List of NHL Hart Trophy Winners

The Hart Memorial Trophy or simply the Hart Trophy is an annual award awarded to the most valuable player in the National Hockey League (NHL). This prestigious award is named after Dr. David Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former coach and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens (1926-1932, 1936-1938). The winner for Hart Memorial Trophy is decided by a poll of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA).

The award is given based on votes that considers a player's overall performance and their impact on their respective teams throughout the regular season. The award is also one of the oldest individual awards in North American professional sports, starting in the 1923-1924 season. The Trophy has been awarded 99 times to 61 different players since its beginning in 1923–24.

Hart Memorial Trophy History

The first player to receive the Hart Memorial Trophy was Frank Nighbor of the original Ottawa Senators who held the trophy after the 1923-1924 season. The Hart Memorial Trophy is named to honor Dr. David Hart, father of Cecil Hart, head coach and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Dr. Hart played an important role in establishing this prestigious award.

The original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960. Following that, the NHL introduced a new trophy known as the Hart Memorial Trophy. The decision to retire the original Hart Trophy was to preserve its historical significance and to make a new version of the award. The retirement of the original trophy and introduction of the new Hart Memorial Trophy allowed the NHL to continue the tradition of recognizing the most valuable player of the regular season while acknowledging the historical importance of the original trophy. The original trophy is placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame museum for public viewing.

Players from the Montreal Canadiens have been the most successful in winning the award (17 times) followed by players from the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers (13 times each). Regarding individual honors, Wayne Gretzky has won this award nine times, including eight consecutive times. Additionally, Gretzky and Mark Messier are the only players to win the Hart Memorial Trophy for more than one team. While only a select few defenseman and goaltenders have won the award. The most recent winner of this trophy is Connor McDavid, who won the award for the third time in his career in 2023.

Hart Memorial Trophy Winners throughout the years

All Hart Memorial Trophy Winners (from 2023-1924) show below in a descending order:

• 2023: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

• 2022: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

• 2021: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

• 2020: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

• 2019: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

• 2018: Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils

• 2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

• 2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

• 2015: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

• 2014: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 2013: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

• 2012: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 2011: Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks

• 2010: Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

• 2009: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

• 2008: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

• 2007: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 2006: Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins/San Jose Sharks

• 2004: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

• 2003: Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche

• 2002: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens

• 2001: Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche

• 2000: Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues

• 1999: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1998: Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres

• 1997: Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres

• 1996: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1995: Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1994: Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings

• 1993: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1992: Mark Messier, New York Rangers

• 1991: Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues

• 1990: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers

• 1989: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings

• 1988: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1987: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1986: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1984: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1983: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1982: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1981: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1980: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1979: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders

• 1978: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens

• 1977: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens

• 1976: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1975: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1974: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins

• 1973: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1972: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

• 1971: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

• 1970: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

• 1969: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins

• 1968: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1967: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1966: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1965: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1964: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens

• 1963: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1962: Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens

• 1961: Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens

• 1960: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1959: Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers

• 1958: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1957: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1956: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens

• 1955: Ted Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs

• 1954: Al Rollins, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1953: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1952: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

• 1951: Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins

• 1950: Chuck Rayner, New York Rangers

• 1949: Sid Abel, Detroit Red Wings

• 1948: Buddy O'Connor, New York Rangers

• 1947: Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens

• 1946: Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks

• 1945: Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens

• 1944: Babe Pratt, Toronto Maple Leafs

• 1943: Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins

• 1942: Tommy Anderson, Brooklyn Americans

• 1941: Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins

• 1940: Ebbie Goodfellow, Detroit Red Wings

• 1939: Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens

• 1938: Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

• 1937: Babe Siebert, Montreal Canadiens

• 1936: Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

• 1935: Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

• 1934: Aurele Joliat, Montreal Canadiens

• 1933: Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins

• 1932: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens

• 1931: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens

• 1930: Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons

• 1929: Roy Worters, New York Americans

• 1928: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens

• 1927: Herb Gardiner, Montreal Canadiens

• 1926: Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons

• 1925: Billy Burch, Hamilton Tigers

• 1924: Frank Nighbor, Ottawa Senators

Players With The Most Hart Memorial Trophies

Many players have established their name in the NHL by claiming the prestigious Hart Memorial Trophy. One of the legendary players of the 80s Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most wins at 9 which is followed by another legendary player, Gordie Howe, who has 6 wins to his name.

Shown below are the players with the most wins for the Hart Memorial Trophy: