McDavid captures Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award after 153-point campaign
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award on Monday on the heels of an otherworldly 2022-23 season.
The Hart is given out to the most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, while the Ted Lindsay is awarded to the most outstanding player as judged by the players' association.
McDavid edged David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers for the Hart. Pastrnak and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson were the other nominees for the Ted Lindsay.
This marks McDavid's third MVP and fourth Ted Lindsay in his eight-year career. He was one first-place vote shy of winning the Hart unanimously.
McDavid earned his fifth Art Ross this season as the league's top point producer (153), and he also nabbed his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard for leading the goal-scoring race (64). The 26-year-old was the first player to break the 150-point barrier since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. In addition, McDavid's 2022-23 point total ranks 15th in league history.
Wayne Gretzky (nine times), Lemieux (four times), and Steve Yzerman (155 in 1988-89) are the only players to have ever produced more than McDavid's output this past season.
McDavid's 64 goals matched Mike Bossy's 1981-82 mark for 25th all time. He became the 22nd player in league history to hit the 60-goal plateau and the fourth to do so since 1996, joining Auston Matthews (2022), Steven Stamkos (2012), and Alexander Ovechkin (2008).
The Oilers captain also led all skaters this season in goals above replacement (31.7) and wins above replacement (5.4), according to Evolving Hockey.
McDavid's exploits led Edmonton to 109 points, good for second in the Western Conference and the franchise's highest total since 1985-86. Playoff totals aren't factored into MVP voting, but McDavid carried his dominance into the spring with 20 points in 12 postseason games before the Oilers were eliminated in Round 2.
McDavid has said on numerous occasions that a Stanley Cup would mean much more to him than further individual awards.
"When you're young and you're coming into the league, you're so excited to play in the NHL and to win a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross," McDavid told NHL.com's Derek Van Diest before earning any hardware Monday.
"It's exciting when you're younger, and it still is, but at this point in my career, it's not the be-all-end-all."