Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews took a major leap during the NHL’s regular season, picking up the league’s first 60-goal season in 10 years.
Tuesday night, he picked up his first Hart Trophy (writers vote) as 2022 league MVP, plus the Ted Lindsay Award (players vote) as most outstanding player.
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, last year’s winner, and New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin were the other finalists.
Matthews had 41 goals in 52 games in the coronavirus-shortened 2020-21 season, finishing second in Hart voting. After offseason wrist surgery, he had 60 goals in 73 games in 2021-22 as the Maple Leafs finished with a franchise-best 115 points.
Matthews also set career highs in assists (46) and points (106). He led the league in even-strength goals for the third year in a row.
Other awards winners announced on Tuesday’s awards show:
Vezina Trophy (goaltender): Shesterkin. His .935 save percentage and 2.07 save percentage were tops among starting goaltenders. He had 36 wins.
Norris Trophy (defenseman): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche. Makar set franchise records for defensemen with 28 goals and 86 points. He edged the Nashville Predators’ Roman Josi 1,631-1,606 in the voting totals.
Calder Trophy (rookie): Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider. He led rookie defensemen with 50 points and led all rookies with 43 assists and 23:02 in average ice time.
All-Star and All-Rookie teams announced
First All-Star team: G Shesterkin, Rangers. Ds Makar, Avalanche; Josi, Predators. C Matthews, Maple Leafs. LW Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames. RW Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs
Second All-Star team: G Jacob Markstrom, Flames. Ds Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning; Charlie McAvoy, Bruins. C McDavid, Oilers. LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers. RW Matthew Tkachuk, Flames.
All-Rookie team: G Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins. Ds Seider, Red Wings; Alexandre Carrier, Predators. Fs Trevor Zegras, Anaheim; Michael Bunting, Maple Leafs; Lucas Raymond, Red Wings.
General managers of the year finalists
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Julien BriseBois, New York Rangers’ Chris Drury and Colorado Avalanche’s Joe Sakic, whose teams reached the conference finals, were named the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
The winner will be announced the July 7-8 NHL draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL awards: Auston Matthews wins Hart Trophy as league MVP
