Today in Hockey History (February 9th)

1924 - Frank Nighbor received the first NHL Hart Trophy. The award, that judges the most valuable player to his team, was the first individual award in the NHL.   In 1925 he would also be the first player to win the Lady Byng trophy for gentlemanly play.  Frank won 4 Stanley cup trophies with the original Ottawa Senators in 1920, 1921, 1923 and 1927.

Frank Nighbor looks at his display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in the early 1960s

Today in Hockey History (August 7th)

August 7th 1992

The Buffalo Sabres aquired goaltender Dominik Hasek from the Chicago Blackhawks.  He would go on to win back to back Hart Trophies as NHL MVP in 1997 and 1998 along with 6 Vezina Trophies as the top NHL goaltender 

(1994,'95,'97,'98,'99 and 2001).

2013-2014 NHL AWARDS

Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) wins the Hart Trophy as NHL regular season MVP, the Art Ross Trophy as the league leading scorer and the Ted Lindsay Award (MVP voted on by the players)

Joe Sakic 2000-2001 NHL Awards

Joe Sakic winner of the 2000/2001 Hart Trophy as NHL regular season MVP, Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL's Most Gentlemanly player and the Stanley Cup.   

Sakic captained the 2000/2001 Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup victory over the New Jersey Devils.

1967 NHL Triple Crown Winner - Stan Mikita

Stan Mikita in 1967 led the NHL in points with 97 (17 more than teammate and 2nd leading scorer Bobby Hull), he had 35 goals (2nd to Hull's 52) and 62 assist which was the best in the league.
Mikita took home the Art Ross Trophy for scoring and the Hart Trophy as NHL regular season MVP and also added the Lady Byng Trophy (excellence in sportsmanship) for the 1966-67 season.  

1960-61 Art Ross Trophy

The winner of the 1960-61 Hart Trophy as League MVP

and Art Ross Trophy for NHL regular season scoring leader

Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion

95 points - 50 goals, 45 assists

He was the second player to score 50 goals in a season

1996 NHL Awards

Winner of the 1996 Hart Trophy as NHL regular season MVP and winner of the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's league scorer in 1996. 

Mario Lemieux

 Pittsburgh Penguins.

161 points, 69 goals, 92 assist

Happy Birthday Bobby Orr

1970 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

In the photo Bobby poses with the 1970 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Norris Trophy as the NHL's Top Defenseman of 1970.

1984 NHL Awards

Wayne Grezky with the 1984 Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer (205 points), the Stanley Cup (Edmonton Oilers) and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

Today in NHL History (February 27th)

Today, February 27th, in 2007 the Edmonton Oilers retired the jersey of former Captain Mark Messier.

Here is the video tribute shown on tv and in the arena and after that a video of behind the scenes with Mark and his family and getting ready for his night.

1973-74 NHL Scoring Leader

Phil Esposito would win the Art Ross Trophy as the league leader scorer in 1973-74 with 68 goals and 77 asssist for 145 points. He would also take home the Hart Trophy as the NHL's regular season MVP.

Bill Goldsworthy would finish the season with 48 goals and 26 assist for 74 points.

1972 NHL Awards

Phil Esposito and Bobby Clarke admire Bobby Hull's Hart Trophy as regular season MVP for 1972.

Hull also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP, the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman and of course the Stanley Cup as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Eposito would win the Art Ross Trophy as the leagues leading scorer in the regular season with 66 goals, 67 assist and 133 points.

1979 NHL AWARDS

Bryan Trottier (NY Islanders) winner of the 1979 Hart Trophy (League MVP) and Art Ross Trophy (Leading Scorer) stands beside Denis Potvin (NY Islanders) winner of the 1979 Norris Trophy (Best NHL Defenseman).

We Love Hockey

1987 NHL Awards

Wayne Gretzky in the 1980s was the big winner.  Besides winning the Stanley Cup and the Campbell Conference Trophy as captain of the Edmonton Oilers he took home:

The Hart Trophy/NHL MVP

(his 8th consecutive Hart Trophy)

The Art Ross Trophy/Leading Scorer for 1986-87

62 Goals, 121 assist, 183 points

The Lester B. Pearson, now Ted Lindsay Trophy/MVP as voted by the players

NHL Plus/Minus Award

+70

and if it existed then, the 

Rocket Richard Trophy/Leading Goal Scorer

62 goals

2013 Hart Trophy

Winner of the 2013 Hart Trophy

(NHL MVP)

Alexander Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

(3rd Hart Trophy - 2008, 2009,2013)

Goals - 32   (1st)

Assists - 24  (35th)

Points - 56   (3rd)