14 Aug
The NHL has two very distinguished and prestigious awards, Maurice Richard Trophy and Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, honoring two best players ever to play the game. The Maurice Richards Trophy is an annual award given to the NHL’s top goal scorer by the NHL Board of Governors. Only regular season play is counted to determine the winner. Officially introduced on January 24, 1999 it honors Montreal Canadians’ first ever player in the league history to score 50 goals in 50 games, 50 goals during the season and 500 goals during the career. The 2013 award winner is Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin. The Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone introduced during the 2006-07 season and awarded to a “player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” Ice hockey fans, clubs and the NHL personnel get to name the player and the final three and the winner is selected by Messier. Ottawa Senators’ Daniel Alfredsson won the 2013 award.
There is a renewed push to introduce a Wayne Gretzky Trophy based on his immeasurable contribution to the game. He was the most goal scorer in the NHL history.