Kane was presented with the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player at the NHL Awards ceremony Wednesday, and also won the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player as voted by the players.
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Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane is widely expected to become the first American to win the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP.
The NHL held is annual awards at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. He is the first Kings’ player to win the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to “the player who best exhibits sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”, since Wayne Gretzky in 1994.
He’s now the first American-born player to win the Hart Trophy. Sidney Crosby finished second with 11 first-place votes, while Dallas’ Jamie Benn was third.
While Doughty didn’t match his competitors’ offensive production, voters recognized his two-way prowess for the defense-minded Kings.
“Just being in the conversation was nice, but I was kind of expecting (Kane) to get it”, Crosby said.
Chicago finished 47-26-9 in the 2015-16 season and had 103 points to grab the third and final playoff spot in the Central division.
Despite the progress made by American players in recent years, with many more making their way to National Hockey League rosters, the Hart Trophy had remained elusive. “You guys are everything to me, and we’re brothers for life”.
While dealing with an off-ice rape accusation which ultimately proved false, Kane put together a 26-game point streak from October 17 through December 13, setting a Blackhawks record and a mark for US -born players.
The Stars won the Central Division title previous year and finished with the most points in the Western Conference.
Calder Trophy for top rookie – Artemi Panarin, Blackhawks (1,258 points).
Kopitar was a finalist for the award in each of the previous three seasons.
Patrick Kane is MVP of the National Hockey League, and it isn’t very close. The 24-year-old Russian beat out No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid of Edmonton.
Rutherford received 10 first-place votes and 90 voting points to top Brian MacLellan of Washington and Jim Nill of Dallas for the top general manager.
“Without Patrick Kane, I may not have gotten this award”, Panarin said through a translator. Nashville’s Shea Weber, Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin and Calgary’s Mark Giordano all received awards recognizing leadership and community service. The Capitals won the Presidents’ Trophy with 120 points and set a franchise record for total wins with 49.
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The NHL Awards, which too place in Las Vegas, were important for another reason.
