The NHL announced on Tuesday that this year’s Hart Trophy, given to the league’s most valuable player, is going into the hands of Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Auston Matthews. The 24-year-old also picked up Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player by the NHL Players Association.
Matthews scored league-leading 60 goals and added 46 assists during the regular season to help Maple Leafs finish second in Atlantic Division. He added four goals and five assists in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against reigning champions Tampa Bay Lightning, but that wasn’t enough for Toronto to avoid elimination.
“I think it’s a tremendous honor to wear the blue and white, represent the city of Toronto, and wear the Maple Leaf every night,” said Matthews at the NHL Awards ceremony. “Every time you get your name etched in history, with an organization like that, it’s something I don’t take for granted.”
The league also handed out all other major awards for 2021-22 during the ceremony. The Norris Trophy, honoring the league’s best defenseman, went to Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar. He edged out Predators’ Roman Josi, who received more first-place votes but picked up fewer points overall.
The New York Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin, who finished third in MVP voting, received Vezina Trophy as NHL’s best goalie.
