(Las Vegas) Nathan MacKinnon finally got his hands on the Hart Trophy.
After coming very close in 2018 and 2020, the Colorado Avalanche center was voted the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Most Valuable Player for the 2023-2024 season on Thursday during the awards ceremony. annual league award.
MacKinnon also won the Ted Lindsay Trophy, awarded to the best player in the league according to his peers, following a vote by the NHL Players’ Association.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman, while Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard was selected for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year at the Fontainebleau.
MacKinnon finished second to Taylor Hall, then with the New Jersey Devils, for the Hart Trophy six years ago. He was runner-up again – this time behind Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl – in 2020. He also finished third in voting in 2021.
He was asked about the importance of winning the Hart in September 2022.
“There was a time when I cared a lot about it,” he told reporters during the NHL and NHLPA player media tour. But I realize I can’t trust how “Jimmy from Philadelphia” or anyone else votes. »
MacKinnon edged out Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Oilers star Connor McDavid in the voting. He beat out Kucherov and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews in the race for the Ted-Lindsay award.
Hellebuyck, who won his first Vezina in 2020 after a season shortened by COVID-19, was chosen over Thatcher Demko of the Canucks and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers.
Hughes won his first Norris over two previous winners – Cale Makar of the Avalanche and Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators.
Bedard got the Calder at the expense of Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and Devils Luke Hughes.
The NHL announced the winners of its other trophies during the playoffs. Rick Tocchet of the Canucks received the Jack Adams Trophy as head coach of the year, while Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov won the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin won the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for good sportsmanship and good conduct on the ice. He also won it in 2021.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram received the Bill Masterton Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba is the recipient of the Mark Messier Trophy for his leadership. His New York Islanders counterpart, Anders Lee, won the King Clancy Trophy for his leadership on and off the ice, as well as his contributions to the community.
Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars is the winner of the Jim Gregory Trophy, awarded to the general manager of the year.
The Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke, Lady Byng and Masterton trophies are awarded by the Professional Hockey Journalists Association. The Jack-Adams is awarded by the broadcasters, while the winner of the Vezina is selected by the league’s general managers.
