Toronto’s Matthews wins Hart Trophy
Toronto’s TAMPA, FLA. —
Auston Matthews won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player Tuesday night, becoming only the third Maple Leaf to win the award and t h e first since Ted Kennedy in 1954-55.
The 24-year-old forward received 119 first-place votes in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and finished well ahead of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers for the honor presented during the NHL Awards Show.
“It’s pretty special,” Matthews said, though he conceded there were some bittersweet feelings about accepting the award in Tampa, where the twotime defending champion Lightning and Colorado Avalanche will meet in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.
“There is some angst, wishing you were still playing,” Matthews said.
Shesterkin claimed the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender. Colorado’s Cale Maker took the Norris Trophy, presented to the league’s best defenseman, and Detroit’s Moritz Seider claimed the Calder Trophy as the top rookie.
Matthews became the first player to score 60 goals since Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos did it 10 years ago.