The Ice Hockey Hall of Fame is a small select club where only the very best of the best are invited. Established in 1943 and housed in Toronto, being enshrined into the Hall of Fame will ensure that a player’s legacy will be protected for eternity. 

Whereas some players will wait several years before they are inducted, there are several players who are sure fire locks to be inducted as soon as their playing careers end.

With the current NHL awash with talent, there are several stars who can look forward to being invited into hockey’s most exclusive club. Here is our list of those who if they retired today, would be guaranteed their place in hockey immortality. 

Alex Ovechkin

One of the NHL’s greatest imports, Alex Ovechkin has long been regarded as a legend of the sport. Now 38, Ovechkin still yearns for more glory on the ice and will be one of the oldest players on the rink when the new season kicks off. 

Ever since entering the NHL as a rookie ‘The Great 8’ has become a major force in front of goal. Trailing only the great Wayne Gretzky when it comes to the NHL’s list of all time scorers, Ovechkin trails the ‘Great One’ by 42 goals and there are hopes he could surpass Gretzky’s total this season. 

A Stanley Cup winner and the winner of nine Rocket Richard trophies, the Russian has surpassed the 50 goal mark in nine different seasons. A legend of the game, Ovechkin will always be remembered as one of the sharpest shooters that the game has ever seen. 

Sidney Crosby

When it comes to determining who the greatest modern NHL player is, many fans from all over the world will point towards Sidney Crosby. 

The greatest player to have ever played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby has won it all. A three time Stanley Cup winner, Crosby is only one of 30 men who is apart of the prestigious Triple Gold Club having won Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold and the Stanley Cup.

With his place in the Hall of Fame already assured, not only will Crosby be forever revered in Pittsburgh, but his talents will be forever immortalised when he is inducted into hockey’s most special of clubs.

Connor McDavid 

Despite being one of the youngest men on this list and still entering his prime as a player, Connor McDavid looks on course to become one of the NHL’s all time greats. 

On track to become an Edmonton great, according to most betting sites in Canada, Edmonton will start the new NHL season as one of the favorites for Stanley Cup glory and a large reason behind that is because of the presence of McDavid.

Having led the Oilers to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, it was heartbreaking for both him and Oilers fans that they would go onto lose to the Florida Panthers in Game 7.

The most recent winner of the Conn Smythe trophy, McDavid will hope to cement his legacy even further by guiding the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup title since 1990.

Evgeni Malkin

Despite Sidney Crosby being the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the career he has without the efforts of Evgeni Malkin. 

At times overshadowed by his teammate, Malkin has forged a career that will rank him amongst the greatest hockey players who have ever played the game. 

A winner of both the Conn Smythe Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy, the three Stanley Cups that the Penguins have been able to win since Malkin joined the team wouldn’t have been possible without his all-star abilities. 

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane is one of the best hockey players to have ever hailed from America. 

A three time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kane has already cemented his legacy as a Blackhawks great. 

A three time all-star, Kane’s glittering career has seen him win the Conn Smythe Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy.

Kane has also proved it on the international stage, helping guide America to a Winter Olympics silver medal back in 2010, he was also named the MVP of the World Championships back in 2018. 

Now with the Detroit Red Wings and with his playing days due to end in the next few years, Kane will hope to help the Red Wings to a first Stanley Cup since 2008.

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 23^rd), 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 23^rd), 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.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the second year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first one.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 40 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 80 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  80 Cup Points:  43 Games, 35 G, 44 A, 79 P, +2, 9.0 PS.  (#1 on last update)

There are a lot of stories at the near-halfway mark of the 2022/23 NHL Season, with one of the top ones being Connor McDavid running away with every major statistical category.  Last year’s Notinhalloffame NHL Cup winner is extending his lead and he is currently the league-leader in Goals (35), Assists (44), Points (79) and Point Shares (9.0).  

2. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 74 Cup Points:  40 Games, 32 G, 26 A, 58 P, +20, 7.9 PS. (#3 on last update)

The Bruins are one of the NHL’s top teams and Pastrnak is their top scorer.  The Bruins star is averaging 1.39 Points per Game, slightly more than his First Team All-Star campaign in 2019-20.

3 (Tie). Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche. 68 Cup Points:  39 Games, 27 G, 23 A, 50 P, +6, 6.1 PS. (#3 on last update)

Rantanen remains at #3, and is also in the top ten in Goals and Points, while leading the NHL in Even Strength Goals (22).  The Avs star has 1.28 PPG, the highest of his career.

3 (Tie). Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars.  68 Cup Points:  42 Games, 29 G, 29 A, 58 P, +23, 8.1 PS. (#6 on last update)

Robertson is on pace to shatter last season’s 41-38-79 output, and the fourth-year player is now the undeniable top dog of the Stars lineup.  He is currently tied for the league-lead in Even Strength Goals (22). 

5. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils.  63 Cup Points, 41 Games, 26 G, 23 A, 49 P, +14, 6.4 PS. (not on last update)

Hughes explodes back into the top ten, ranked higher in Cup Point standings than he has ever been.  He is seven Points away from tying last year’s number.

6. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning, 62 Cup Points:  39 Games, 23 G, 17 A, 40 P, +2, 4.7 PS. (#2 on last update)

Point drops large from #2, and though he is having a good year, and is a point-per-game player, there are still quite a few players with higher point tallies than the Tampa Center.  Saying that, Point has been the most clutch player for the Lightning, and a reason we love this process!

7. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs.  60 Cup Points:  41 Games, 20 G, 27 A, 47 P, +17, 5.5 PS.  (#7 on last update)

Matthews is the defending Hart winner but he is not on the PPG pace he was last year, though when Toronto wins, the odds are that he was the biggest reason why.  Is this season a disappointment so far for Matthews?

8 (Tie). Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild.  58 Cup Points:  40 Games, 24 G, 25 A, 49 P, -1, 5.6 PS. (#8 on last update)

Kaprizov is easily Minnesota’s best player and if he stays healthy should have his second straight 100-Point year.

8 (Tie). Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins.  58 Cup Points:  26 Games, 22-1-1, 1.87 GAA, .938 Save Percentage, 6.9 PS.  (#8 on last update)

Ullmark is the highest ranked Goalie, and his ascendence to likely All-Star has been colossal for Boston’s rise to the top portion of the standings.  Ullmark leads all Goalies in Wins, GAA, Save Percentage and Goalie Point Shares.

10 (Tie). Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 57 Cup Points:  40 Games, 21 G, 27 A, 48 P, +1, 5.3 PS.  (Not on last update)

Crosby is back where he belongs in the top ten, and he has never had a year where he averaged less than a Point per Game.

10 (Tie). Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 57 Cup Points:  39 Games, 29 G, 19 A, 48 P, 0, 5.9 PS.  (#9 on last update)

Ovechkin is closing on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time Goal record, and is tied currently with Sidney Crosby.  How perfect is that?

Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson fell off the top ten.

Our next update will occur when the first player breaks 90 Cup Points.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the second year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first one.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 40 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 70 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers.  70 Cup Points:  38 Games, 32 G, 40 A, 72 P, +5, 8.4 PS.  (#1 on last update)

There are a lot of stories at the near-halfway mark of the 2022/23 NHL Season, with one of the top ones being Connor McDavid running away with every major statistical category.  Last year’s Notinhalloffame NHL Cup winner is extending his lead and he is currently the league-leader in Goals (32), Assists (40), Points (72) and Point Shares (8.4), and was recently on a 17-Game Point streak.  

2. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning, 62 Cup Points:  35 Games, 21 G, 16 A, 37 P, +6, 4.5 PS. (#3 on last update)

Point is an intriguing figure at #2, and though he is having a good year, and is a point-per-game player, there are quite a few players with higher point tallies than Point.  Saying that, Point has been the most clutch player for the Lightning, who are on a five-game win streak.  This is why we love the NIHOF Cups!

3 (Tie). David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 61 Cup Points:  36 Games, 25 G, 25 A, 50 P, +13, 6.4 PS. (#9 on last update)

The Bruins are one of the NHL’s top teams and Pastrnak is their top scorer.  The Bruins star is averaging 1.39 Points per Game, slightly more than his First Team All-Star campaign in 2019-20.

3 (Tie). Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche. 61 Cup Points:  35 Games, 24 G, 21 A, 45 P, +6, 5.6 PS. (not on last update)

Rantanen rockets into the top ten, and is also in the top ten in Goals and Points, while leading the NHL in Even Strength Goals (20).  The Avs star has 1.29 PPG, the highest of his career.

5. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs.  60 Cup Points:  37 Games, 18 G, 24 A, 42 P, +17, 5.0 PS.  (#2 on last update)

Matthews is the defending Hart winner but he is not on the PPG pace he was last year, though when Toronto wins, the odds are that he was the biggest reason why.  Is this season is a disappointment so far for Matthews?

6 (Tie). Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars.  54 Cup Points:  38 Games, 25 G, 29 A, 54 P, +19, 7.3 PS. (#6 on last update)

Robertson is on pace to shatter last season’s 41-38-79 output, and the fourth-year player is now the undeniable top dog of the Stars lineup.  He is currently third overall in Points.

6 (Tie). Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild.  54 Cup Points:  36 Games, 20 G, 25 A, 45 P, -2, 5.0 PS. (#8 on last update)

Kaprizov is easily Minnesota’s best player and if he stays healthy should have his second straight 100-Point year.

8. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks.  52 Cup Points, 34 Games, 17 G, 27 A, 44 P, +11, 4.9 PS. (#9 on last update)

The 2019 Calder winner looks to be on his way to his best statistical year in the NHL.

9 (Tie). Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins.  51 Cup Points:  24 Games, 20-1-1, 1.90 GAA, .938 Save Percentage, 6.3 PS.  (#9 on last update)

Ullmark is the highest ranked Goalie, and his ascendence to likely All-Star has been colossal for Boston’s rise to the top portion of the standings.  Ullmark leads all Goalies in Wins, GAA, Save Percentage and Goalie Point Shares.

9 (Tie). Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 51 Cup Points:  39 Games, 26 G, 19 A, 45 P, 0, 5.6 PS.  (Not on last update)

Ovechkin breaks into the top ten, and is closing on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time Goal record.  We once thought that was untouchable.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisail (surprisingly, as he is currently second to his teammate, Connor McDavid in Points) and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby have fallen off the top ten.

Our next update will occur when the first player breaks 80 Cup Points.

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 13^thseason.  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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 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 22^ndi n Norris Trophy voting as a rookie and was 16^th 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 15^th 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.

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 12^th 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 13^th 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 13^thseason.  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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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 Old, Playing 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.