Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy

The Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy was added to the NHL’s awards for individual excellence in 1999. It is awarded each year to the league’s top goal scorer during the regular season. The trophy honours former Montreal Canadiens superstar Maurice “Rocket” Richard, who was the first player to score 50 goals in a season and the first to reach the 500-goal plateau. The tribute to Richard was a gift from the Montreal Canadiens and was first proposed by team president Ronald Corey. The award’s first recipient was Teemu Selanne of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Alex Ovechkin has won the award nine times — more than any other player.

Richard, Maurice #9

Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy Winners

Year

Player

Team

Goals

1999

Teemu Selanne

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

47

2000

Pavel Bure

Florida Panthers

58

2001

Pavel Bure

Florida Panthers

59

2002

Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames

52

2003

Milan Hejduk

Colorado Avalanche

50

2004

(tie) Jarome Iginla, Ilya Kovalchuk, Rick Nash

Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets

41

2005

strike-cancelled season

N/A

N/A

2006

Jonathan Cheechoo

San Jose Sharks

56

2007

Vincent Lacavalier

Tampa Bay Lightning

52

2008

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

65

2009

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

56

2010

(tie) Steve Stamkos, Sidney Crosby

Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins

51

2011

Corey Perry

Anaheim Ducks

50

2012

Steve Stamkos

Tampa Bay Lightning

60

2013

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

32

2014

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

51

2015

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

53

2016

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

50

2017

Sidney Crosby

Pittsburgh Penguins

44

2018

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

49

2019

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

51

2020

(tie) Alex Ovechkin, David Pastrnak

Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins

48

2021

Auston Matthews

Toronto Maple Leafs

41

2022

Auston Matthews

Toronto Maple Leafs

60

2023

Connor McDavid

Edmonton Oilers

64

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