Oilers’ young captain has his Hart in the right place
LAS VEGAS — Connor McDavid has won his first Hart Trophy — but it almost certainly won’t be his last.
The 20-year-old Edmonton Oilers captain claimed the award as the NHL’s most valuable player on Wednesday night at the league’s glitzy postseason awards show at T-Mobile Arena, new home of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
McDavid is the third-youngest player to win the Hart. Only current Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and retired Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky claimed the award as teenagers.
McDavid also won the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s most outstanding performer, in a vote by his fellow players.
The honors capped a remarkable sophomore season for the speedy center, who won the scoring title and led the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup playoffs after an 11-year absence.
With 147 first-place votes, the former No 1 pick easily beat out fellow finalists Crosby (14) and Sergey Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets (7).
“I’m so proud to be in Edmonton,” McDavid said. “I’m so proud to be an Oiler, and so proud to play with the guys.”
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron won the Selke Trophy for the fourth time as the NHL’s best defensive forward, and Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks won his first Norris Trophy as top defenseman.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews easily took the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, while Bobrovsky won his second Vezina Trophy as top goalie.
Nashville’s David Poile was named the NHL’s top executive after the Predators’ first Western Conference title and Columbus’ John Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach.
Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Anderson left the Senators during the season to support his wife, Nicholle, in her fight against throat cancer, but returned to become Ottawa’s career-victories leader.
Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames won the Byng Trophy for sportsmanlike play.
Bobrovsky got 25 of 30 firstplace votes for the Vezina to outdistance Braden Holtby and Carey Price after leading the league with a 2.06 goalsagainst average and a .931 save percentage.
Bergeron also won the Selke in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The two-way star beat out Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler and joined Bob Gainey as the only players to win the Selke four times.
Burns beat out Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson for the Norris in a duel of two 70-point scorers. But Burns doesn’t think offensive numbers alone determine the Norris winner.
“That’s the way I play the game,” Burns said. “For me to be successful, to help the team, I’ve got to help create offense and get into the plays. If I’m not doing that, if I’m not skating and creating things, then I’m not really doing much out there.”
Matthews was the no-brainer choice for the Calder after his 69-point rookie season for the Leafs, who hadn’t had a Calder winner since Brit Selby in 1966.
The Arizona-raised center was grateful to accept the award in Las Vegas, where he hopes more desert kids will be inspired by the Golden Knights.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Matthews said. “For myself, when the Coyotes moved (to Phoenix), that’s how I got into hockey. I think the Golden Knights will definitely grow the game.”
The league also announced the results of the Golden Knights’ expansion draft for the NHL’s 31st franchise.
The 30-player list is topped by three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who was left unprotected by the Pittsburgh Penguins.