2009-2010 Winner: Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets)The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented to the National Hockey League in 1923 by Dr. David Hart. Dr. Hart was the father of Cecil Hart, the former coach and manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Cecil Hart coached the Canadiens between 1926-27 and 1938-39, winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1930 and 1931.
The trophy is presented to the most valuable player in the National Hockey League during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The initial winner was Frank Nighbor of the Ottawa Senators, awarded the Hart at the conclusion of the 1923-24 season. Wayne Gretzky has collected the most Harts-nine in total, with eight from his days as an Edmonton Oiler and one as a King in Los Angeles.
2010-2011 Winner: Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes)
2011-2012 Winner: Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes)
2012-2013 Winner: Alex Ovechkin (Detroit Red Wings)
2013-2014 Winner: Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)
Past voting results:
2010: Rick Nash wins with a whopping 14 votes, after a 94 point Selke-worthy season. Joe Thornton (SJ, 3 votes) and Jarome Iginla (PIT, 1 vote) finished 2nd and 3rd.
2011: Shane Doan wins with 10 votes, after 46 goals, 84 points, a +17 and 209 hits. Jarome Iginla (PIT, 2 votes ) and Thomas Vanek (BUF, 1 vote) were 2nd and 3rd.
2012: Eric Staal continues Canadian domination with 82 points, +31 and 177 hits, earning 8 first-place votes and 31 points. Milan Lucic (BOS, 5 1st votes, 25 points) and Rick Nash (CBJ, 3 1st votes and 18 points) were 2nd and 3rd.
2013: Alex Ovechkin picks up his 3rd Hart with an Art Ross-worthy 53G, 116 P, +29 and 190 hits, earning 5 first-place votes and 22 points. Ilya Kovalchuk (NJ, 3 1st votes and 13 points) finishes second (again, after losing the Art Ross to a tiebreak), and Norris winner Petter Granberg (FLA, 3 1st votes and 9 points) trails after not one person ranks him second or third.
2014: Jonathan Toews earns his first Hart Trophy with a dominant offensive season (48G, 110P, +11), a full 40 points ahead of his closest teammate. He earned a whopping 8 first-place votes and 24 points. Cam Fowler (TB, 2 1sts and 12 points) and Alex Ovechkin (DET, 1 1st and 6 points) trailed behind.