Oilers’ McDavid wins Hart Trophy, 3 other awards to top season with 153 points

Connor McDavid already had two trophies to take home.

Then he added another. And another.

The sublimely skilled, lightning-fast captain of the Edmonton Oilers dominated the NHL regular season from start to finish.

He did the same at Monday’s awards ceremony in Nashville.

McDavid won his third Hart Trophy as NHL MVP on a 153-point campaign – the most in the NHL since Mario Lemieux’s 161 in 1995-96.

The 26-year-old kicked off the evening by taking home his fourth Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player, voted by his peers.

“It has not escaped my attention what these trophies mean in the grand scheme of our game,” he said. “It’s not the motivating factor, but it’s special nonetheless. I know the five-year-old would be angry if I took it for granted.

“I don’t. It’s special.”

McDavid had already secured his fifth Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer – 25 points ahead of second-place teammate Leon Draisaitl – along with his first Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy on the heels of a league-best 64-goal season .

The top pick in the 2015 draft, who also led the league in assists with 89, previously won the Hart in 2017 and 2021, and the Ted Lindsay in 2017, 2018 and 2021.

“I really feel like it’s the most prestigious award given out here in terms of hockey awards,” McDavid said of the Ted Lindsay. “To make sure your co-workers recognize you…they’re the ones you go into battle with every night.

“It’s really special that they choose you.”

Sharks’ Karlsson, Bruins trio wins big

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson took home his third Norris Trophy, and first since 2015, as the league’s top blueliner, while Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark secured Vezina Trophy honors as the best netminder for the first time .

“It means a lot,” said Karlsson of his award tying a snare to an unlikely comeback season after a string of injuries.

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won a sixth Selke Trophy, and second in as many years, as the best defensive forward.

Boston head coach Jim Montgomery was honored with the Jack Adams Award after leading the Bruins to the best regular season in NHL history before losing in the first round of the playoffs.

“The actual award, to me, is a reflection of the historically great season we’ve had,” said Montgomery, who climbed the coaching mountain after problems with alcohol forced him out of the NHL in 2019.

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, the franchise’s first-ever draft pick, received the Calder Trophy nomination as rookie of the year.

Anze Kopitar, captain of the Los Angeles Kings, won the Lady Byng for the second time – which goes to the player who best combines sportsmanship, manners and ability.

Flames’ Backlund wins King Clancy Trophy

Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund won the King Clancy Trophy, which goes to the player who best exemplifies leadership skills and community service.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. Letang suffered a stroke for the second time in his career and mourned the death of his father within four weeks of this season.

When the Penguins all attended his father’s funeral in Montreal, that turned a switch to get back out there.

“I activated something in me,” Letang recalls. “My wife said, ‘You have to go back to the rink… and try to forget what’s happened in the past few months and try to get back on track.’

“Listen, he’s going to win a Stanley Cup”

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

He won the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy twice early in his career, but took a long time to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Now he has two rings.

“I’ve talked to him before,” Stamkos said of McDavid. “Listen, he’s going to win a Stanley Cup. It’s just a matter of time. He’s got that desire and that drive.”

McDavid has already turned his attention to next season – and the hunt for that title.

“I’m sure it will be talked about a lot from here until that happens,” he said.

“It’s a long way off.”