Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, shown Dec. 19, 2016, becomes only the second player in the 97-year history of the Hart Trophy to win it unanimously. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |
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June 29 (UPI) -- Edmonton Oilers star forward Connor McDavid on Tuesday won the Hart Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the NHL, becoming just the second unanimous winner of the award in its 97-year history.
McDavid placed first on all 100 ballots from the Professional Hockey Writers Association to join Wayne Gretzky as unanimous Hart Trophy winners. Gretzky won the award unanimously in the 1981-82 season, also as a member of the Oilers.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews garnered 69 second-place votes and finished second in voting to McDavid. Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon ended in third.
McDavid also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL Players Association's most outstanding player. Matthews and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby were the other finalists for the Lindsay Award.
"My teammates are everything," McDavid said. "I really wouldn't be anywhere without them. ... We had a special group this year and obviously we didn't do what we wanted to do, but still so fun to be a part of and get Edmonton and the fans of Edmonton excited again for what's to come.
"Obviously not possible without [my teammates] and so lucky to be part of a great group."
McDavid, who captured his first Hart Trophy in the 2016-17 campaign, led the NHL with 105 points (33 goals, 72 assists) in only 56 games this season. He is the second Oilers player to win the award multiple times, joining Gretzky, who won it in eight consecutive seasons.
In other awards voting Tuesday, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury won his first Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie. It was the first time he had been nominated for the honor after 17 seasons in the league with the Penguins and Golden Knights.
Fleury was named on 30 of the 31 ballots and earned 14 first-place votes from the NHL's general managers, who vote on the award. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning finished second, while the Avalanche's Philipp Grubauer was third.
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defender, beating out Cale Makar of the Avalanche and Victor Hedman of the Lightning. Fox received 40 first-place selections, and Makar had 31.
Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov topped Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson and Carolina Hurricanes goalie Alex Nedeljkovic for Rookie of the Year honors. Kaprizov recorded 51 points in 55 games, including 27 goals, to receive the Calder Trophy.