Hart Memorial Trophy Nominees Announced

The National Hockey League announced the nominees for the Hart Memorial Trophy awarded to the player voted to be most valuable to his team.

The three players who will find out if they get to take the Hart home on June 22 at the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hardrock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, are Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Crosby, vying for his third Hart Trophy, was third in the league with 85 points in 80 games, which includes a league best 58 in the 44 games since January 1. He had at least one point in 20 of his final 21 games and was the only player in the league with multiple 10 game point streaks. 

Crosby won the award in 2007 and 2014 and can become the ninth player to complete the hat trick and win it three times.

Benn played in all 82 games for the Stars during the 2015-2016 campaign and was second in scoring with 89 points and third in goals with 41, both personal bests for him. The Stars captain helped lead Dallas to a Central Division title and the best record in the Western Conference this past season. Their first division title since 2005-2006 and first conference since 2002-2003. 

Benn is the first Stars player to score 40 or more goals, since Mike Modano was able to do it in 1993-1994. He is first Stars player to ever be nominated for a Hart Trophy. Benn is also a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.  

Kane had a league leading 106 points, becoming the first United States born player to win the Art Ross Trophy. He had 46 goals which was good enough for second best in the league, as he helped the Blackhawks to their eighth consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance. 

Kane’s 26-game point streak, from October 17 to December 13, set a Blackhawks team record, as well as being the longest for an American born player and the longest by any player since 1992-1993.

Kane becomes the first Chicago player to be nominated for the Hart since Eddie Belfour in 1991. The last Blackhawk to win the Hart Trophy was Stan Mikita in 1968. 

 Kane is also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award as well.  

The award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, was named in honor of Canadian doctor, David Hart. Dr. Hart donated the original trophy to the NHL. Dr. Hart was the father of former Montreal Candiens coach and general manager, Cecil Hart. The first Hart Trophy was presented following the conclusion of the 1923-1924 season, to Frank neighbor of the original Ottawa Senators.

The original Hart Trophy has been retired and is currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, since 1960. Every eligible player, with the exception of Tommy Anderson, Al Rollins and Eric Lindros, that has won the award has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.