The Hart Memorial Trophy defines individual excellence in the NHL. Its winners often shape how each season is remembered.
From gritty leaders to elite scorers and standout goalies, the award tracks how value to a team has changed over time. This period covers eras of dominance, close races, and seasons that still spark debate.
The NHL MVP winners from 1990 to 2025 include stars such as Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, and 2025 winner Connor Hellebuyck. Their seasons highlight what mattered most in each year, whether scoring, leadership, or game-changing defense in net.
This article moves through the full winners list, key player profiles, and major trends that connect these seasons. It also looks at how MVP standards evolved and why certain years stand out as turning points in league history.
NHL MVP Award Winners List 1990-2025
From 1990 through 2025, the NHL MVP award recognized players with the strongest impact on their teams during the regular season. The list highlights elite scorers, dominant goalies, and rare seasons where one player clearly stood above the rest.
Several winners repeated, while a few eras featured long gaps without a clear superstar. The Hart Memorial Trophy goes to the player judged most valuable to his team.
The league awarded it every season since 1990, except for the 2005 lockout year. Below is a snapshot of key seasons, based on the official NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winners list:
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mark Messier | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2000 | Chris Pronger | St. Louis Blues |
| 2010 | Henrik Sedin | Vancouver Canucks |
| 2015 | Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2020 | Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2025 | Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets |
The full period includes elite centers, wingers, and a small number of goaltenders. Voters focus on leadership, scoring impact, and team success.
Most Recent MVP Recipients
Recent winners reflect a modern NHL built on speed, scoring depth, and advanced playmaking. From 2021 to 2025, only a few names dominated the vote.
According to ESPN’s breakdown of recent NHL MVP winners, Connor McDavid won multiple times for his scoring pace and ice control. Nathan MacKinnon followed with a season built on even-strength production and consistency.
In 2025, Connor Hellebuyck earned the award as a goaltender. He stood out for workload, save percentage, and team value.
Goalie wins remain rare, which made his season notable.
Multiple-Time MVP Winners
Several players won the Hart Trophy more than once between 1990 and 2025. These repeat winners shaped entire eras.
Based on historical data from Hockey-Reference’s Hart Trophy records, the most frequent winners in this span include:
- Connor McDavid (multiple wins with Edmonton)
- Alex Ovechkin (three wins with Washington)
- Mario Lemieux (early 1990s dominance)
- Sidney Crosby (two wins with Pittsburgh)
Repeat MVPs often led the league in points or drove elite team results.
Historic MVP Streaks
While no long streaks occurred after the 1980s, a few short runs still stood out. Players who won in close succession showed rare consistency in high-pressure roles.
Connor McDavid captured MVP honors in both 2017 and 2021, then added another in 2023. His wins came during seasons where he separated clearly from the scoring field.
Alex Ovechkin’s back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009 remained influential well into the 2010s. These streaks mattered because the league had more parity.
Winning multiple MVPs during this period required clear dominance over other elite talent.
Profiles of Notable NHL MVP Winners
Several MVP winners from 1990 to 2025 stood out for record-setting seasons, long-term impact, or career-defining breakthroughs. These players shaped the league through clear results, team value, and consistent performance under pressure.
Record-Setting Performances
Some MVP seasons reset expectations for individual performance. Wayne Gretzky won the 1989 MVP with the Los Angeles Kings and continued to define excellence before the 1990s began.
Connor McDavid delivered multiple MVP seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, including 2017, 2021, and 2023. McDavid’s speed, scoring totals, and playmaking drove team results year after year.
He often led the league in points by wide margins. According to the all-time Hart Memorial Trophy winners list, only a small group of players have matched that level of repeat dominance.
Other record-level seasons include Nikita Kucherov’s 2019 MVP, when he posted historic point totals for the Tampa Bay Lightning. These seasons stood out because they combined elite stats with direct team success.
Legendary Careers
Some MVP winners earned the award as part of long, elite careers. Mario Lemieux, MVP in 1993 and 1996, remained one of the most skilled players of his era despite health challenges.
His value went beyond scoring and reshaped the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise. Sidney Crosby, MVP in 2007 and 2014, built a career on consistency, leadership, and two-way play.
He remained a top player across multiple rule changes and eras. The official NHL Hart Memorial Trophy history shows how often these players appeared near the top of voting, even in seasons they did not win.
Breakthrough MVP Seasons
Some players used their MVP season to mark a turning point. Taylor Hall’s 2018 MVP came after he carried the New Jersey Devils into the playoffs with limited support.
Carey Price, MVP in 2015, delivered a rare goaltender win by leading the league in save percentage and wins. His performance defined Montreal’s success that year.
Connor Hellebuyck won the 2025 MVP after anchoring the Winnipeg Jets with elite goaltending. His win stood out because goalies rarely claim the award in modern voting, as shown in the complete NHL MVP winners list.
These breakthrough seasons often changed a player’s career path and league reputation.
Trends and Patterns Among NHL MVPs
From 1990 to 2025, NHL MVP results show clear patterns in position value, team success, and player background. The data highlights which roles win most often, which teams repeat, and how non‑Canadian players gained ground.
Position and Role Distribution
Forwards dominate Hart Trophy wins in this period. Centers lead the way because they drive offense and log heavy minutes.
A review of the complete list of Hart Trophy winners shows that centers such as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Joe Sakic won multiple times. Wingers appear less often but still stand out, including Alex Ovechkin and Nikita Kucherov.
Goalies rarely win MVP, which makes their victories notable. Carey Price in 2015 and Connor Hellebuyck in 2025 broke long gaps between goalie wins, as shown in ESPN’s report on the 2025 NHL MVP winner Connor Hellebuyck.
| Position | Share of MVP Wins (1990–2025) |
|---|---|
| Center | Highest |
| Winger | Moderate |
| Goalie | Rare |
| Defense | None |
Team Representation Analysis
A small group of teams account for many MVP awards. These teams often feature elite stars and strong regular seasons.
The Edmonton Oilers stand out, led by McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Pittsburgh also ranks high with wins from Crosby, Mario Lemieux, and Evgeni Malkin.
Colorado appears often through Sakic, Forsberg, and Nathan MacKinnon. MVPs usually come from playoff teams, but not always from the league’s best record.
The Hart Memorial Trophy definition and voting process explains that writers vote based on value to the team, not standings alone. Teams with repeat MVPs since 1990 include:
- Edmonton Oilers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Colorado Avalanche
- Washington Capitals
International Players as MVPs
Canadian players still lead in total MVP wins, but international players gained ground after 2000. European stars now win at a steady pace.
Russian players like Ovechkin and Malkin won multiple awards. Czech and Swedish players, including Dominik Hasek and Henrik Sedin, also earned MVP honors.
Since 1990, non‑Canadian MVPs came from Russia, the United States, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The mix of MVP nationalities shows how the league expanded its talent base while keeping performance standards consistent.
Impactful MVP Seasons From 1990 to 2025
Several Hart Trophy wins during this period did more than reward strong seasons. These MVP years changed team direction, set new performance standards, and created moments that still shape how fans view greatness in the NHL.
Franchise-Altering MVP Campaigns
Some MVP seasons directly reshaped a franchise’s future. Mario Lemieux’s 1995–96 MVP year lifted the Penguins back into contention after health setbacks.
He led the league in points and restored Pittsburgh as a top destination for elite talent. Sidney Crosby’s 2006–07 MVP season marked a clear turning point for the Penguins.
He drove a young roster into the playoffs and helped set up multiple Stanley Cup runs. His impact changed how the team built around speed and skill.
Connor McDavid’s MVP seasons, including his dominant 2022–23 run, pushed the Oilers back into regular contention. His pace and production forced teams to adjust defensive systems across the league.
Edmonton’s roster decisions since then reflect his central role.
Defining Moments and Highlights
Many MVP seasons stood out because of historic moments and clear benchmarks. Alexander Ovechkin’s 2007–08 MVP year featured a 65-goal season that redefined goal scoring in the modern era.
Carey Price’s 2014–15 MVP season proved that a goaltender could still dominate MVP voting. He led nearly every major goalie category and carried Montreal through long stretches.
In 2025, Connor Hellebuyck won the NHL MVP, becoming one of the few goaltenders to earn the award in recent decades. His season stood out for consistency, workload, and game control.
2025 NHL MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
This entry reflects a naming error tied to league awards in 2025. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not an NHL player and did not compete for an NHL MVP award.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP Season Overview
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays professional basketball, not hockey. He competes in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In 2025, he earned league-wide recognition for basketball performance, not for play in the NHL. Sports media highlighted his season after he led the Thunder to an NBA title.
Sports Illustrated named him 2025 Sportsperson of the Year for his impact across the full season, including the playoffs. Coverage from outlets like Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Sportsperson of the Year profile focused on basketball results only.
The NHL MVP, known as the Hart Trophy, applies only to NHL players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not eligible for that award.
Key Stats and Achievements
Gilgeous-Alexander’s major 2025 honors came from the NBA. He led the league in scoring and won multiple top awards during the same season.
Major 2025 achievements
- NBA Most Valuable Player
- NBA Finals MVP
- NBA scoring champion
- NBA champion with Oklahoma City
He became the fourth player in NBA history to win all three major honors in one season. Reporting from Yahoo Sports on his SI award confirmed the scope of those accomplishments.
These achievements do not overlap with NHL awards. The NHL tracks goals, assists, and ice time, which differ from basketball metrics.
Legacy and Influence on the League
Gilgeous-Alexander’s influence sits fully within professional basketball. He helped raise the profile of the Thunder franchise.
He expanded Canadian representation at the top level of the NBA. He became the first Canadian to win NBA Finals MVP.
His career background and honors appear in detail on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s player profile. His 2025 season shaped conversations about modern NBA guard play.
Evolution of NHL MVP Criteria and Award Process
The Hart Memorial Trophy reflects how the NHL defines value in different eras. Voting rules stayed steady, but voter priorities shifted as stats, team context, and analytics gained more weight.
Voting and Selection Procedure
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote on the Hart Memorial Trophy at the end of the regular season. Each voter ranks five players, and the league assigns points based on position on the ballot.
The player with the highest total wins. The NHL defines the award as the player “most valuable to his team,” not the best overall player.
That wording drives debate every year. Writers must weigh individual impact, team success, and role within the lineup.
The league has used this voting structure for decades. The formal name and purpose of the award come from the official Hart Memorial Trophy definition.
Statistical Shifts Over Time
Early Hart winners often came from top teams. Voters favored raw totals like goals and points.
From 1990 forward, scoring titles still mattered. However, voters began to consider context more.
They looked closer at how much a player carried his team. Goalies gained more recognition during low-scoring eras.
Dominik Hasek’s wins in the late 1990s showed that elite save percentage and heavy workload could outweigh scoring. In recent years, advanced stats influence discussion, even if they do not appear on ballots.
Metrics like on-ice impact and scoring chances help explain why players such as Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon earned recent honors. You can find more details in the official NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winners list.
