lead the NHL in Short-Handed Goals and later help the Montreal Canadiens win four Stanley Cups in the 1960s.  In the 1965/66 season, he would lead the NHL in Assists and was named a Second Team All-Star.  He would score 703 Points over his career.  

Eligible Since 1978.  Ranked #141 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1963:  Kent Douglas, Toronto Maple Leafs.  7 Goals, 15 Assists, 22 Points, 6.6 Point Shares.  

While Kent Douglas would have better individual stats in later years, his first season in the NHL was special as he not only won the Calder but was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1963 Stanley Cup win. 

Eligible Since 1976.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings.  40 Wins, 22 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.42 GAA, 14.4 Point Shares.  

The rookie season of Roger Crozier was also the best of his career as he was the league leader in Wins, Saves, Shutouts, and Minutes Played while also being named a First Team All-Star.  Crozier was named the Conn Smythe winner the following year, but he never had a season like this again though he is still a 200 Game winner. 

Eligible Since 1980.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1966.  Brit Selby, Toronto Maple Leafs.  14 Goals, 13 Assists, 27 Points, 2.0 Point Shares.  

14 Goals, 13 Assists, 27 Points, 2.0 Point Shares.  Considering that he was a Calder Trophy winner, Brit Selby did not have a great career, as he would be sent down to the minors the year after and never had a season higher than 30 Points.  He isn't the worst player to win the Calder but is he in the top ten, or is it the bottom ten?

Eligible Since 1978.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1968:  Derek Sanderson, Boston Bruins.   24 Goals, 25 Assists, 49 Points, 4.8 Point Shares.

Many books can be written on the career of Derek Sanderson, but for this purpose, we have an exciting Calder Trophy winner who had the tiger by the tail.  Sanderson would later win the Stanley Cup twice with the Boston Bruins but never again win another individual accolade.  

Eligible Since 1981.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Danny Grant, Minnesota North Stars.  34 Goals, 31 Assists, 65 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

Danny Grant had an understated career spent predominantly with the Minnesota North Stars and Detroit Red Wings.  Grant would have four 60 Point Seasons, this being the first of them, but overall, it did not warrant serious Hall of Fame consideration.  

Eligible Since 1982.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1973:  Steve Vickers, New York Rangers.  30 Goals, 23 Assists, 53 Points, 5.9 Point Shares.

Steve Vickers made history as the first rookie to score consecutive hat tricks, and he would put the puck in the net 30 times in his Calder Trophy-winning season.  Vickers would be named a Second Team All-Star two seasons later with a 41 Goal year, but by age 30, he was out of the NHL after his play dropped considerably.  

Eligible since 1985.   Ranked #229 Notinhalloffame.com.

1975:  Eric Vail, Atlanta Flames.  39 Goals, 21 Assists, 60 Points, 6.1 Point Shares.

39 Goals, 21 Assists, 60 Points, 6.1 Point Shares.  Eric Vail's best goal-scoring season was as a rookie (39), and he would become the first player in Flames franchise history to win the Calder.  Vail would have two more 30 Goal seasons, and when the team moved to Calgary, he was the leading goal scorer in franchise history.  

Eligible Since 1985.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1977:  Willi Plett, Atlanta Flames.  33 Goals, 23 Assists, 56 Points, 6.1 Point Shares.  

This was the second Calder trophy in three years for the Atlanta Flames, but unlike the Islanders, who had the same earlier with Potvin and Trottier, Eric Vail and Willi Plett were not in that league.  Still, Plett had 33 Goals as a rookie and would have another 30-goal season when he scored 38 the year the Flames moved to Calgary.  This would be the only individual award that Plett would win in the NHL.  

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1979:  Bobby Smith, Minnesota North Stars.  30 Goals, 44 Assists, 74 Points, 6.1 Point Shares.  

Bobby Smith had a promising career where he would score 1,036 Points and would be a four-time All-Star.  His best individual seasons were with the Minnesota North Stars, but he would later win the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. 

Eligible Since 1996.  Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Larmer, Chicago Blackhawks (1983)

43 Goals, 47 Assists, 90 Points, 8.4 Point Shares.  Steve Larmer was a Point per Game player in the National Hockey League, which was very good for the 1980s but not what it means today.  Larmer would go to two All-Star Games, and late in his career, he would assist the New York Rangers would win the Stanley Cup.  

Eligible Since 1998.  Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1984:  Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres.  26 Wins, 12 Losses, 3 Ties, 2.85 GAA, 7.5 Point Shares.  

Tom Barrasso would have a very long career in the National Hockey League (19 years), but like other Calder-winning Goalies, his best season professionally was as a rookie.  He would not only win the Calder but was a First Team All-Star and would win the Vezina.  Barrasso would later win the William M. Jennings Trophy and two Second Team All-Star nods and won 369 Games in the NHL overall.  

Eligible Since 2006.  Ranked #14 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Suter, Calgary Flames.  18 Goals, 50 Assists, 68 Points, 8.0 Point Shares.  

Gary Suter would score well for a Defenseman, and in his third season, he scored 91 Points en route to a third-place finish in Norris Trophy voting and a Second Team All-Star Selection.  Suter would help the Flames win the Stanley Cup the year after and overall would score 844 Points in his NHL career.  

Eligible Since 2005.  Ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997.  Bryan Berard, New York Islanders.  8 Goals, 40 Assists, 48 Points, 7.6 Point Shares.  

The native of Rhode Island would never have a season where he had more Points or Point Shares, but he still had a good career, especially considering it was almost over after getting slashed in the eye by a stick in 2000 that nearly caused him to lose it.  The fact that he came back at all to be effective was a testament to who Berard was, and he would win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 2003/04 Season.  

Eligible Since 2011.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1998.  Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins.  22 Goals, 25 Assists, 47 Points, 5.5 Point Shares.  

Sergei Samsonov would have a pretty good career in the NHL with 571 Points in 888 Games, but when you a teen sensation from Russia winning the Calder, you expected something more, and likely the Bruins faithful hoped for the same. 

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1999:  Chris Drury, Colorado Avalanche.  20 Goals, 24 Assists, 44 Points, 5.0 Point Shares.  

Drury would have a solid career helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2001.  He would later blossom into a strong defensive forward, and for five years in a row (2005-06 to 2009-10), he would receive votes for the Frank J. Selke. 

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #295 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2000:  Scott Gomez, New Jersey Devils.  19 Goals, 51 Assists, 70 Points, 7.3 Point Shares.  

From the great state of Alaska, Scott Gomez scored 70 Points as a rookie and would hit that mark three more times.  Gomez helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup as a rookie and again in 2003, and he would be a two-time All-Star.  He scored 756 Points over his career.  

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #258 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2001:  Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks.  32 Wins, 21 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.19 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 11.7 Point Shares.  

Evgeni Nabokov finished fourth in Vezina Trophy as a rookie and would finish in the top six five more times.  He would also be a First Team All-Star in 2007/08 when he led the Goalies in Wins.  He would have a career record of 353-227-86.  

Eligible Since 2018.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2002:  Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers.  26 Goals, 41 Assists, 67 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

Heatley had a great start to his career, but a car crash that killed a teammate necessitated a change of scenery, and he would be traded to the Ottawa Senators, who would later have a pair of 100 Point Seasons, where he was named a First Team and Second Team All-Star.  He would score 791 Points in 869 Games.  

Eligible Since 2018.  Ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003:  Barret Jackman, St. Louis Blues.  3 Goals, 16 Assists, 19 Points, 5.4 Point Shares.  

Barret Jackman would have a promising career as a stay-at-home Defenseman, and he spent with the St. Louis Blues for all but one season.  Jackman never would come close to winning an individual award, but the fact that the Blues held on to him for 13 seasons shows what kind of asset he was.   

Eligible Since 2019.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins.  29 Wins, 18 Losses, 9 Ties, 2.05 GAA, .926 Save Percentage, 12.6 Point Shares.  

Other than his Calder trophy win, Raycroft only had one good season of note: with the Toronto Maple Leafs three years after his Calder win.  Those two years contributed to over half of Goalie Point Shares over his 11 seasons in the National Hockey League.  

Eligible Since 2015.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2009:  Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets.  33 Wins, 20 Losses, 7 Ties, 2.29 GAA, .916 Save Percentage, 11.2 Point Shares.  

Mason's Calder Trophy-winning season was his best year by far, and he was also the runner-up for the Vezina and fourth place finish in Hart Trophy voting.  Mason would have a 205-183-64 record while also playing for Philadelphia and Winnipeg.  

Eligible Since 2021.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the NHL Calder Trophy 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 past players who have won the NHL Calder Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and are still active.

2006:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals.  52 Goals, 54 Assists, 106 Points, 12.7 Point Shares.  

52 Goals, 54 Assists, 106 Points, 12.7 Point Shares.  Ovechkin was the first Washington Capital to win the Calder, and he did so with a 50 Goal and 100 Point Season, which is no small feat in the dead puck era.  Since that win, Ovechkin took the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup win in 2018, and along the way, he has won seven Maurice Richard Awards, three Hart Trophies, and one Art Ross.  

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2007:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins.  33 Goals, 52 Assists, 85 Points, 9.4 Point Shares.  

Evgeni Malkin would be the second straight Russian to win the Calder, and to date, he has had a spectacular career where he has been a four-time All-Star, a Hart Trophy winner, and a two-time Art Ross winner.  Malkin would also take the Penguins to three Stanley Cups, continuing the winning tradition of the Western Pennsylvania team.  

36 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2008:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks.  21 Goals, 51 Assists, 72 Points, 7.2 Point Shares.  

Patrick Kane has to date an incredible career where; he has won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and was also a three-time First Team All-Star.  He would win the Hart Trophy in 2015/16.  

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2010:  Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres.  11 Goals, 37 Assists, 48 Points, 9.8 Point Shares.  

As of this writing, Tyler Myers' rookie season was his best by far, as his Goals, Assists, Points, and Point Shares were all career highs.  It has been a good career but not what you would hope for considering his start.  

32 Years Old, Playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

2011:  Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes.  31 Goals, 32 Assists, 63 Points, 8.1 Point Shares.  

To date, Skinner has been named an All-Star twice and has equaled his rookie point total in 2016/17 but has not eclipsed it.  

30 Years Old, Playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

2012:  Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche.  22 Goals, 30 Assists, 52 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  

22 Goals, 30 Assists, 52 Points, 6.8 Point Shares.  From Sweden, Gabriel Landeskog has performed well and went to his first All-Star Game in 2019.  He does have a way to go to get onto a Hockey Hall of Fame trajectory, but his Stanley Cup in 2022 helps a lot.

30 Years Old, Playing for the Colorado Avalanche.

2013:  Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers.  14 Goals, 17 Assists, 31 Points, 3.3 Point Shares.  

Huberdeau has thus far had a good career though it has been spent primarily on smaller-market teams.  He was a back-to-back Second Team All-Star in 2021 and 2022 before he was traded to Calgary.

29 Years Old, Playing for the Calgary Flames

2014:  Nathan McKinnon, Colorado Avalanche.  24 Goals, 39 Assists, 63 Points, 3.3 Point Shares.  

Since his Calder Trophy win, McKinnon has had two 90 Point Seasons and, in 2017/18, was a Second Team All-Star and the runner-up for the Hart Trophy.   In 2022, McKinnon would help lead Colorado to their third Stanley Cup.

27 Years Old, Playing for the Colorado Avalanche.

2015:  Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers.  12 Goals, 27 Assists, 39 Points, 8.5 Point Shares.  

A better than you think blueliner, Ekblad finished 22ndi n Norris Trophy voting as a rookie and was 16th as a sophomore.   He would have his first top-ten Norris finish in 2021/22.

26 Years Old, Playing for the Florida Panthers.

2016:  Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks.  30 Goals, 47 Assists, 77 Points, 9.8 Point Shares.  

Panarin played in the KHL a little longer and did not arrive in the NHL until he was 23, making him a little older than most rookies, so perhaps he had a bit of an advantage, but he was great as a rookie, and he would be named a Second Team All-Star in his second season.  In his first year with the Rangers (2019-20), he was chosen as a First Team All-Star

31 Years Old, Playing for the New York Rangers.

2017:  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs.  40 Goals, 29 Assists, 69 Points, 9.7 Point Shares.  

Maple Leafs fans were thrilled when Matthews scored five goals in his first game, and overall in his rookie year, he had a 40 Goal season that was good enough for second overall.  The American was also named an All-Star, and he led the NHL in Even Strength Goals.  In 2021-22, Matthews won the Hart, fulfilling what many Toronto fans saw on day one.

25 Years Old, Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2018:  Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders.  22 Goals, 63 Assists, 85 Points, 8.2 Point Shares.  

Barzal finished fifth in the NHL in Assists as a rookie.  To date, this is the best year that Barzal has had in the NHL.

25 Years Old, Playing for the New York Islanders.

2019:  Elias Petterson, Vancouver Canucks.  28 Goals, 38 Assists, 66 Points, 7.8 Point Shares.  

Petterson went to this year’s All-Star Game and the one after, showing a promising start to his NHL career.

24 Years Old, Playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

2020:  Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche.  12 Goals, 38 Assists, 50 Points, 7.7 Point Shares.  

Regardless of the era, Makar had one of the best rookie seasons of any Defenseman, and he finished ninth in Norris voting.  Two years later, Makar had a season for the ages, winning the Norris, the Stanley Cup, and the Conn Smythe, joining Bobby Orr as the only player to do so.

24 Years Old, Playing for the Colorado Avalanche.

2021:  Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild.  27 Goals, 24 Assists, 51 Points, 6.7 Point Shares.  

Kaprizov had a great rookie year, finishing 15th in Hart voting and immediately becoming the top player on the Wild.

25 Years Old, Playing for the Minnesota Wild.

2022:  Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings.  7 Goals, 43 Assists, 50 Points, 6.7 Point Shares.  

Seider became the first Red Wing to win the Calder in the post-Original Six era and the first German-born recipient.

21 Years Old, Playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

From what we can see in terms of the Calder Trophy winners, there is some solid Hall of Fame potential, but like so many sports, injuries can derail such great starts.  The Calder looks to be our favorite NHL Award to monitor as we go forward.

As you see, the Calder is a hit-or-miss projection on Hall of Fame potential, and though some serious talents have yet to retire and will immediately enter the Hall, some won't.  We doubt that this percentage will change that much.

The Vezina Trophy

The origin of the Vezina trophy came from the owners of the Montreal Canadiens, who donated the award to the NHL in 1927.  It was named in honor of Georges Vezina, who played in net for Montreal.  Vezina collapsed during a game, and was diagnosed with tuberculosis.  He died the year after.

From 1927 to 1946, the Vezina went to the NHL’s best Goalie. That would change in 1946, when it was officially given to the Goalie from the team that allowed the fewest goals. It was only allotted to one Goalie, but as the NHL moved to longer regular seasons, they allowed it to go to multiple Goalies on a team beginning in the 1964-65 Season.  That watered down the quality of winners in his period.

Beginning in the 1981-82 Season, the William M. Jennings Award was created, and it took over with the parameters of the Vezina, while the Vezina reverted back to being awarded to the best Goalie.  This is voted on by the General Managers of the NHL.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 48 former Hart Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with 24 entering, yielding a percentage of 50.0.  

If we go by yearly winners, and again, remember there were multiple winners in many seasons, we have Vezina recipients that worked out to a percentage of 70.8.

The following are the past players who have won the Vezina Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1927:  George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens 28-14-2 Record. 1.47 GAA, 10.1 GPS.

George Hainsworth did not make his debut in the NHL until he was 30, and after starring the Western League.  He replaced Vezina on the Montreal Canadiens, who died, and had previously played in net every game in franchise history.  While those were big skates to fill, he managed to do so with 28 Wins, a 1.47 GAA and an NHL leading 14 Shutouts.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1928 (2):  George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens 26-11-7 Record. 1.05 GAA, 12.6 GPS.

Hainsworth repeated as the Vezina winner, and he would lead the NHL in Wins (26) and Goals Against Average (1.05).  He would also post a career-high 12.6 Goalie Point Shares. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1929 (3):  George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens, 22-7-5 Record, 0.92 GAA, 11.8 GPS.

With a record of 22-7-15, Hainsworth would win his third and final Vezina Trophy, and had an NHL best (and personal best) 0.92 GAA.  His 11.8 Goalie Point Shares, would also lead the NHL, and was the second best of his career. While he would not win another Vezina, he would backstop the Hans to Stanley Cup wins the next two seasons. In 1930, he set a still-standing playoff record of 270 minutes and 8 seconds without allowing a goal.  He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1933. He went back to Montreal to finish his NHL career in 1937.  He retired with a record of 167-96-54 and 1.78 GAA. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1930:  Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins, 38-5-1, 2.19 ERA, 10.0 GPS.

Last season, Tiny Thompson was a rookie who would take the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win.  In 1930, he would win his first Vezina trophy with a career-high 38 Wins and an NHL leading 2.19 GAA.  He also led the league in Goalie Point Shares with 10.0.  Thompson was a true innovator, as he was credited with developing the glove save, and he also made history as the first Goalie in NHL history to record an Assist.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

1931:  Roy Worters, New York Americans 18-16-10, 1.61 ERA, 11.3 GPS.

Roy Worters was a surprise winner of the Hart Trophy in 1929 (remember he didn’t win the Vezina), he won the Vezina in 1931, making him the only New York American to win this award.  He led the NHL in GAA (1.61), and later would be named to two Second Team All-Stars.  Worters played until 1937, and though he had a losing record (171-230-82), his work in the net made his teams more competitive than they had any right to be.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

1932:  Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Blackhawks:  18-18-11, 1.85 ERA, 11.0 GPS.

Charlie Gardiner was a First Team All-Star the season before, and was this year too, as he won his first Vezina Trophy.  Gardiner went 18-18-11 with an NHL leading 1.85 GAA, and 11.0 Goalie Point Shares.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

1933 (2):  Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins.  25-15-8, 1.76 GAA, 10.7 GPS.

Thompson led the NHL in Wins (25), Goals Against Average (1.76), Shutouts (11) and Goalie Point Shares (10.7) this season.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

1934 (2):  Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Blackhawks.  20-17-11, 1.63 GAA, 12.1 GPS.

Gardiner won his second Vezina, and had a 1.63 GAA, with an NHL leading 10 Shutouts and 12.1 Goalie Point Shares.  More importantly he would lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup, making him he first (and only) Goalie who was the team captain to win a championship.  This would be the last year that he would play, as Gardiner died shortly after.  He had been sick for some time, and he died of a brain hemorrhage.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

1936 (3): Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins.  22-20-7, 1.68 ERA, 10.4 GPS.

Thompson had a record of only 22-20-7, but he was dominant in the pipes.  He finished first in the National Hockey League in Goals Against Average (1.68), Shutouts (10), and Goalie Point Shares (10.4).  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

1938 (4):  Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins.   30-11-7

This was the last great season of Tiny Thompson’s career, and he would finish at the top of the NHL’s leaderboard in Wins (30), Goals Against Average (1.80), and Goalie Point Shares (11.5).  Thompson played until 1940, ending his career with the Detroit Red Wings.  Thompson retired with a record of 284-194-75 with a 2.07 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

1939:   Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins.  33-9-1, 1.56 GAA, 11.3 GPS.

This was one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the National Hockey League.  With a league-leading 31 Wins, and a 1.56 GAA, Frank Brimsek would win the Calder Trophy, and became the first player to win both the Calder and Vezina in the same season.  He would lead his Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship.  This was also a history making year for the Vezina, as Brimesk was the first American (and non-Canadian) to capture this trophy.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1941:  Turk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs.  28-14-16, 2.00 GAA, 10.9 GPS.

Turk Broda became the first Toronto Maple Leaf to win the Vezina Trophy.  This season, he would do so while leading the NHL in Wins (28) and Goals Against Average (2.00).  The following year, Broda won the Stanley Cup, and would lead the Leafs in their greatest comeback in Finals history by taking Toronto back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Detroit. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.

1942 (2):  Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins.  24-17-6, 2.35 GAA, 11.0 GPS.

The American was a Second Team All-Star in 1940 and 1941 and in 1941-42, the native of Minnesota would lead the NHL in GAA (2.35) and Goalie Point Shares (11.0), and was third in Hart Trophy voting.  Brimsek was a Second Team All-Star the next four seasons (he missed two years due to World War II), and he retired with a record of 230-144-70.   Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1944: Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  38-5-7, 2.18 GAA, 15 GPS.

This was the first of six Vezina Trophies for the Torontonian, and the runner-up for the Calder Trophy finished first in Wins (38), Goals Against Average (2.18), and Goalie Point Shares (15.0), the latter stat being a career-high.  Durnan took the Habs to a Stanley Cup win that season.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1945 (2):  Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  38-8-4, 2.42 GAA, 13.2 GPS.

Durnan matched his 38 Wins, and led the league in that category, as well as Goals Against Average (2.42) and Goalie Point Shares (13.2).   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1946 (3):  Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  24-11-5, 2.60 GAA, 9.2 GPS.

Bill Durnan would win his second Stanley Cup this year, and in the regular season, he again had the most Wins (24), lowest Goals Against Average (2.60), and the most Goalie Point Shares (9.2).  For the first time, he was first in Shutouts (4). 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1947 (4):  Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  34-16-10, 2.30 GAA, 14.7 GPS.

Tiny Thompson was the first Goalie to win the Vezina four times, but Durnan was the first to capture in four years in a row.  He was again the league leader in Wins (34), GAA (2.30), and Goalie Points Shares (14.7).  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1948 (2):  Turk Broda, Toronto Maple Leafs.  32-15-13, 2.38 GAA, 13.2 GPS.

After his Cup win in 1942, Broda would join the Canadian Military during World War II.  He returned to lead the Maple Leafs to a Championship in 1947, and again in 1948, where he would win his second Vezina.  That year, he also led the NHL in Wins (32), GAA (2.38) and Goalie Point Shares (13.2).  Broda would win two more Cups in Toronto, and retired with a record of 304-222-102 with a 2.53 GAA. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.

1949 (5):  Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  28-23-9, 2.10 GAA, 13.9 GPS.

After an off-season, where he lost the Vezina to Turk Broda, Bill Durnan became the first player to win the Vezina five times. Durnan was not first in Wins (he had 28), but he had an NHL leading 2.10 GAA and 10 Shutouts.  His 13.9 Goalie Point Shares also finished first.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1950 (6):  Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens.  26-21-17, 2.20 GAA, 14.2 GPS.

With this win, Durnan was the first player to win the Vezina for a sixth time.  Like the previous season, he wasn’t first in Wins (28), but his 2.20 GAA placed him first, as did his 14.2 Goalie Point Shares.  This was the end for Durnan as he ended his career.  In the seven seasons he played, he won six Vezinas.  He retired with a record of 208-112-62 and a GAA of 2.36.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1952:  Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings.  44-14-12, 1.90 GAA, 16.6 GPS.

Terry Sawchuk won the Calder Trophy the season before, with a career-high 44 Wins and 17.0 Goalie Point Shares.  Sawchuk replicated that success, equaling his 44 Wins (league leading), and he was also first in Goals Against Average (1.90), Shutouts (12) and Goalie Point Shares (16.6).  He would take the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup, and he went 8-0 with a 0.62 GAA. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

1953 (2):  Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings.  32-15-16, 1.89 GAA, 14.0 GPS.

Sawchuck won his second Vezina in as many seasons, and he was the NHL leader in Wins (32), Goals Against Average (1.80), and Goalie Point Shares (14.0).  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

(1954):  Harry Lumley, Toronto Maple Leafs.  32-24-13, 1.86 GAA, 15.6 GPS.

Harry Lumley would lead the NHL in GAA (1.86) and Goalie Point Shares (15.6), and he had a record of 32-24-13.  Lumley finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting, and he was second the following season, and would again lead the NHL in GAA (1.91) and Goalie Point Shares (16.2).  He played until 1960, after playing for all but the Montreal Canadiens of the Original Six. He retired with a record of 330-329-142 and a 2.74 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

1955 (3):  Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings.  40-17-11, 1.96 ERA, 15.4 GPS

In 1954, Sawchuk was a Second Team All-Star, and he led Detroit to another Stanley Cup win.  This season, he finished first in Wins (40) and Shutouts (12), and he had a GAA of 1.96.  He would again lead Detroit win the Stanley Cup.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

1956:  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  42-12-10, 1.86 GAA, .931 Save Percentage, 15.1 GPS.

Jacques Plante was far more than the first goalie to wear a face mask, as he was one of the best netminders that the game ever saw. After finishing third in Calder Trophy voting the year before, Plante would win his first Vezina where he led the Habs to a Stanley Cup win.  Plante led the NHL in Wins (42), GAA (1.86), and Goalie Point Shares (15.1).  This was the first year the league tracked Save Percentage, and he was the first man to lead that category with .930.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1957 (2):  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  31-18-12, 2.00 GAA, .920 Save Percentage, 14.2 GPS.

The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup again, with Plante in the net.  He led the league in GAA (2.00) and Shutouts (9), and he would also have 31 Wins, a .920 Save Percentage and 14.2 Goalie Point Shares. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1958 (3):  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  34-14-8, 2.11 GAA, .924 Save Percentage, 13.2 GPS.

This was very much a mirror image of the season before.  Plante was first in Wins (34), GAA (2.11), Shutouts (9), and Goalie Point Shares (13.2), and like the two years before, he would win the Stanley Cup.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1959 (4):  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  38-16-13, 2.16 GAA, .925 Save Percentage, 15.6 GPS. 

Plante would tie the record of four straight Vezina Trophies, and he a Stanley Cup in them all!  This year, the Quebecer would have league leads in Wins (38), Save Percentage (.925), GAA (2.16), Shutouts (9), and 15.6 Goalie Point Shares, which would be his career-high.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1960 (5):  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  40-17-12, 2.54 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 14.0 GPS. 

History was made again as Plante would become the first Goalie to win the coveted Vezina Trophy five years in a row.  What else did he do in those five years?  He won Stanley Cups in all of them.  This season, he would have a league-leading 40 Wins, 2.54 GAA, and he would also have 14.0 Goalie Point Shares.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1961:  Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs.  33-15-10, 2.50 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 12.1 GPS.

Johnny Bower would win his first two Vezina Trophies at age 36, but then again, he did not make the NHL until he was 29.  This was the first and only year that he would finish first in Wins (33) and he was his second straight season leading the NHL in Save Percentage (.922).  He was also a First Team All-Star and was second in Hart Trophy voting.  Bower would be in net for the Leafs as they won the next three Stanley Cups.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.  

1962 (6):  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens.  42-14-14, 2.37 GAA, .923 Save Percentage, 15.6 GPS.

Plante would tie Bill Durnan with his sixth Stanley Cup, and for the first time he would win the Hart Trophy.  This would be another first, as he was unable to win the Stanley Cup in a Vezina Trophy winning campaign.  Plante wo would finish first in Wins (42), Save Percentage (.923), GAA (2.37), and Goalie Point Shares (15.6).  The latter would tie his previous high.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1963:  Glenn Hall, Chicago Blackhawks.  30-20-15, 2.47 GAA, .918 Save Percentage, 13.6 GPS.

This is an excellent time to remind everyone that this was during the period where the Vezina was automatically given to the goalie(s) from the team that allowed the least goals.  We mention this, because before Hall won his first Vezina, he had already won the Calder, and was a First Team All-Star, and Second Team All-Star three different times.  This season, Hall was chosen for his fourth First Team All-Star, and would finish first in Save Percentage (.918), Shutouts (5), and Goalie Point Shares (13.6).  He would also have a GAA of 2.47.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1965 (4) (Co-Winner):  Terry Sawchuk, Toronto Maple Leafs.  16-13-7, 2.56 GAA, .915 Save Percentage, 7.0 GPS.

In Terry Sawchuk’s first year in Toronto, he would share the netminding duties with Johnny Bower.  As this was under the old rules, Sawchuk (who played in two more games than Bower), was to be awarded the trophy, but he refused unless Bower was the co-winner.  The NHL then changed the rule to allow multiple winners, providing the goalie in question played in at least 25 Games.  This was Sawchuk’s fourth and final Vezina, and he would have a record of 16-13-7 with a 2.81 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

1965 (2) (Co-Winner):  Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs (2).  14-13-7, 2.38 GAA, .924 Save Percentage, 7.2 GPS.

As noted above, Terry Sawchuk’s refusal to accept the Vezina unless Bower was a co-winner, allowed the latter to win his second and final Vezina.  Winning this at age 40, made Bower the oldest Goalie to win that award, an honor he still holds to this day.  He would lead the NHL in Save Percentage with .925, and had a GAA of 2.65.  Bower played until he was 45, and retired with a record of 250-192-90.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

1966 (Co-Winner):  Gump Worsley, Montreal Canadiens.  28-13-6, 2.36 GAA, .917 Save Percentage, 11.0 GPS.

Sharing the goaltending load with Charlie Hodge, Worlsey won his first Vezina at 36, 11 years after winning the Calder with the New York Rangers.  Worsley was a Second Team All-Star this year and he had a record of 28-13-6 with a 2.36 GAA. The Habs would win the Stanley Cup that season.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

1967 (2) (Co-Winner):  Glenn Hall, Chicago Blackhawks.  19-5-5, 2.38 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 6.1 GPS.

In between Hall’s first and second Vezina Trophy, he would be named to two First Team All-Stars.  This year, he only played 32 Games, but had a record of 19-5-5, and led the league in GAA (2.38).  He would be named a Second Team All-Star this year.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1968 (Co-Winner):  Rogie Vachon, Montreal Canadiens.  22-15-2, 2.48 GAA, .913 Save Percentage, 7.1 GPS.

This was Vachon’s second season in the NHL, and he would share the Vezina with Gump Worsley.  He would win 21 Games, with a 2.48 GAA, and he would win the Stanley Cup, which he would do so again the year after.  This may have been Vachon’s only Vezina, but not the only good season he would have.  He would later join the Los Angeles Kings, and helped bring them to respectability. With the Kings, he would earn a Second Team All-Star twice and was in the top three in Hart Trophy voting in both of those years.  He would later play in Detroit and Boston, retiring in 1982 with a record of 353-293-128 with an even 3.00 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

1968 (2) (Co-Winner):  Gump Worsley, Montreal Canadiens.  21-7-8, 1.98 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 9.0 GPS.

This season, Worsley, was sharing the goaltending role with Rogie Vachon, and he had a 21-7-8 record with a GAA of 1.98, and that would lead the NHL.  He was also named a First Team All-Star.  The Habs would win the Stanley Cup this season, and would win his fourth Cup the year after.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

1969 (3) (Co-Winner):  Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues.   19-12-8, 2.17 GAA, .928 Save Percentage, 9.4 GPS.

Last season was Hall’s first in St. Louis, and his efforts brought the Blues to the Stanley Cup Final.  While they lost, he would win the Conn Smythe for his efforts. This year, he shared the goaltending duties with Jacques Plante, and they were the first expansion team goalies to win a Vezina.  This season, he was a First Team All-Star with a GAA of 2.17 and a league-leading 8 Shutouts.  Hall played two more years and retired with a record of 407-326-164 over 18 seasons.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1969 (7):  Jacques Plante, St. Louis Blues.  18-12-6, 1.96 GAA, .940 Save Percentage, 9.2 GPS.

Plante was traded to the New York Rangers in 1963, and was claimed by the St. Louis Blues in the 1968 Intra-League Draft.  In his first season with the expansion team, he would share the Vezina with Glenn Hall.  The tandem would be the first goalies on an expansion team to win the Vezina, and he would finish first in the NHL in Save Percentage (.940) and GAA (1.96).  Plante would later play for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and had a brief comeback in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers.  As of this writing, no other Goalie has won the Vezina seven times, and it will likely be decades before anyone else can say the same thing.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1970:  Tony Esposito, Chicago Blackhawks.  38-17-8, 2.17 GAA, .932 Save Percentage, 14.7 GPS.

For the first time since the 1963-64 season, we have a sole winner for the Vezina in Tony Esposito.  This was his rookie year, where he also was a First Team All-Star, the Calder Trophy winner, and he was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy. Esposito would lead all of the goalies in Wins (38), Save Percentage (.932), and Shutouts, and he had a nice GAA of 2.17. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1971 (Co-Winner):  Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers.  27-10-6, 2.16 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 11.0 GPS.

In the four years previous, Giacomin was either a First Team and Second Team All-Star, and this year he would be a First Team All-Star this year.  Finishing eighth in Hart Trophy voting, he would win 27 Games, with a 2.16 GAA and a league leading eight Shutouts.  Giacomin played until 1978, but would never be a post season All-Star again.  He played his last three years with the Detroit Red Wings, and retired with 290-209-96 and a GAA of 2.82.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1972 (2) (Co-Winner):  Tony Esposito, Chicago Blackhawks.  31-10-6, 1.77 GAA, .934 Save Percentage, 13.0 GPS.

Esposito was not the sole winner on his second Vezina, as he shared this with Gary Smith.  This season, Esposito was also a First Team All-Star, and for the first and only time he would lead the NHL in GAA (1.77), and this was his second and final Save Percentage lead (.934).  Both of those would be career-highs.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1973:  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  33-7-13, 2.26 GAA, .926 Save Percentage, 13.2 GPS.

The sole winner of this season’s Vezina, Ken Dryden had already won a Conn Smythe, a Stanley Cup and was a Second Team All-Star the year before.  This season, he was a First Team All-Star, was fourth in Hart Trophy voting, and led the NHL in Wins (33), Save Percentage (.926), GAA (2.26), Shutouts (6) and Goalie Point Shares (13.2).  He would back stop the Canadiens to another Stanley Cup win.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1974 (3) (Co-Winner):  Tony Esposito, Chicago Blackhawks.  34-14-21, 2.05 GAA, .929 Save Percentage, 18.2 GPS.

For the first and only time in the era of co-winning possibilities, we have co-winners from different teams.  Bernie Parent of Philadelphia won this season along with Esposito, who was a Second Team All-Star that year.  He had an excellent record of 34-12-21 and a 2.05 GAA, and was fifth in Hart Trophy voting.  With the exception of 13 Games, he would play his entire career with the Blackhawks, and would be a First Team All-Star one more time.  He retired in 1984 with a record of 423-306-152 and a 2.93 GAA.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1974 (Co-Winner):  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.   47-13-12, 1.89 GAA, .932 Save Percentage, 19.9 GPS.

As discussed above, Parent co-won the Vezina with Tony Esposito, the first and only time that the award was split between two players from two different teams.  This season, Parent would lead all the Goalies in Wins (47), Save Percentage (.932), GAA (1.89), Shutouts (12) and Goalie Point Shares (19.9).  Parent would lead the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup win, and win the Conn Smythe Trophy.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975 (2):  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.  44-14-9, 2.04 GAA, .918 Save Percentage, 18.6 GPS.

Parent was the sole winner of the Vezina this year, and he again took the Flyers to a Stanley Cup win, and won the Conn Smythe. The Flyer would finish first in GAA (2.04), Shutouts (12) and Goalie Point Shares (18.6), and he was a First Team All-Star, as he was the year before.  He played until 1979, and retired with a record of 271-198-119, and a 2.55 GAA.   

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1976 (2):  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  42-10-8, 2.03 GAA, .927 Save Percentage, 16.5 GPS.

In between this Vezina and the last one, Dryden took a year off due to a contract dispute, and he pursued a law degree.  He came back and would do what he always did, which was win a lot of games, and stop a lot of pucks.  This season, he finished first in Wins (42), GAA (2.03), Shutouts (8) and Goalie Point Shares (16.5).  He would also be named a First Team All-Star and would win a Stanley Cup.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1977 (3) (Co-Winner):  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  41-6-8, 2.14 GAA, .920 Save Percentage, 14.3 GPS. 

This season, he would share the Vezina with Michel Larocque, but again he would win the Stanley Cup, and he would log all the minutes in the playoffs.  In the regular season, Dryden was a First Team All-Star, led the NHL in Wins (41), Save Percentage (.920)., Shutouts (10), and Goalie Point Shares (14.3).  He also had a spectacular GAA of 2.14.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1978 (4) (Co-Winner):  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  37-7-7, 2.05 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 13.7 GPS.

Like the year before, Dryden shared the Vezina with Michel Larocque, but that was not the only similarity.  Dryden worked all of the minutes in the playoffs and would again raise the Stanley Cup over his head.  The Goalie had a 27-7-7 record with an NHL leading .922 Save Percentage, and 2.05 GAA.  He would also earn another First Team All-Star Selection.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1979 (5) (Co-Winner):  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens.  30-10-7, 2.30 GAA, .909 Save Percentage, 12.1 GPS.

Dryden again shared the Vezina with Michel Larocque, and he again took Montreal to a Stanley Cup win.  This season he won 30 Games, and led the NHL in GAA (2.30), Shutouts (5) and Goalie Point Shares (12.1).  Dryden would also be named a First Team All-Star for the fifth and final time.  Even though Dryden was still in his prime, he retired after this year.  He was a true renaissance man, who would be an acclaimed writer, commentator, hockey executive, teacher and politician.  He retired with a sparkling record of 258-57-74 and a 2.24 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1982:  Billy Smith, New York Islanders.  32-9-4, 2.97 GAA, .898 Save Percentage, 10.5 GPS.

This was year three of the Islanders four-year run winning Stanley Cups, and Billy Smith would be there for all of them. This was the season where the Vezina reverted back to being awarded to the league’s best Goalie, and the previous parameters were placed in a new award; The William M. Jennings Trophy. Smith led the NHL with 32 Wins, and he would have a GAA of 2.97.  The year after, he would win the William M Jennings Trophy and the Conn Smythe.  Smith played until 1989, remaining with the Isles, and he had a record of 305-233-105 and a 3.18 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

1988:  Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers.  40-24-9, 3.43 GAA, .881 Save Percentage, 11.3 GPS.

Grant Fuhr was the Goalie for the Oilers’ dynasty, and this season he was in 75 Games, with a league-leading 40 Wins. While his 3.43 GAA was high, in this era, the red light was lit often, and he played for the team that was always looking to concentrate on offense.  Fuhr was the runner-up for the Hart, and he would take the Oilers to their fourth Stanley Cup.  He played until 2000, and would also play for Toronto, Buffalo, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Calgary finishing with a record of 403-295-114.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

1989.  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens:   33-5-6, 2.47 GAA, .908 Save Percentage, 9.3 GPS.

Three years ago, Patrick Roy was a rookie who carried Montreal on his back, and won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe.  Roy would then proceed to win two William M. Jennings Trophies, and was a Second Team All-Star before this year.  In 1988-89, he was chosen for his first of four First Team All-Star, won his third straight Jennings Trophy, and finally won the Vezina.  He would lead the NHL in Save Percentage (.908), GAA (2.47), and he had a record of 33-5-6.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1990 (2):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.  31-16-5, 2.53 GAA, .912 Save Percentage, 11.9 GPS.

This year, Roy went back-to-back in Vezinas and for the first of three straight years, he would lead the goalies in Save Percentage (.912).  He also was first in Goalie Point Shares (11.9), and Wins (31), and he had a GAA of 2.53. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1991:  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  43-19-7, 2.47 GAA, .910 Save Percentage, 14.0 GPS.

We have another Vezina Trophy winner who was also the Calder Trophy winner, as Ed Belfour had a phenomenal season for the Blackhawks in 1990-91.  Belfour led the NHL in Wins (43), Save Percentage (.910), GAA (2.47), and Goalie Point Shares (14.0).  “The Eagle” would also win the William M. Jennings Trophy.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1992 (3):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens.  36-22-8, 2.36 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 13.5 GPS.

Roy led the NHL for the fourth and final time in Save Percentage (.914), and was the league-leader in GAA (2.36) for the second time.  Roy would win 36 Games, and secured his fourth William M. Jennings Trophy.  The year after, Roy again took Montreal to another Stanley Cup, and won his second Conn Smythe Trophy.  He would later be traded to the Colorado Avalanche, and win two more Stanley Cups, another Conn Smythe, and his fifth William M. Jennings Trophy.  He retired in 2003 with a phenomenal record of 551-315-131 and a GAA of 2.54.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1993 (2):  Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.  41-18-11, 2.59 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 13.0 GPS.

Belfour would win his second and final Vezina, while also winning his second William M. Jennings Award.  He led the NHL in Shutouts (7), and had 41 Wins, with a 2.59 GAA. Belfour would later win two more Jennings Trophies and a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.    Belfour also played for San Jose, Toronto and Florida, and retired in 2007 with a record of 484-320-125.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1994:  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  30-20-6, 1.95 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 13.1 GPS.

Dominik Hasek was a late bloomer in the pro hockey as he was 29 this year, and had three unremarkable seasons in the NHL, so it was safe to say that nobody saw the dominance that he would have over the next eight years.  In what would be his first Vezina win, he would also win the William M. Jennings Trophy. Statistically, he was first in Save Percentage (.930), GAA (1.95), Shutouts (7), and he would have 30 Wins. He would also finish second in Hart Trophy voting.  Historically, he is the first goalie from the Czech Republic to win the Vezina.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1995 (2):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  19-14-7, 2.11 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 10.3 GPS.

Winning his second Vezina in as many years, Dominik Hasek would also win his second straight Save Percentage Title (.930), and GAA Title (2.11), and he also was third in Hart Trophy voting.  Hasek was also first in Goalie Point Shares with 10.3. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1997 (3):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  37-20-10, 2.27 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 17.2 GPS.

The Czech superstar led the NHL in Save Percentage for the fourth consecutive year (.930), while having 37 Wins, and leading the NHL in Goalie Point Shares (17.2).  Hasek was so dominant and vital to the Sabres’ success, that he would win both the Hart and Lester B Pearson Award.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1998 (4):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  33-23-13, 2.09 GAA, .932 Save Percentage, 18.6 GPS.

Hasek was an absolute beast last year, and he was even better this season, and we will argue that this was the best year of one of the most incredible careers by an NHL goalie.  “The Dominator” was the NHL leader in Save Percentage for the fifth straight year (.932), and he had career-highs (that also led the NHL) in Shutouts (13) and Goalie Point Shares (18.6).  Hasek repeated as the winner of both the Hart and Pearson Trophy, and the success of Buffalo was primarily due to the Czech netminder.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

1999 (5):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  30-18-14, 1.87 GAA, .937 Save Percentage, 16.8 GPS. 

Hasek’s .937 Save Percentage would earn him that title for the sixth straight year, and while he was not the NHL leader in Goals Against Average, his 1.87 was his career-best.  He also led the NHL in Goalie Point Shares (16.8), and he was third in Hart voting.  Hasek would finally take Buffalo to the Stanley Cup, thought they lost in controversial fashion to the Dallas Stars.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

2001 (6):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres.  37-24-4, 2.11 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 13.9 GPS. 

This was the sixth and last Vezina Trophy of the career of Dominik Hasek, and he did so while winning his second William M. Jennings Trophy.  He would have 37 Wins, a 2.11 GAA, with an NHL best 11 Shutouts.  Hasek also had 13.9 Goalie Point Shares.  This was his last year in Western New York, as he demanded a trade, and got one, as he was dealt to Detroit.  Hasek would later win two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, and he played until 2008, where in his final season, where he would win his third Jennings Trophy.  He retired with a record of 389-223-95 and a GAA of 2.20.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.  41-23-9, 2.02 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 11.4 GPS. 

2003:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  41-23-9, 2.02 GAA, .914 Save Percentage, 11.4 GPS. 

It may have taken until he was 30 before he won his first Vezina trophy, but don’t think that Martin Brodeur blossomed late. Prior to this win, Brodeur had already won the Stanley Cup twice, the William M. Jennings Trophy twice, the Calder Trophy, was a Second Team All-Star twice, and he had already been in the top five in Vezina voting in the seven seasons prior.  In this season, he not only won his first Vezina, but also his third Jennings Trophy.  For the fifth time, he was first in Wins (41), and had a GAA of 2.02.  He took the Devils to their third Stanley Cup, and he would be named a First Team All-Star.  Notably, he would also finish third in Hart Trophy voting.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

2004 (2):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  38-26-11, 2.03 GAA, .917 Save Percentage, 12.5 GPS.  

Brodeur went back-to-back as a Vezina Trophy winner, and in this campaign, he would win his fourth William M. Jennings Trophy. Once again, he had the most Wins (38), and had the league lead in Shutouts (11), and captured his second First Team All-Star Selection.  Brodeur again had a great GAA of 2.03. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

2007 (3):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  48-23-7, 2.18 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 17.3 GPS. 

Brodeur appeared in 78 Games, and for the eighth time in his career, he would lead the NHL in Wins (43), and for the fourth time was first in Shutouts (11).  He would also have a career-high (and NHL-leading) Goalie Point Shares (17.3). The New Jersey Devil would also have a 2.18 GAA.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

2008 (4):  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils.  44-27-6, 2.17 GAA, .920 Save Percentage, 15.5 GPS.  

This was his Martin Brodeur’s last Vezina win, and for the first of his four wins, he was not a First Team All-Star, as that would go to Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks.  This year, he had a record of 44-27-6 and a GAA of 2.18.  Brodeur would later win his fifth Jennings Trophy (in 2010), and he played until 2015.  His career with the exception of seven games was with the Devils, and he retired with a record of 691-397-154 and a GAA of 2.24.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

The following are the players who have won the Vezina Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1935:  Lorne Chabot, Chicago Blackhawks.  26-15-5, 1.80 GAA, 11.5 GPS

Lorne Chabot was only with the Blackhawks for one season, and he replaced the legendary Charlie Gardner, who tragically died the summer before.  Chabot led the NHL in Goals Against Average (1.80) and Goalie Point Shares (11.5). He played for the Montreal Marrons and New York Americans after, and he previously won two Stanley Cups previously (one with the New York Rangers and one with the Toronto Maple Leafs).  

Eligible since 1947.  Ranked #28 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1937:  Normie Smith, Detroit Red Wings.  25-14-9, 2.05 GAA, 9.8 GPS

Normie Smith finished first among the NHL Goalies in Wins (25), Goals Against Average (2.05), Shutouts (6), and Goalie Point Shares (9.8), and this was the only season where he was post-season All-Star. Like he did the year before, Smith backstopped the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup win. 

Eligible since 1948.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1940:  Dave Kerr, New York Rangers.  27-11-10, 2.47 GAA, 12.8 GPS

Dave Kerr was a Second Team All-Star two seasons prior, but this year he was First Team, and would win his lone Vezina Trophy. Kerr had an NHL Leading 1.54 GAA and 13.1 Goalie Point Shares, both of which were also career-bests.  More importantly, Kerr would lead the Rangers to a Stanley Cup win.  Kerr would only play one more season, and retired with a record of 204-149-76 and a GAA of 2.14. 

Eligible since 1947.  Ranked #176 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1943:  Johnny Mowers, Detroit Red Wings.  25-14-11, 2.05 GAA, 9.8 GPS

Johnny Mowers was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy two seasons before, and he would win the Vezina this year.  Mowers led the NHL in Wins (25), GAA (2.47), Shutouts (6) and Goalie Point Shares (12.8), and would back stop the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup win.  He would leave the NHL for the military for three years, but when he returned, he was unable to reclaim his starting job, and was out of the game only a year later. 

Eligible since 1950.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1951:  Al Rollins, Toronto Maple Leafs.  26-6-7, 1.77 GAA, 10.4 GPS.

Rollins finished second in Calder Trophy voting, and he would lead the NHL in GAA with 1.77.  He would also have 10.4 Goalie Point Shares with a 26-6-7 record. Rollins led the Leafs to a Stanley Cup win, and later in 1954, he won a Hart Trophy as a Blackhawk.  He retired for good in 1960, but due to being on some horrible Chicago teams, he had a losing record of 140-206-82.  

Eligible since 1963.  Ranked #102 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1964:  Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens.  33-18-11, 2.26 GAA, .920 Save Percentage, 13.3 GPS.

With the great Canadiens goalies through the years, Charlie Hodge has been forgotten.  He would win the Vezina in 1964, where he would lead the goalies in Shutouts (8), and won 33 Games with a GAA of 2.26.  He was named a Second Team All-Star this season.  

Eligible since 1974.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1966 (2) (Co-Winner):  Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens.  13-8-2, 2.58 GAA, .905 Save Percentage, 4.5 GPS.

Hodge helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup the year before, and was also a Second Team All-Star.  He would not be a post-season All-Star this year, and he only played 26 Games, far less than his teammate, Gump Worsley.  While his 2.57 GAA was respectable, he had a weaker year than the “Gump”.  

Eligible since 1974.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1967 (Co-Winner):  Denis DeJordy, Chicago Blackhawks.  22-12-7, 2.46 GAA, .923 Save Percentage, 9.0 GPS.

Denis DeJordy shared this Vezina win with Hall of Famer, Glenn Hall.  DeJordy was in net for Chicago for 44 Games and had a record of 22-12-7 with a 2.46 GAA. He would finish tenth in Hart Trophy voting this year.  DeJordy played until 1974, and he would have stops in Los Angeles, Montreal and Detroit. 

Eligible since 1977.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1971 (Co-Winner):  Gilles Villemure, New York Rangers.  22-8-4, 2.30 GAA, .919 Save Percentage, 8.0 GPS.

Villemeure would win his only Vezina in a sharing effort with Ed Giacomin, and Villemeure’s contribution was 22 Wins with a 2.30 GAA.  He had only played 13 Games in the NHL before, and although he was 30, this was technically his rookie season, and he would finish third in Calder Trophy voting with a tenth-place finish in Hart Trophy voting.  He played for another seven years, with his last two coming in back-up in Chicago.  Villemure retired with an even 100 Wins against 64 Losses and 29 Ties.  

Eligible since 1980.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1972 (Co-Winner):  Gary Smith, Chicago Blackhawks.  14-5-6, 2.42 GAA, .911 Save Percentage, 5.6 GPS.

Smith led the NHL in Saves the two years before in Saves, but also in Losses, as he was with the abysmal California Golden Seals. This was Smith’s first season in Chicago, and he backed up Tony Esposito, with whom he shared the Vezina. He played 28 Games to qualify for the award, and he had 14 Wins with a 2.42 GAA.  He continued to play until 1980 with stops in Vancouver, Minnesota, Washington, Indiana (WHA) and Winnipeg.  

Eligible since 1983.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1977 (Co-Winner):  Michel Larocque, Montreal Canadiens.  19-2-4, 2.09 GAA, .910 Save Percentage, 6.8 GPS.

As Ken Dryden’s backup, Larocque already won a Stanley Cup in 1976.  This season, he played in 26 Games, one more than the minimum to qualify.  In the games he did play in, he had a GAA of 2.09, which placed him first in the NHL, and he had an exemplary record of 19-2-4. He would get his name etched on the Cup again, but he did not play in the post-season, as Dryden did all the work in between the pipes.  

Eligible since 1987.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1978 (2) (Co-Winner):  Michel Larocque, Montreal Canadiens.  22-3-4, 2.84 GAA, .888 Save Percentage, 6.2 GPS.

The similarities were there from this season and the last one, as Larocque was again the back-up to Ken Dryden, and he saw no action in a post-season where the Habs won the Stanley Cup.  In this regular season, the man with the nickname of “Bunny” played in 30 Games with an outstanding record of 22-3-4 and a 2.67 GAA. 

Eligible since 1987.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1979 (3) (Co-Winner):  Michel Larocque, Montreal Canadiens 22-7-4, 2.67 GAA, .888 Save Percentage, 7.1 GPS.

The continuation of Larocque’s predictable run continues here with his third straight Vezina, as the backup to Ken Dryden. Like the previous two seasons, Larocque would win the Stanley Cup, though this time he would play in the post-season; albeit for 20 Minutes.  This season, Larocque would appear in 34 Games with a 22-7-4 record, and a GAA of 2.84. 

Eligible since 1987.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1980:  Don Edwards, Buffalo Sabres.  27-9-12, 2.57 GAA, .893 Save Percentage, 11.5 GPS.

Edwards was a Second Team All-Star two seasons before, and was so again this season.  He was one half a very good tandem with Bob Sauve, and Edwards would have a record of 27-912 with a 2.57 GAA.  He would play until 1986, with stops in Calgary and Toronto.  Edwards would play 459 Games with a record of 208-155-74.  

Eligible since 1989.  Ranked #189 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1980:  Bob Sauve, Buffalo Sabres.  20-8-4, 2.36 GAA, .901 Save Percentage, 7.9 GPS.

Sauve would co-win this with Don Edwards, and in the 32 Games he played, he would win 20 of them, and led the NHL in GAA with a 2.36 metric.  While still with the Sabres, he would win the William M. Jennings Award with Tom Barrasso. He would play four more years; two with Chicago, and two with New Jersey.  Sauve would have a record of 182-154-54.  

Eligible since 1992.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1981 (Co-Winner):  Denis Herron, Montreal Canadiens.  6-9-6, 3.52 GAA, .878 Save Percentage, 3.5 GPS.

This was the last year where the Vezina Trophy would go to the team’s goalies (who played at least 25 Games) with the least amount of goals allowed.  We will go on record that Herron turned out to be the worst recipient of the Vezina, as he had had a losing record of 6-9-9 and a GAA of 3.50.  In the following season, he would co-win the William M. Jennings Trophy with Rick Wamsley.  He would play until 1986, finishing his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  His record was 146-203-76 with a GAA of 3.70. 

Eligible since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1981 (4) (Co-Winner):  Michel Larocque, Montreal Canadiens.  19-12-5, 3.52 GAA, .873 Save Percentage, 6.3 GPS.

There is a lot to discuss here.  First, as shown above and below (with Heron and Sevingy respectively), he is the one of three (and there will only ever be three) Goalies to win the Vezina in the same season.  The second is that Larocque was traded during the season to Toronto. This makes Larocque the only player to date to win the Vezina, while playing for two different teams.  That being true, with the rules established (at the time), it was won as a Hab.  Messed up, right?  Perhaps, and this might be part of the reason that after this, the Vezina would be awarded hereafter to the solitary goalie who was considered to be the best in the NHL. The William M. Jennings Award would be created the year after that would have the previous Vezina parameters.  As it stands, we have Michel Larocque, a four-time Vezina Trophy winner, who has zero chance to make the Hockey Hall of Fame. As it stands, Larocque’s regular season (only with Montreal), would see him play in 28 Games, winning 16 with a 3.04 GAA.  In addition to the Leafs, “Bunny” played for Philadelphia and St. Louis and retired in 1984. He had a record of 160-89-45, which was incredible, though mostly as a part of the last Montreal dynasty.  

Eligible since 1987.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1981 (Co-Winner):  Richard Sevingy, Montreal Canadiens.  20-4-3, 2.40 GAA, .908 Save Percentage, 7.9 GPS.

As seen in the above two entries, Sevingy shared the Vezina with Denis Herron and Michel Larocque.  Finishing eight in Calder Trophy voting this year, Sevingy appeared in 33 Games, and won 20 of them.  He would lead the NHL in GAA with 2.40.  He played for Montreal until 1984, and had three more seasons with the Quebec Nordiques.  He finished his NHL career with a record of 80-54-20 with a 3.21 GAA.  

Eligible since 1989.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1983:  Pete Peeters, Boston Bruins.  40-12-9, 2.37 GAA, .903 Save Percentage, 16.5 GPS.

After four years in Philadelphia, Pete Peeters debuted in Boston, where he would have the best season of his career.  The Goalie would lead the league in Wins (40), GAA (2.37), Shutouts (8), and Goalie Point Shares (16.5).  He would again lead the NHL in GAA in 1987-88, when he was with the Washington Capitals.  Peeters played until 1991, and had a record of 246-156-51.  

Eligible since 1989.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

1984:  Tom Barrasso, Buffalo Sabres.  26-12-3, 2.85 GAA, .893 Save Percentage, 7.5 GPS. 

At age 18, Tom Barrasso is the youngest player to win the Vezina. He would have a record of 26-12-3, with a 2.85 GAA, and he would also win the Calder Trophy.  A First Team All-Star this season, Barrasso would be a Second Team All-Star, and would win the William M. Jennings Trophy the year after. He would later win two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he had stops in Ottawa, Carolina, Toronto and St. Louis.  Barrasso retired in 2003 with a record of 369-277-86.  

Eligible since 2006.   Ranked #14 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1985:  Pelle Lindberg, Philadelphia Flyers.  40-17-7, 3.02 GAA, .899 Save Percentage, 13.8 GPS. 

This season, Pelle Lindberg became the first non-North American to win the Vezina Trophy.  The Swedish Goalie would lead the NHL in Wins (40), and Goalie Point Shares (13.8), and he would have a GAA of 3.02.  Lindberg would also take the Flyers to the Stanley Cup where they lost to the Edmonton Oilers.  Sadly, he died on November 10, 1986 when he lost control of his Porsche, thus cutting his career short.  

Eligible since 1989.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1986:  John Vanbiesbrouck, New York Rangers.  31-21-5, 3.33 GAA, .887 Save Percentage, 10.0 GPS. 

Vanbiesbrouck would win his lone Vezina in his second full season in the NHL, and he would lead the league in Wins (31), and have a 3.33 GAA.  He would later earn a Second Team All-Star with the Florida Panthers, and he would also play for Philadelphia, New York (Islanders) and New Jersey.  He retired in 2002, with a record of 374-346-119 and a 2.98 GAA.  

Eligible since 2005.   Ranked #56 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers.  37-21-6, 3.01 GAA, .902 Save Percentage, 13.8 GPS. 

What a rookie year!  Hextall may not have won the Calder (he narrowly lost to Luc Robitaille), but he won the Vezina, leading the NHL in Wins (37), Save Percentage (.902) and Goalie Point Shares (13.8).  In that year’s playoff, he would take the Flyers to the Stanley Cup, and while they could not defeat the Edmonton Oilers, Hextall’s performance was so good, he would win the Conn Smythe.  Hextall played until 1999, mostly with Philadelphia, and he would have a career 2.98 GAA with a record of 296-214-69.  

Eligible since 1989.  Ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1996:  Jim Carey, Washington Capitals.  35-24-9, 2.26 GAA, .906 Save Percentage, 9.0 GPS. 

While not as famous as Jim Carrey, Jim Carey became the first Washington Capital to win the Vezina Trophy.  The year before, the native of Massachusetts was second in Calder, and third in Vezina voting, and this season he had an NHL-leading nine Shutouts, with a GAA of 2.26 and 35 Wins.  His play fell off quickly, and he was traded to Boston the year after.  He was out of the NHL in 1999, before he turned 25.  Carey left the pro ranks with a record of 79-65-16.  

Eligible since 2002.   Unranked on Notinalloffame.com.

2000:  Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals.  41-20-11, 2.24 GAA, .917 Save Percentage, 14.6 GPS. 

Born in South Africa to German parents (though raised mostly in Canada), Olaf Kolzig may likely be the only African born hockey player to win the Vezina…maybe ever.  “Olie the Goalie” debuted in the NHL for the Washington Capitals in 1990, and by the 1997-98 season, he was their main goalie.  This season, he would lead the NHL in Goalie Point Shares (14.6), and would win 41 Games with a GAA of 2.24.  All of those stats would be his career-bests.  Kolzig played until 2009, with all but his last year being played in Washington.  He retired with a record of 303-297-87.  

Eligible since 2012.   Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2002:  Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens.   30-24-10, 2.11 GAA, .931 Save Percentage, 17.4 GPS.

Another Montreal Canadian winning the Vezina?  But, of course!  Jose Theodore won the Hart Trophy and the Vezina this year, though he would not be a First Team All-Star, as Patrick Roy nabbed that one.  Theodore would have to settle for the Second Team All-Star, which makes him the only Vezina Trophy winner to also win the Hart, who was not a First Team All-Star. This year, Theodore led the NHL in Save Percentage (.931), and Goalie Point Shares (17.4), and had a sparkling GAA of 2.11.  He played until 2013, and would also don the pads for Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Florida.  

Eligible since 2016.   Ranked #186 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames.  42-20-11, 2.07 GAA, .923 Save Percentage, 16.2 GPS.

Miikka Kiprusoff became the first Goalie from Finland to win the Vezina, and he was also the first Flame to win the award.  This season, Kiprusoff was also a First Team All-Star, a William M. Jennings Trophy recipient, and he would lead the NHL in Goals Against Average (2.07), which was also the second straight year he would win that statistical title.  The Finnish Goalie also was first in Shutouts (10), and had a Save Percentage of .923.  Kiprusoff played until 2013, retiring with a record of 305-192-68.

Eligible since 2016.   Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2009:  Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins.  42-20-11, 2.07 GAA, .933 Save Percentage, 14.7 GPS.

Tim Thomas was 34 when he won his first Vezina, and the American Goalie would lead the NHL in Save Percentage (.933) and GAA (2.10), and he was also win the William M. Jennings Trophy. He would also have 36 Wins and 14.7 Goalie Point Shares.  

Eligible since 2017.   Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011 (2):  Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins.  35-11-9, 2.00 GAA, .938 Save Percentage, 16.2 GPS.

Thomas would take the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup win in 2011, where he also won the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP.  The Goalie, who also was a First Team All-Star for a second time, would win his second GAA Title (2.00), and he was also the leader in Save Percentage for the second time (.938).   Age caught up to Thomas, who quickly declined and was out of the NHL two years later.  He had a lifetime record of 196-121-45.

Eligible since 2017.   Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the Vezina 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:

2010:  Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres.   41-18-8, 2.22 GAA,  .929 Save Percentage, 16.8 GPS

From the United States, Ryan Miller would win his only Vezina in 2010, where he would lead the NHL in Goalie Point Shares with a career-high 16.8.  Miller, who was also fourth in Hart Trophy voting, would have a 2.22 GAA with a record of 41-18-8.  He never had a year like this again, but he was a starting Goalie for years to come, and would later play for St. Louis, Vancouver and Anaheim.  He had a record of 284-186-57.

Eligible in 2024.

2012.  Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers.  39-18-5, 1.97 GAA,  .930 Save Percentage, 14.1 GPS

Henrik Lundqvist became the second goalie from Sweden to win the Vezina.  He debuted in the NHL with the Rangers in 2005, and from that season until this one, he finished in the top six in Vezina Trophy voting.  This was the season that he finally won it, and was also a First Team All-Star and second runner-up for the Hart.  He would have a record of 39-18-5 and a GAA of 1.97.  Lundqvist played his entire career with the Rangers, and though he never won a second Vezina, he had a ten-year streak of top ten finishes.  Overall, Lundqvist had a record of 459-310-96.

Eligible in 2023.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2014:  Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins.  36-15-6, 2.04 GAA, .930 Save Percentage, 13.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Tuukka Rask debuted for the Boston Bruins in the 2007-08 season and was the main Goalie for the team two years later.  A Stanley Cup Champion in 2011, Rask won the Vezina this year with 36 Wins with a 2.04 GAA.  Rask would not win a second Vezina, but he was second in 2020, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy that year.  He retired early in the 2021-22 Season, with a record of 308-165-66.

Eligible in 2025.

2018:  Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators.  42-13-4, 2.31 GAA, .927 Save Percentage, 13.2 Goalie Point Shares.

From Finland, Pekka Rinne was a Second Team All-Star in 2011, and he would backstop the Predators to their first Stanley Cup appearance in 2017.  The following year, he would win the Vezina with a record of 42-13-4 with a 2.31 GAA, and an NHL leading eight Shutouts.  Rinne would play his entire career for Nashville, retiring after the 2020-21 Season with a record of 369-213-75.

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the Vezina Trophy who are still active.

2013:  Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets.   21-11-11, 2.00 GAA, .932 Save Percentage, 9.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Sergei Bobrovsky became the first Russian and the first Blue Jacket to win the Vezina in 2013.  This was his first year in Ohio after two seasons in Philadelphia, and he would have a record of 21-11-6 with a GAA of 2.00.  Bobrovsky was also fifth in Hart Trophy voting this season.  

34 Years Old, Playing for the Florida Panthers.

2015:  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens.  44-16-6, 1.96 GAA, .933 Save Percentage, 16.2 Goalie Point Shares.

Carey Price added to the legacy of spectacular goalies for Montreal.  Price would lead the NHL in Wins (44), Save Percentage (.933), GAA (1.96), and Goalie Point Shares (16.2).  He would also collect a lot more gold this year, as he was named a First Team All-Star, the Hart Trophy winner, and also the Ted Lindsay Award.  

35 Years Old, Playing for the Montreal Canadiens.

2016.  Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals.  48-9-7, 2.20 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 12.1 Goalie Point Shares.

Braden Holtby debuted in the NHL for Washington in the 2010-11 season, and he was the main goalie in D.C. two years later. Holtby would finish fourth in Hart Trophy voting in his Vezina Trophy winning year, while leading the NHL in Wins with 48.  He would be a Second Team All-Star and William M. Jennings Trophy winner the year after, and in the season after that, he won the Stanley Cup.  

33 Years Old, Playing for the Dallas Stars.

2017 (2):  Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets.  41-17-5, 2.06 GAA, .931 Save Percentage, 14.9 Goalie Point Shares.

Bobrovsky would win his second Vezina this year, while also finishing third for the Hart Trophy.  He would lead the NHL in Save Percentage (.931), Goals Against Average (2.06), and Goalie Point Shares (14.9), while also winning 41 Games.  

34 Years Old, Playing for the Florida Panthers.

2019:  Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning.  39-10-4, 2.40 GAA, .925 Save Percentage, 12.4 Goalie Point Shares.

Vasilevskiy led the NHL in Wins (44) and Shutouts (8) in 2017-18, and this season he had a league-leading 39 Wins with a 2.40 GAA, and a First Team All-Star Selection.  The Lightning goalie from Russia helped Tampa win the Presidents Trophy that year, although they would be swept in the opening round.  Tampa would, however, win the next two Cups with Vasilevskiy in net.  

28 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2020:  Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets.  31-21-5, 2.57 GAA, .922 Save Percentage, 12.5 Goalie Point Shares.

Hellebuyck brought Winnipeg their first Vezina, and the American was also a post-season All-Star for the second time, having been a Second Team Selection two years before.  The iron man led the NHL in Saves (1,656), the second time in a four-year stretch.  Hellebuyck was also sixth in Hart voting this year.

29 Years Old, Playing for the Winnipeg Jets.

2021:  Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights.  26-10-0, 1.98 GAA, .928 Save Percentage, 8.0 Goalie Point Shares.

It did not take long for Vegas to have their first Vezina winner, and it came in Fleury, who already was a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh.  This year, Fleury was also a Second Team All-Star, and was won the William M. Jennings Trophy.

38 Years Old, Playing for the Minnesota Wild.

2022:  Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers.  36-13-4, 2.07 GAA, .935 Save Percentage, 13.6 Goalie Point Shares.

Shesterkin was in his third NHL year, and it was a breakout campaign where he led the NHL in GAA (2.07), Save Percentage (.935) and was third in Hart voting.

27 Years Old, Playing for the New York Rangers.

Moving forward, we expect that the percentage will increase, as there were Vezina winners in the era that allowed multiple winners who will never sniff the Hall. 

There is no greater individual award in professional hockey than the Hart Trophy, awarded annually to the player who is named the MVP of the NHL’s regular season.  It is also among the most tenured accolades of the sport, having first been awarded in 1924.  Its origin came from David Hart, the father of Montreal Canadiens’ Head Coach, Cecil Hart, who donated it to the NHL before the 1923/24 Season.

It is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. ` The original trophy was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960, with the new version being renamed the Hart Memorial Trophy from the Hart Trophy.  

As of this writing, it is safe to say that there are few individual honors that reflect a Hall of Fame path safer than the Hart.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 47 former Hart Trophy winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with 44 entering, yielding a percentage of 93.6.  

If we go by yearly winners, we have Hart winners from 80 different seasons that are Hall eligible, with 77 enshrined, a percentage of 96.3.

The following are the past players who have won Hart Memorial Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1924: Frank Nighbor, Ottawa Senators, Center: 11 G, 6 A, 18 P, 3.3 PS       

The first Hart Trophy goes to the Ottawa Senators with Frank Nighbor, who prior to the win had led the Sens to two Stanley Cup victories.  Nighbor would be a one-time winner of the prestigious Hart, but he won the Lady Byng Trophy the next two seasons, and was third in voting in 1925-26.  The following year, Nighbor hoisted the Cup again. The Center’s last NHL Game was in 1930 after finishing up with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he would have 237 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1925: Billy Burch, Hamilton Tigers, Centre: 20 G, 6 A, 26 P, 5.9 PS  

In what turned out to be the last year of existence for the Hamilton Tigers, Billy Burch won the only Hart Trophy in franchise history following a 20 Goal year.  Burch and the rest of the Tigers were upset that year that they were not compensated for the expanded season (24 Games to 30), and they demanded $200 compensation or they would not participate in the playoffs.  They did not get it, and the Tigers were disqualified.  The team basically folded, but the players were sold to a New York group forming the Americans.  Burch was heavily marketed in NYC, as he was born in Yonkers (but was raised in Canada), and he won the Lady Byng in 1927.  Burch would later play for Boston and Chicago and scored 196 total Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1926: Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons, Centre: 34 G, 8 A, 42 P, 11.8 PS     

Perhaps because the team in which he did this is now defunct (the Montreal Maroons) the rookie year of Nels Stewart is not nearly as celebrated as it should be.  Winning the Hart in his rookie year, Stewart became the first player to do so, and he also was atop the NHL leaderboard in Goals (34) and Points (26).  He capped off this spectacular regular season by leading the Maroons to the Stanley Cup that year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1952.

1927: Herb Gardiner, Montreal Canadiens, Defense: 6 G, 7 A, 13 P, 7.7 PS  

The Montreal Canadiens first Hart Trophy winner also was the first Defenseman to win this award.  Gardiner was technically a rookie, as he was playing in the Western Canada Hockey League for many years with the Calgary Tigers, and at age 35, he is one of the oldest players to win the Hart.  Gardiner only played a few more years in the NHL before finishing his playing career in the American Hockey League.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958.

1928: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens, Centre: 33 G, 18 A, 51 P, 15.9 PS        

Morenz was in his fifth season in the NHL (all with the Habs), and he had already won the Stanley Cup as a rookie, and was the Hart runner-up in 1924-25.  This season, Morenz was also third in Lady Byng voting, and he was the NHL-leader in Goals (33), Assists (18), Points and (Point Shares (15.9).  Morenz’ 15.9 Point Shares was the most by any Hart winner until Bobby Orr in 1970.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958.

1929: Roy Worters, New York Americans, Goalie: 16-12-10 Record 1.15 GAA, 8.2 GPS 1929   

Roy Worters played his first three years in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he was one of many players that the soon to fold Pirates sold due to financial problems.  Worters, who was the runner-up for the Hart the year before, won the Hart in his first season as a New York American and would have a career-best 1.15 GAA.  Worters would later win a Vezina and was a two-time Second Team All-Star.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

1930 (2): Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons, Centre: 39 G, 16 A, 55 P, 10.1 PS 

Following his rookie year and Hart win, Stewart remained a top NHL Center, but he was not posting the same type of numbers.  This was not the case in the 1929-30 season, where he had what was a career-high 39 Goals.  Stewart was fifth in Hart voting the year after.  Stewart was bever in Hart consideration again, but he did lead the NHL in Goals again in 1936-37, a season split between the Boston Bruins and New York Americans.  Stewart’s NHL career ended in 1940, and he had 515 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1952.

1931 (2): Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens, Centre: 28 G, 23 A, 51 P, 10.5 PS 

In between his first and second Hart win, Morenz had a 40 Goal year (1929-30) and was seventh in Hart Voting.  Last season and this season, he led Montreal to a Stanley Cup Title, and he was named a First Team All-Star, the first time that this accolade was awarded.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

1932 (3): Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens, Centre: 24 G, 25 A, 49 P, 8.2 PS 

Morenz became the first man to win the Hart for the third time, and this would be his last.  Named a First Team All-Star this year, Morenz was a Second Team All-Star the year after, and he later played for Chicago and the New York Rangers before returning to Montreal in 1936.  He only played 30 Games in his return as he broke his leg, only to die from complications from blood clots.  Morenz scored 476 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

1933: Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins, Defense: 8 G, 27 A, 35 P, 9.8 PS   

A Stanley Cup Champion with the Bruins in 1929, Shore was third in Hart voting in both 1927-28 and 1928-29 and was second in 1930-31.  This season, Shore was a First Team All-Star for the third year in a row.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1934: Aurele Joliat, Boston Bruins, Left Wing: 21 G, 15 A, 36 P, 6.5 PS  

This was Joliat’s 12th year in the NHL, and he would play his entire 16 seasons with the Canadiens.  The Left Wing had previously won three Stanley Cups, and was a Second Team All-Star this season as he was two years before.  The season before that, he was a First Team All-Star for what would be the only time.  After his Hart win, Joliat was a Second Team All-Star and he was fifth in Hart voting.  Joliat played until 1938, and he finished his NHL career with 463 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1935 (2): Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins, Defense: 7 G, 26 A, 33 P, 7.7 PS 

Shore was a First Team All-Star for the fourth time and he was a Second Team All-Star the season before.  This would mark the first time a Defenseman repeated as the Hart trophy winner.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1936 (3): Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins, Defense: 3 G, 16 A, 19 P, 6.8 PS 

Shore became the first Defenseman to win three Harts, this was his first back-to-back win.  Shore was a First Team All-Star for the fifth time.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1937: Babe Siebert, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing/Defense: 8 G, 20 A, 28 P, 3.1 PS 

This was the twelfth of fourteen NHL Seasons for the versatile Siebert, who was the first player to win the Hart while playing two positions (Left Wing and Defense).  Siebert was a First Team All-Star as a Boston Bruin the year before, and this was his second of three straight such honors.  Siebert, who had previously won two Stanley Cups (one with the Montreal Maroons and the other with the Rangers), was the second runner-up for the Hart the season after.  Siebert had one more NHL season, and he totaled 294 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1938 (4): Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins, Defense: 3 G, 14 A, 17 P, 6.3 PS 

Shore’s win made him the first player to win the Hart Trophy four times, and this was the third season where he led the NHL in Defensive Point Shares.  Shore, who was a First Team All-Star for the sixth time, captured that honor again the following year where he was fifth in Hart voting and helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup.  Finishing his NHL career with a brief stint with the New York Americans, Shore had 284 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1939: Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens, Left Wing: 24 G, 23 A, 47 P, 5.7 PS   

The Montreal Canadiens became the first team to have five different Hart Trophy winners, with Toe Blake’s lone win in 1939. The Left Wing played his first year with the cross-town Maroons before joining the Canadiens in 1935-36.  In 1937-38, Blake was a Second Team All-Star, and he won the Hart the year after where he led the NHL in scoring (47) and earned the first of what would be three First Team All-Stars.  Blake would later earn another Second Team All-Star and won a Lady Byng the same year.  Blake’s NHL playing career ended in 1948, and he scored 529 Points and won three Stanley Cups as a player.  He would later become the Head Coach of the Habs where he led them to eight more Cups.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1940: Ebbie Goodfellow, Detroit Red Wings, Defense: 11 G, 18 A, 29 P, 6.1 PS 

Goodfellow became the first Red Wing to win the Hart, and the career-Red Wing accomplished this in his eleventh of what would be 14 NHL seasons.  The blueliner was a First Team All-Star for the second (and last) time, and he would score 326 career Points and win two Stanley Cups.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963.

1941:  Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins, Center: 17 G, 47 A, 64 P, 7.4 PS      

Bill Cowley broke in with the St, Louis Eagles as a rookie, but that was the last year of existence for the Eagles, and Cowley was taken by the Boston Bruins in the Dispersal Draft.  Cowley’s skills improved as a Bruin and in 1938-39, he was a First Team All-Star, led the NHL in Assists, and led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win.  This year, Cowley was again a First Team All-Star, and was first in Assists (47) and Points (64).  Cowley again took Boston to a Championship this year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968.

1943 (2): Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins, Center: 27 G, 48 A, 72 P, 6.3 PS 

World War II took away a lot of the NHL talent, but Cowley was not one of them.  This season, Cowley won his third Assists title, was a First Team All-Star for the third time and he led the NHL in Power Play (9) and Game-Winning (6) Goals.  Cowley was a First Team All-Star the next two seasons, with him finishing second in Hart voting (1943-44).  Cowley was in the NHL until 1947, finishing up with the Bruins and he had 549 career Points in the same amount of Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968.

1944:  Babe Pratt, Toronto Maple Leafs, Defense: 17 G, 41 A, 58 P 8.7 PS    

Babe Pratt played his first seven years in the NHL with the New York Rangers, where the Defenseman won a Stanley Cup in 1940. Pratt was traded to the Maple Leafs during the 1942-43 season, and in the World War II depleted NHL, he had his best year ever winning the Hart and earning a First Team All-Star nod.  Pratt was a Second Team All-Star in 1945 and he helped anchor Toronto win the Stanley Cup.  He only played two more years in the NHL, the last as a Boston Bruin and he had 293 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1945: Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens, Center: 26 G, 45 A, 80 P 7.7 PS     

This was the fifth season of Lach’s 14-year career, all of which was as a Montreal Canadian.  Lach’s Hart Trophy coincide with him leading the NHL in Assists and Points, and the year was sandwiched in between Second Team All-Star and Stanley Cup wins.  Lach would win two more Assists Titles, an Art Ross, two First Team All-Stars and another Stanley Cup before he retired in 1954.  He would score 623 Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1946:  Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks, Center: 31 G, 30 A, 67 P 6.7 PS    

It took until this year for a member of the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Hart, which certainly reflects the lack of success Chicago had up to this time.  Bentley was in his fourth NHL season, and he was coming off a Lady Byng win.  This season, Bentley led the NHL in scoring (61) and Power Play Goals (10), and he was a First Team All-Star for the first and only time.  Bentley was a Second Team the year after, and he would later win three Stanley Cups as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1947:  Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing: 31 G, 30 A, 67 P 6.7 PS 

We have another Hab who won the Hart, but for many, this is THE HAB.  Richard practically owned the Province of Quebec and he had already set the 50 Goal in 50 Games mark in 1944-45, as the game’s first 50 Goal Scorer.  He had also already led Montreal to two Stanley Cups, and he was the runner-up for the Hart in that 1944-45 campaign.  This season, Richard led the NHL in Goals again (43), and was a First Team All-Star.  While Richard never won another Hart (really?), from the 1943-44 Season to the 1956-57 Season, he was either a First Team or Second Team All-Star.  He was second in Hart voting twice, was third three times, and he was a four-time Goal Scoring leader.  Richard also won six more Stanley Cups, giving him eight in total and he amassed 544 Goals over his career, which was spent entirely with the Canadiens. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1948:  Buddy O’Connor, New York Rangers, Center: 24 G, 36 A, 60 P 6.3 PS 

Buddy O’Connor played for Montreal in the six years before where he helped them win two Stanley Cups.  1947-48 was the first season for O’Connor in New York who was traded there in the summer, and he put forth the best year of his life.  He posted career highs in Goals (24), Assists (36) and Points (60), and O’Connor. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1949:  Sid Abel, Detroit Red Wings, Center: 28 G, 26 A, 54 P, 7.3 PS   

Abel made his NHL debut in the 1938-39 and in 1941-42, he was named a Second Team All-Star.  The Center helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup the following season, and Abel missed the next two years due to World War II.  Abel returned in 1946, and in his Hart Trophy winning year, he was named a First Team All-Star while leading the NHL in Goals (28) and Power Play Goals (8).  Abel followed that with a second straight First Team All-Pro, a fourth-place finish in Hart voting and helped Detroit win the Cup.  Abel won a third Cup in 1952, and played two final NHL seasons with Chicago, concluding a career with 472 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

1950:  Chuck Rayner, New York Rangers, Goalie: 28-30-11, 12.3 PS      

Chuck Rayner debuted for the New York Americans in 1940, and when the renamed Brooklyn Americans folded, Rayner left the NHL to serve Canada in World War II.  Rayner returned in 1945 as a New York Ranger, but like the Americans with whom he played before, the Rangers were not particularly good.  The Goalie had a three-year streak from 1948-49 to 1950-51, and his Hart win was in the center year of that run.  A knee injury ended his NHL run in 1953, and he while his record was a losing one (138-197-78), he kept many bad teams competitive.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.

1951:  Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins, Center: 22 G, 39 A, 61 P, 7.0 PS  

Playing his entire career with the Boston Bruins, Schmidt debuted in 1936, and would win the scoring title in 1939-40.  Before his Hart win, Schmidt was named a First Team All-Star twice (1940 & 1947) and won two Stanley Cups and had three top five Hart finishes.  In his Hart Trophy win, Schmidt was a First Team All-Star, which he followed by a Second Team All-Star with a fourth place Hart finish.  Schmidt played three more seasons in the NHL, and would have 575 career Points

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

1952:  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 47 G, 39 A, 86 P, 13.1 PS       

This was the sixth NHL season for the legendary Gordie Howe, who had already won a Stanley Cup two years earlier. The Right Wing was a Second Team All-Star in both the 1948-49 and 1949-50 Seasons, the latter of which seeing him win his first Stanley Cup.  Howe was a First Team All-Star the year before, and this was his second one.  Howe was also on his second straight Art Ross Trophy win this year and would take Detroit to another Stanley Cup Title.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1953 (2):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 49 G, 46 A, 95 P, 15.5 PS  

Following Howe’s first Hart Trophy win, the Right Wing won his third straight Art Ross, and in this year, Howe had a career high in Points with 95.  Howe was also on his third straight First Team All-Star and would win the scoring title the year after.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1954:  Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center: 10 G, 42 A, 52 P, 5.3 PS  

Playing his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ted Kenendy was in his 13th of what would be 14 NHL Seasons.  Prior to this year, Kennedy was a five-time Stanley Cup Champion, three-time Second Team All-Star, and he led the NHL in Assists in 1950-51.  Kennedy was a surprise winner for the Hart this year and with all due respect to Kennedy, this award was more the result of a “lifetime achievement award”, as statistically speaking there were better candidates.  Kennedy was also the first Hart winner in the era of post-season All-Star awards not to be named to either a First or Second Team.  He retired after the Hart win, but did briefly come back the year after only to retire again.  Kennedy left the sport with 560 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

1956:  Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens, Center: 47 G, 41 A, 88 P, 13.0 PS        

The year before, Jean Beliveau established himself as a star, winning a First Team All-Star spot.  This season, the Center did it again, also capturing the Art Ross Trophy with 88 Points and leading the NHL in Goals (47).  In Beliveau’s first Hart Trophy win, he would win the first of what would be ten Stanley Cups.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1957 (3):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 44 G, 45 A, 89 P, 11.8 PS  

In between his second and third Hart Trophy, Howe led the Red Wings to two Stanley Cup Championships.  The man who was half-scorer and half/bruiser also had another First and Second Team All-Star in his resume, and this year he secured his fifth First Team All-Star.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1958 (4):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 33 G, 44 A, 77 P, 8.8 PS  

Howe made history in the NHL as the first player regardless of position to be a four-time Hart Trophy winner.  This also coincided with his sixth First Team All-Star Selection.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1959:  Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers, Right Wing: 40 G, 48 A, 88 P, 9.9 PS      

Bathgate was in his seventh NHL campaign, which up until this time had all been with the New York Rangers.  Bathgate was a Second Team All-Star the year before and was also the runner-up for the Hart.  This season he was a First Team All-Star, and his 88 Points would be a career-high. Bathgate was again a First Team All-Star in 1962, and a Second Team All-Star in 1963, but he was traded the year after to Toronto where he won his first and only Stanley Cup.  Bathgate later played for Detroit and Pittsburgh, and a brief return in Vancouver of the WHA.  Overall, Bathgate scored 973 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1960 (5):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 28 G, 45 A, 73 P, 7.4 PS  

Who better than Gordie Howe to become the first Hart Trophy winner of the 1960s?  Howe was a Second Team All-Star in between his fourth and fifth Hart win, and he was the first player to be a five-time Hart Trophy winner.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1961:  Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing: 50 G, 45 A, 95 P, 11.6 PS       

Bernie Geoffrion won the Calder Trophy in 1952, and he was a Second Team All-Star and Art Ross winner in 1954-55.  The Right Wing had to wait four more years before he was a post-season All-Star (Second Team in 1959-60), and this season he was finally a First Team All-Star, winning his second Art Ross and first and only Hart. Geoffrion also led the NHL in Goals (50), the second team he accomplished that feat.  A six-time Stanley Cup winner, Geoffrion played until 1968, with his last two years playing for the New York Rangers. Geoffrion scored 822 Points over 883 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1962:  Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie: 42-12-14 Record, 2.37 GAA, 15.6 PS        

Jacques Plante made history as the first Goalie in history to wear a facemask but this player was more than just a man who had a footnote in hockey history.  Plante was in his tenth season in Montreal where he won his sixth Vezina Trophy, and this was his third First Team All-Star win.  Already a six-time Stanley Cup Champion, Plante tied his career-high 42 Wins, and he won his sixth GAA Titles (2.37).  His 15.6 Goalie Point Shares, also tied his previous best. Plante played one more year with Montreal and two more with the Rangers for two years before he retired in 1965. Three years later, he came out of retirement with the St. Louis Blues where he won another Vezina.  He joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1971, where at age 42, he was a Second Team All-Star.  Plante finished off his career with stints with Boston and Edmonton in the WHA.  He had 437 career Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

1963 (6):  Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing: 38 G, 48 A, 86 P, 9.5 PS  

In what would be the sixth and final Hart trophy win for Gordie Howe, the legend secured had a pair of Second Team All-Star Selections in between his fifth and sixth win.  Howe won the Art Ross for the final time in his career and he would later be named a First Team All Star four more times and a Second Team All-Star three more times.  Following his last Hart win, Howe had five more Hart Trophy top-five finishes.  He retired in 1971, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall the year after, but he would join his sons later in the World Hockey Association, where the HOFer was twice and WHA First Team All-Star.  Howe’s last year happened in 1980 when his Hartford Whalers were now in the NHL.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1964 (2):  Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens, Center: 28 G, 50 A, 78 P, 8.7 PS  

In between Beliveau’s first and second Hart win, the Center would be named to four more First Team All-Stars, a Second Team All-Star and would help lead Montreal to four more Stanley Cups.  This season, Beliveau was a Second Team All-Star (Stan Mikita was the First Team Center), and even though he was getting older (32), he had a lot left to offer.  He played until 1971, winning five more Stanley Cups, earning two more Second Team All-Star selections, and won the Conn Smythe in 1965.  Beliveau played his entire career with Montreal and scored 1,219 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1965:  Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks, Left Wing: 39 G, 32 A, 71 P, 9.0 PS           

The “Golden Jet” had better seasons before he won his first Hart Trophy, but this doesn’t take away from what was another good year by Bobby Hull.  Prior to this win, Hull led the NHL in Goals three times, won the Art Ross twice, and this was his fourth First Team All-Star Selection. Hill also won the Lady Byng this year for the first and only time in his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1966 (2):  Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks, Left Wing: 54 G, 43 A, 97 P, 10.6 PS  

Hull went to back-to-back in Hart Trophy wins, and he would again lead the NHL in Goals (54) and won his third and final Art Ross with a 97 Point year.  Hull was a First Team All-Star again, and he would be a ten-time First Team All-Star overall.  Hull also finished in the top five in Hart voting five other times.  In 1972, Hull stunned the hockey world when he signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, and he was a three-time First Team All-Star in that league.  He was still with the Jets when they merged with the NHL, and he finished off that year with a brief stint as a Hartford Whaler.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1967:  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks, Center: 35 G, 62 A, 97 P, 10.2 PS            

Stan Mikita helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961 and this was his ninth year of what would be a 22-year run in hockey. Mikita had already been a First Team All-Star four times, and an Art Ross winner twice, and he repeated both of those honors while adding the Lady Byng.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1968 (2):  Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks, Center: 40 G, 47 A, 87 P, 10.0 PS  

Like he did the year before, Mikita won the Hart, Art Ross and Lady Byng, marking the first time that a player did that back-to-back.  This was the last season that Mikita was named a First Team All-Star, but he would be a Second Team All-Star in 1970.  Mikita played until 1980 in a career spent entirely with Chicago accumulating 1,467 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1969:  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, Center: 49 G, 77 A, 126 P, 15.1 PS  

Phil Esposito’s 1968-69 season gave fits to the Chicago Blackhawks.  Why? Because they traded away the first man to score 100 Points in the NHL two years before.  Esposito did not just become the first player to get three digits, he shattered it with 126 Points!  He set a then record in Assists (77), and he also led the NHL in Plus/Minus (55).  Esposito was a Second Team All-Star the year before, was a First Team All-Star this season, and he added the Art Ross to that trophy case.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1970:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defense: 33 G, 87 A, 120 P, 19.5 PS  

There have been Defenseman who won the Hart before Bobby Orr, but none of them revolutionized the position.  We will go one step further.  Orr rewrote the game of hockey.  In his fourth pro year, Orr won his third Norris Trophy, and he was the first Defenseman to score 100 Points, and the first to win the Art Ross.  He would lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup win, while also being named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.  As spectacular as this year was, the best was yet to come.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1971 (2):  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defense: 37 G, 102 A, 139 P, 22.8 PS  

Bobby Orr and the Bruins did not repeat as Stanley Cup champions, nor did he win the Art Ross, despite having 139 Points, a career-high, and the all-time record for a Defenseman.  What he did do was become the first player to have over 100 Assists (102), and he remains one of two players to do so (the other is Wayne Gretzky). Orr also became the first player to have at least 100 in Plus/Minus, and his +124 is the best all-time.  He would also set another record with 22.8 Point Shares, again making him the first player to have 20 in that category and it is also a number that has yet to be matched.  The more we look at this year, the more our jaws drop to the floor.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1972 (3):  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defense: 37 G, 80 A, 117 P, 20.1 PS  

Orr pulled the “three-peat” with the Hart, and of course, he won the Norris Trophy. This was also the third year for Orr where he led the NHL in Assists, and he would do so again in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Orr led the Bruins to another Stanley Cup, where he also grabbed his second Conn Smythe.  Over the next three seasons, Orr won his sixth, seventh and eighth Norris Trophy, and he was third for the Hart in all of those years.  He would win his second Art Ross trophy in 1974-75, and to date he was the first, last and only blueliner to win that honor.  A knee injury derailed his career, and he only scored 55 Points over his final three years in hockey, the latter two being in a Blackhawks uniform.  He was fast-tracked into the Hall, and there will never be another Defenseman like him again.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1973:  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center: 37 G, 67 A, 104 P, 10.3 PS        

For the first time, an expansion team had a player win the Hart when Bobby Clarke took it for the first of three times.  The Center, who had won the Bill Masterton Award the year before, was the Second Team All-Star behind Phil Esposito, but bested the Bruin as much of Philadelphia’s success this season was led by Clarke, but the best was coming for Philadelphia and the “Broad Street Bullies”

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1974 (2):  Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins, Center: 68 G, 77 A, 145 P, 17.0 PS  

This was Esposito’s second Hart Trophy and had it not been for his teammate, Bobby Orr, he would have easily won at least another. In between his two Hart wins, Esposito won two Stanley Cups, three Art Ross Trophies and he set what seemed at the time to be an unreachable mark of 76 Goals in a season.  That year was arguably better than this year, where Esposito won his fifth Art Ross Trophy, was a First Team All-Star for the sixth time, and was also the winner of the Lester B. Pearson.  Esposito was also the NHL’s Goal leader for the sixth consecutive season, and this was also the fifth straight year a Bruin won the Hart.  The charismatic Center was a Second Team All-Star the year after, and he was then traded to the New York Rangers where he played until he retired in 1981.  Esposito accumulated 717 Goals and 1,590 Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975 (2):  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center: 27 G, 89 A, 116 P, 11.2 PS  

In between Clarke’s first and second Hart win, Clarke was a Second Team All-Star, but more importantly his Philadelphia Flyers made history as the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. Clarke would take them to a second Cup this year, while earning First Team All-Star accolades for the first time. The man with the most famous missing front teeth led the NHL in Assists for the first time with 89.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1976 (3):  Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers, Center: 30 G, 89 A, 119 P, 11.7 PS  

The Flyers did not win a third Stanley Cup, but Clarke repeated many of his regular season honors from the season before. The Center was a First Team All-Star, again led the NHL in Assists with 89, and he had a career-high in points with 119. Also, for the first time, he was first in the league in Plus/Minus with +83.  Clarke was the runner-up for the Hart the year after, and he played the entirety of his career with Philadelphia, retiring in 1984 with 1,210 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

1977:  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing: 56 G, 80 A, 136 P, 15.7 PS  

The Montreal Canadiens was in year two of their four-year dynasty in winning Stanley Cups, and it was Gut Lafleur who was their offensive leader.  Lafleur, who also won his second straight Lester B. Pearson Award, captured his second Art Ross and third First Team All-Star Selection.  This would be the only season where he won the Conn Smythe as well as leading the league in Assists (80).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1978 (2): Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing: 60 G, 72 A, 132 P, 15.8 PS  

Lafleur was named a First Team All-Star for the fourth of what would be six straight selections, and would also mark his third and final Art Ross and Lester B. Pearson Award.  The Right Wing played with Montreal until he was forced to retire in the 1984-85 Season.  After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he came out of retirement for three seasons, one with the New York Rangers and two with Quebec.  He would retire for good in 1991, leaving the NHL with 1,353 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1979:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders, Center: 47 G, 87 A, 134 P, 13.6 PS      

Bryan Trottier became the first player in Islanders history to win the Hart Trophy, and you could say it was the siren of what was to come for the franchise.  Winning the Calder three years before, Trottier was a First Team All-Star for the second straight year, though this would be the last time he would be one. Nevertheless, Trottier would help lead the Islanders to the four Stanley Cups (1980-83) and was a Second Team All-Star twice.  Trottier would later aid the Pittsburgh Penguins win their first two Stanley Cups. He would have 1,425 career Points in the NHL.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1980:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 51 G, 86 A, 137 P, 12.6 PS          

Buckle up.  This is going to take a while as we begin to look at the most prolific Hart Trophy winner ever, Wayne Gretzky.  Along with three other WHA teams, the Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL, and with them was Wayne Gretzky, who had only played one year of professional hockey but was already “The Great One”.  In his first NHL year, Gretzky led the NHL in Assists (86) and was a Second Team All-Star behind Marcel Dionne, who beat him for the Art Ross (they tied in Points, but Dionne had more Goals).  Gretzky also won the Lady Byng this year.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1981 (2):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 51 G, 86 A, 137 P, 14.3 PS  

Gretzky might have had stiff competition in Marcel Dionne for the Hart in 1980, but this year he erased all doubt.  The Center built on his numbers from the previous year, and he became the second player to accumulate over 100 Assists, with 109, a new record.  He missed out on the Art Ross last year, but not this season, winning his first, and along with it, his first First Team All-Star Selection.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1982 (3):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 92 G, 120 A, 212 P, 19.7 PS  

92 Goals.  When Phil Esposito lit the lamp 76 times, that record seemed unbreakable, but this year, Gretzky had 92 Goals and hit the 50 Goal mark after only 39 Games! Not only the Gretzky set new records in Goal scoring, he broke his own Assists mark (120), and broke the 200 Point plain with his personal best 212.  Gretzky also for the first time was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+80).  This was Gretzky’s second Art Ross and First Team All-Star, but for the first time he won the Lester B. Pearson Award, meaning his peers could no longer deny his talent.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1983 (4):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 71 G, 125 A, 196 P, 18.0 PS  

Gretzky was again an offensive juggernaut, and for the third year in a row, he broke the single-season Assists mark.  He repeated the awards he won last year, with an Art Ross, Lester B. Pearson and First Team All-Star, but this year he led the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup appearance.  They lost to the New York Islanders, but we knew was set to come.  Notably, Gretzky became the first player to win the Hart four years in a row.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1984 (5):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 87 G, 118 A, 205 P, 19.6 PS  

Imagine having a season where you score 87 Goals, 118 Assists and 205 Points, and none of those are personal highs.  Gretzky was just that good.  This was Gretzky’s fifth straight Hart (becoming the first to do have five straight), and he also won his fourth Art Ross and First Team All-Star, and he captured his third Lester B. Pearson Award.  The coup de gras for Gretzky was leading Edmonton to their first Stanley Cup win.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1985 (6):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 73 G, 135 A, 208 P, 19.6 PS  

Gretzky matched his idol’s (Gordie Howe) mark in Hart wins, but unlike Howe, Gretzky did it in six consecutive years.  This would be the fourth straight year the Gretzky led the NHL in Goals, and he also set a career-high in Plus/Minus with +100.  In regards to his trophy case, Gretzky repeated as the Art Ross winner, Lester B. Pearson winner and First Team All-Star, but this time he added a new award, the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the Oilers won their second Stanley Cup.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1986 (7):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 52 G, 163 A, 215 P, 17.0 PS  

Seven straight years.  Seven Hart Trophies.  A new record for obtaining Hockey’s greatest individual honor.  As what was typical for Gretzky, he set another record this season with the most Assists and Points in a season, and does it look like this record has any chance of being broken. Gretzky once again was a First Team All-Star and won the Art Ross again.  Sadly, for the Oilers, they were upset along the way in the playoff by the Calgary Flames.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1987 (8):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 62 G, 121 A, 183 P, 17.6 PS  

Gretzky did it again with an unprecedented eighth Hart Trophy, and he did so while collecting yet another First Team All-Star and Art Ross while leading the NHL in Goals for the fifth and final time.  Gretzky took the Oilers to their third Stanley Cup win, and he would also win the Lester B. Pearson for the fifth and final time.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1988:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 70 G, 98 A, 168 P, 16.2 PS  

How do you break an eight-year streak of Hart Trophies by a legend?  By inserting a legend.  Mario Lemieux brought the Pittsburgh Penguins their first Hart Trophy winner, and playing at Center, he did the unthinkable by unseating Gretzky as the First Team All-Star.  Lemieux led the NHL in Goals for the first time, and this year he also notched his first Art Ross and Lester B. Pearson Award.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1989 (9):  Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings, Center: 54 G, 114 A, 168 P, 14.1 PS  

Gretzky did not win the Hart the year before, which turned out to be the last one in an Oilers uniform.  He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and this was his first year playing in California, where in his ninth (and final) Hart, he also became the first player to win the Hart for two different teams.  This season, Gretzky was a Second Team All-Star (behind Mario Lemieux).  Gretzky went on to win three more Art Ross Trophies, one more First Team All-Star, four more Second Team All-Stars and four Lady Byngs.  After a brief stint with St. Louis in 1996 and three final years with the Rangers, Gretzky retired as the all-time leader in Goals (894), Assists (1,963) and Points (2,857).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1990:  Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 45 G, 84 A, 129 P, 11.3 PS  

The Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, which meant that Mark Messier would become the Oilers’ leader. Messier did what Gretzky couldn’t without the other…win the Stanley Cup.  Messier’s 129 Points were a career-high, and he was named a First Team All-Star this year.  What Messier this season should be celebrated a lot more than it is.

1991:  Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues, Right Wing: 86 G, 45 A, 131 P, 15.4 PS     

Brett Hull led the NHL in Goals for three seasons in a row, and in all three of them, he had at least 70.  This was Hull’s highwater mark, and he would also secure the Lester B. Pearson Award.  A three-time First Team All-Star, Hull later won a Stanley Cup as a Dallas Star in 1999 and a Detroit Red Wing in 2002.  Retiring in 2006, Hull had 527 career Goals.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1992 (2):  Mark Messier, New York Rangers, Center: 35 G, 72 A, 107 P, 9.9 PS  

Messier followed his former teammate, Wayne Gretzky, as a Hart Trophy winner for two different teams.  Messier was now the leader of the Rangers, and he was also the winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award and a First Team All-Star.  Messier’s leadership would take the Rangers to a 1994 Stanley Cup, and he was so good at that role, that the National Hockey League would create a “Mark Messier Leadership Award”.   When he retired, Messier scored 1,887 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

1993 (2):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 69 G, 91 A, 160 P, 16.2 PS  

Before we get to what Lemieux accomplished this season, Lemieux probably should have won the Hart in Gretzky’s last Hart win. The French Canadian was the First Team All-Star, and he was one Point shy of 200 with 85 Goals.  Nevertheless, Lemieux went on to win the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup, and injuries prevented him from full seasons, which kept the Hart from his grabs.  This year, he only played 60 Games, but he won the Art Ross with 160 Points and led the NHL in Plus/Minus (+55).  Lemieux would also win the Lester B. Pearson, was a First Team All-Star and he was the Bill Masterton Award winner.  Why did he only play 60 Games?  Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, yet came back to finish the season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1994: Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings, Center: 56 G, 64 A, 120 P, 13.8 PS       

Making history as the first non-Canadian and first European to win the Hart, Sergei Fedorov was in his fourth NHL season and this was best statistical season by far.  Fedorov was a First Team All-Star, Lester B. Pearson and Frank J. Selke winner this year, and he would later win three Stanley Cups for Detroit.  The Russian later won another Selke Trophy and he would later play for Anaheim, Columbus and Washington.  Fedorov scored 1,179 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

1995:  Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers, Center: 29 G, 41 A, 70 P, 8.8 PS  

The Philadelphia Flyers gave an awful lot to get Eric Lindros, and while it might not have been worth it, it was still a Hart winner.  Lindros was a First Team All-Star this year as well as Lester B. Pearson Award winner in this strike-shortened year.  Lindros also won his only Art Ross this year, and he was a 1.14 PPG player over his 13 NHL Seasons.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

1996 (3):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 69 G, 91 A, 160 P, 16.2 PS  

Before we get to what Lemieux accomplished this season, Lemieux probably should have won the Hart in Gretzky’s last Hart win. The French Canadian was the First Team All-Star, and he was one Point shy of 200 with 85 Goals.  Nevertheless, Lemieux went on to win the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup, and injuries prevented him from full seasons, which kept the Hart from his grabs.  This year, he only played 60 Games, but he won the Art Ross with 160 Points and led the NHL in Plus/Minus (+55).  Lemieux would also win the Lester B. Pearson, was a First Team All-Star and he was the Bill Masterton Award winner.  Why did he only play 60 Games?  Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, yet came back to finish the season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1997:  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres, Goalie 37-20-10 Record P, 17.2 GPS            

Dominik Hasek was already considered one of the best Goalies in Hockey, but this year he was elevated to the best player in the world. This season, Hasek won his third Vezina Trophy and earned his third First Team All-Star, and he was also named the Lester B. Pearson Award winner. Hasek was also first in Save Percentage for the fourth year in the row.  He also made history as the first Czech player to win the Hart.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

1998 (2):  Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres, Goalie 33-23-13 Record P, 18.6 GPS  

In terms of accolades, Hasek repeated his efforts of 1997 with a Hart, Lester B. Pearson, a Vezina and a First Team All-Star, and he again led the NHL in Save Percentage.  Hasek would later win two more Vezina Trophies.  In 1999, Hasek took Buffalo on his back and carried them to a Stanley Cup Final.  The Czech Goalie grew frustrated and asked for a trade, which he got when he was sent to Detroit.  He would win two Stanley Cups with Detroit and then played in Europe, retiring in 2011.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2000:  Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues, Defense 14 G, 48 A, 62 P, 14.8 PS  

Pronger debuted in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers in 1994, and two years later he was a St. Louis Blue and, on his way, to becoming a star.  A Second Team All-Star in 1997-98, and two years later he won the Hart and Norris and was a First Team All-Star for the first and only time.  Pronger was a Second Team All-Star again in 2003-04, and he joined the Edmonton Oilers as a Free Agent, but he was unhappy there and looked for a trade.  He was dealt to Anaheim and helped them win a Stanley Cup and was a Second Team All-Star in 2007.  Pronger played until 2012, with his last three years coming as a Flyer.  He would accumulate 698 career Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

2001:  Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche, Center 54 G, 64 A, 118 P, 15.9 PS  

Sakic was the first Nordiques/Avalanche player to win the Hart, which he did in his 13thseason.  Sakic had a career-high 54 Goals, was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+45) and he was also the winner of the Lady Byng and the Lester B. Pearson Award.  This year, Sakic and the Avs won the Stanley Cup, which was their second, having won it in 1996.  The Center was also named a First Team All-Star, and would be again in two of the next three years.  Sakic played his entire career with Quebec/Colorado, retiring in 2009 with 1,641 Points.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

2003:  Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche, Center 29 G, 77 A, 106 P, 13.6 PS  

A Calder winner in 1995, Forsberg had already won two Stanley Cups and was already twice a First Team All-Star.  This year, Forsberg was a First Team All-Star for the third and final time, and he was the league-leader in Assists (77), Points (106) and Plus/Minus (+52).  He would later play for Philadelphia, Nashville and Colorado before retiring in 2011 with 885 Points in 708 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

2004:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning, Right Wing 38 G, 56 A, 94 P, 13.2 PS  

It was a breakout campaign for St. Louis who was in his sixth season, and fourth in Tampa Bay after playing for Calgary in seasons one and two.  St. Louis became the first Lightning player to win the Hart, and he also won the Art Ross, was a First Team All-Star and was the NHL leader in Plus/Minus (+35).  St. Louis led Tampa to the Stanley Cup that year. After this year, St. Louis was a Second Team All-Star four times, won another Art Ross and would also win three Lady Byng Trophies.  He played until 2015, after a year and a half with the Rangers.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Center: 29 G, 83 A, 113 P, 13.5 PS, 2010

Along with his twin brother, Daniel, Henrik Sedin played his entire 17-year career with the Vancouver Canucks, with his best season coming right in the middle of it.  Sedin led the NHL in Assists (83) and won his first Art Ross Trophy while earning First Team All-Star honors.  Sedin was a First Team All-Star the year later, and he finished with 1,070 Points.

Inducted in 2022.

The following are the players who have won the Hart Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1942:  Tom Anderson, Brooklyn Americans, Defense: 12 G, 29 A, 41 P, 6.0 PS 1942       

The New York Americans were rebranded the Brooklyn Americans for the 1941-42 Season, and the team was on life support. This would be the final year of existence for the Americans, and they produced an unlikely Hart Trophy winner in Defenseman, Tom Anderson.  If Anderson’s numbers seem high for a blueliner, he was also playing at Left Wing. Anderson first made the NHL in 1934 with the Red Wings, but he was with the Americans since 1935.  Following the folding of the Americans, Anderson returned to Canada (Calgary) to play semi-pro.  Anderson is not only the first player to win the Hart who is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame (we feel safe to say that he won’t ever) but was the first to win the Hart who never played in the NHL in the year after he won it.

Eligible since 1946.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1954:  Al Rollins, Chicago Blackhawks, Goalie: 12-43-7 Record 3.21 GAA, 4.3 PS 

Rollins was a Stanley Cup Champion with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 1952.  The Goalie joined a bad team, and in this season, he led the NHL in Losses (47) but was the only reason that Chicago was even worse.

Eligible since 1956.  Ranked #102 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2002:  Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie: 30-24-10 Record 2.11 GAA, 17.4 PS 

This was easily Jose Theodore’s best year in hockey, as not only did the Goalie win the Hart and the Vezina, it was the only time over his career where he finished in the top ten for those awards.  Interesting enough, despite winning both the Vezina and Hart, he was a Second Team All-Star at Goalie behind Patrick Roy.  Theodore played until 2013, and he was also a member of Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Florida.

Eligible since 2016.  Ranked #186 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the Hart 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:

The following are the players who have won the Hart Trophy who are still active.

1999:  Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins, Right Wing 44 G, 83 A, 127 P, 14.6 PS  

This was Jagr’s ninth season in the NHL, and they were all spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Winning his third Art Ross Trophy, Jagr had career highs in Assists (83) and Points (127), and he was also the Lester B. Pearson winner, an honor he won twice more.  The two-time Stanley Cup champion would later play for Washington, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, Florida and Calgary.  Still playing in Europe, Jagr scored 1,921 Points in the NHL.

50 Years Old, Playing in Europe.

Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins & San Jose Sharks, Centre: 29 G, 96 A, 125 P, 13.3 PS 2006

In his seventh NHL Season, the Boston Bruins felt that Joe Thornton was not the leader they needed, and Thornton believed that the Bruins brass were not committed to winning.  23 Games into the 2005-06 season, Thornton was traded to San Jose, and he finished the season winning the Art Ross and leading the NHL in Assists.  Named a First Team All-Star this year, Thornton had two Second Team All-Star years after this one.

43 Years Old, Free Agent.

2007:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 36 G, 84 A, 120 P, 13.3 PS

“Sid the Kid” did not win the Calder, as that went to his longtime rival, Alex Ovechkin.  Crosby would however beat him to a Hart win, which he collected in his sophomore season. Crosby would also win his first Art Ross, was named a First Team All-Star, and his peers named him their MVP, when he won the Lester B. Pearson Award.  There was a lot more to come for Crosby.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2008:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing: 65 G, 47 A, 112 P, 17.2 PS 

Ovechkin won his first Hart Trophy in his third season, which was also the first by a Washington Capital.  A First Team All-Star in all of his seasons to date, Ovechkin also won the Lester B. Pearson Award, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Rocket Richard Award for his 65 Goals.  

37 Years OldPlaying for the Washington Capitals.

2009 (2):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing: 56 G, 54 A, 110 P, 14.5 PS 

The Russian Center repeated most of his honors in his back-to-back Hart win.  Ovechkin repeated as the Rocket Richard winner, and was a First Team All-Star for his fourth consecutive season.  He would also win the Lester B. Pearson Award.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Washington Capitals.

2011:  Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks, Right Wing: 50 G, 48 A, 98 P, 13.3 PS 2011

Perry won the Stanley Cup in his second season, and this, his sixth season in hockey was by far his best.  Perry won the Hart, was a First Team All-Star, the Rocket Richard winner, and the first ever Duck to win the MVP.  The Right Wing was a First Team All-Star again in 2014, and he played with the Ducks until 2019 where he joined the Dallas Stars afterward.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2012:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 50 G, 59 A, 109 P, 13.4 PS 2012

The first three seasons for Evgeni Malkin was nothing short of stunning.  Malkin won the Calder in 2006-07, was a First Team All-Star in all three years, and was the Art Ross Winner in 2008-09, while winning the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe. Malkin’s two years after was riddled with injuries, but he made up for it in 2011-12 with a second Art Ross, and his first Hart.  Malkin was a First Team All-Star for the fourth time, and he also won the Ted Lindsay Award.  He would go on to win two more Cups with Pittsburgh.

36 Years OldPlaying for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2013 (3):  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing: 32 G, 24 A, 56 P, 8.0 PS 

When Ovechkin won his second Hart Trophy in 2009, he was already established as the top goal scorer in hockey.  In his third Hart win for years later, nothing had changed.  Ovechkin led the NHL in Goals for the third time, and would over the next three years.  In 2018, he achieved the ultimate goal and led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup.

37 Years OldPlaying for the Washington Capitals.

2014 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center: 36 G, 84 A, 120 P, 13.3 PS

It was a seven-year gap between Crosby’s first and second Hart Trophy, but he accomplished a lot in that span.  Crosby won a Stanley Cup in 2009, and added another First Team All-Star (2013), a Second Team All-Star (2010), a Mark Messier Leadership Award (2010), a Rocket Richard Trophy (2009), and his second Lester B. Pearson (2013), which was now named the Ted Lindsay Award.  This season he collected another Art Ross, a Ted Lindsay, and a First Team All-Star Selection.  Crosby later won two more Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2015:  Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie: 44-16-5 Record, 1.96 GAA, 16.2 PS

This was the eighth NHL season for Price, who as of this writing has only played for the Montreal Canadiens.  Price led the NHL in Wins (44), Save Percentage (.933) and Goals Against Average (1.96), and he not only won the Hart, he also captured the Vezina, William M. Jennings, Ted Lindsay Award, and he was also a First Team All-Star. This is the only year that Price was a post-season All-Star.

35 Years OldPlaying for the Montreal Canadiens.

2016:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing: 46 G, 60 A, 106 P, 15.0 PS

This was Kane’s ninth season in the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawk had already accomplished so much before his Hart win.  Kane won the Calder, and was already a two-time First Team All-Star, and a three-time Stanley Cup winner.  This season, Kane was a First Team All-Star for a third time, and also won his first Art Ross and Ted Lindsay Award.  Kane has been a First Team All-Star for a fourth time and earned a Second Team All-Star.  He is already a member of the 1,000 Point club.

33 Years OldPlaying for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2017:  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 30 G, 70 A, 100 P, 12.8 PS

McDavid was in his second season, where he not only won the Hart, but was the winner of the Art Ross and the Ted Lindsay.  This season also brought in the first of three First Team All-Stars and while he was not the Hart winner in 2017-18, he won the Ted Lindsay and Art Ross that year.

26 Years OldPlaying for the Edmonton Oilers.

2018:  Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing: 39 G, 54 A, 93 P, 12.2 PS

It could be argued that Hall’s Hart Trophy was a bit of a surprise as he while he was a very good player in his first seven seasons, a Hart was not pegged for him by many pundits.  This season he was also a First Team All-Star, and he brought the Devils their first Hart Trophy.

30 Years OldPlaying for the Boston Bruins.

2019:  Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, Right Wing: 41 G, 87 A, 128 P, 14.6 PS

Kucherov was in his sixth NHL season (all with Tampa) and he would win not only the Hart but his first Art Ross and Ted Lindsay Award.  Kucherov was a First Team All-Star for the Second straight time and the year after he was a Second Team All-Star and led the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2020.

29 Years OldPlaying for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2020:  Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 43 G, 67 A, 110 P, 12.8 PS

Draisaitl’s Hart Trophy win marked the first time that a German player won the most coveted individual award in Hockey.  Draisaitl was in his sixth season in hockey (all with Edmonton) and this year he also won the Ted Lindsay, Art Ross, and was a First Team All-Star.

27 Years OldPlaying for the Edmonton Oilers.

2021:  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, Center: 30 G, 70 A, 100 P, 12.8 PS

McDavid won his second Hart and Ted Lindsay Award this year and also won his fourth Art Ross, with his current career-high of 123 Points.  The Center also was first in the NHL in Assists (72), another personal best.  

26 Years OldPlaying for the Edmonton Oilers.

2022:  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center: 60 G, 46 A, 106 P, 13.8 PS

Scoring five goals in his first ever NHL game in 2016, Auston Matthews was destined to win the Hart Trophy one year, and six years later, it came to fruition.  Matthews led the NHL in Goals for the second straight year, also finished atop the leaderboard in Even Strength Goals (44) for the fourth time.  It takes a special player to unseat Connor McDavid as a First Team All-Star, and that is what Matthews was in 2021-22.  

25 Years OldPlaying for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the exception of Taylor Hall, the recent winners should all get inducted, most of them on the first ballot.  It is a safe bet that when you win the Hart, you will earn a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.