NHL Players With Most MVP Awards in Career

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Hockey player for Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky in action in January 1984.
(AP Photo)
BetMGM @BETMGM Jan 16, 2023, 8:40 AM
  • 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

RANKPLAYERMVP AWARDS
1Wayne Gretzky9
2Gordie Howe6
3Eddie Shore4
4Alex Ovechkin3
Mario Lemieux3
Bobby Clarke3
Bobby Orr3
Howie Morenz3
5Connor McDavid2
Sidney Crosby2
Dominik Hasek2
Mark Messier2
Guy Lafleur2
Phil Esposito2
Stan Mikita2
Bobby Hull2
Jean Beliveau2
Bill Cowley2
Nels Stewart2

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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Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.