- The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 98 times to 61 different players.
- Wayne Gretzky won the award nine times during his career, the most of any player.
- 19 players have won the Hart Memorial Trophy multiple times.
Every year, the Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player in the National Hockey League, as voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
As of the 2022-23 season, the trophy has been awarded 98 times to 61 different players, and 19 players have won it multiple times. Wayne Gretzky won the trophy nine times during his career, the most of any player in NHL history.
NHL Players With Most MVP Awards in Career
| RANK | PLAYER | MVP AWARDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 9 |
| 2 | Gordie Howe | 6 |
| 3 | Eddie Shore | 4 |
| 4 | Alex Ovechkin | 3 |
| Mario Lemieux | 3 | |
| Bobby Clarke | 3 | |
| Bobby Orr | 3 | |
| Howie Morenz | 3 | |
| 5 | Connor McDavid | 2 |
| Sidney Crosby | 2 | |
| Dominik Hasek | 2 | |
| Mark Messier | 2 | |
| Guy Lafleur | 2 | |
| Phil Esposito | 2 | |
| Stan Mikita | 2 | |
| Bobby Hull | 2 | |
| Jean Beliveau | 2 | |
| Bill Cowley | 2 | |
| Nels Stewart | 2 |
Has a Defenseman Ever Won the Hart Memorial Trophy?
There are eight defensemen who have won the Hart Memorial Trophy since its inception. Herb Gardiner (1926-27), Eddie Shore (1932-33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38), Babe Siebert (1936-37), Ebbie Goodfellow (1939-40), Tommy Anderson (1941-42), Babe Pratt (1943-44), Bobby Orr (1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72), and Chris Pronger (1999-2000) were all been named MVP during their careers.
The defenseman with the most trophy victories is Shore (4) and the most recent is Pronger (1999-2000).
Why Is the NHL MVP Award Called the Hart Memorial Trophy?
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally the Hart Trophy, is named in honor of Dr. David Hart, who donated the original trophy to the NHL. Dr. Hart was the father of Cecil Hart, a former coach and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.
The original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960. After that date, the NHL began presenting a new trophy, dubbed the Hart Memorial Trophy, in its place.
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