Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon emerged as the major victor at Thursday’s NHL awards show, securing both the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players Association.
MacKinnon, instrumental in leading the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship two years ago, had previously been a finalist for the Hart four times and for the Lindsay twice but had not won either award until now.
“Every player I grew up idolizing has their name on these things,” MacKinnon said. “To be a part of that company is surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in and it’s a special thing.”
Earlier in the evening, three other major awards were announced.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard was named the league’s top rookie, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy. Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets won the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie, and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the top defenseman.
MacKinnon recorded a career-high 140 points this season, starting with a 35-game point streak at home, second only to Wayne Gretzky’s record. He ended the season with 54 goals and 89 assists.
Gretzky, who has won the Hart eight times and the Lindsay five times, along with Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, congratulated MacKinnon. Crosby has won the Hart twice and the Lindsay three times.
“That’s always pretty cool to see Wayne Gretzky pop up on your phone,” MacKinnon said. “Seeing his name like 100 times on (the Hart Trophy).”
MacKinnon surpassed Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers for the Hart, and Kucherov and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Lindsay.
MacKinnon garnered 137 first-place votes and 1,740 points in the Hart voting by the media. Kucherov came in second with 50 first-place votes and 1,269 points.
“I think once you get there, you really want to win it,” MacKinnon said. “A couple of times I was nominated, it was never even close I was going to win it. I just wanted to enjoy my week here, and I didn’t know if it was going to happen.”
Bedard, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick by the Blackhawks, led all rookies with 61 points, including 22 goals and 39 assists, despite missing 14 games due to a broken jaw.
Bedard, who turns 19 on July 17, is too young to drink legally to celebrate winning the trophy. He noted the relative quiet compared to last year when he was the clear top draft pick.
“It’s been more quiet this summer, which has been pretty nice,” Bedard said.
Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils were the other Calder contenders.
Hellebuyck, who also won the Vezina in 2020, allowed an average of 2.39 goals per game, maintained a .921 save percentage, and recorded five shutouts. Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks were the other finalists.
Quinn Hughes, winning the Norris Trophy for the first time, led all defensemen with 92 points and 75 assists, and he also scored 17 goals. Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators and Cale Makar of the Avalanche were the other contenders.
Hughes has two brothers, Jack and Luke, also playing in the NHL.
“I probably love watching my brothers play most, but you’re next on that list,” Hughes said of the other finalists.
Earlier awards included:
● Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov won the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward for the second time in four years.
●Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, his second win after 2021.
● Rick Tocchet received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year, leading the Vancouver Canucks to the Pacific Division title.
● Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill was named the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year.
