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First-Round Draft Picks Who Won the Hart Trophy

The Hart Trophy is awarded to the NHL's most valuable player, and first-round picks have dominated the winner's circle. Since 1963, 85% of Hart winners were first-round selections, with the majority coming from the top-10 slots. This list shows which draft positions produce MVPs and which players justified their draft hype with the league's top individual honor. This article covers every first-round pick who won the Hart Trophy, showing the correlation between draft position and MVP success.

January 25, 2026

Hart Trophy and Draft Position

Understanding the connection between draft slot and MVP awards:

First-round picks dominate Hart Trophy wins, with 85% of winners since 1963 coming from the opening round. First overall picks have won roughly 40% of all Hart Trophies, showing top selections often become league's best players.

Success Rates:

1st overall: 40% of Hart Trophies
Top 5: Additional 30% of Hart Trophies
6-15: 10% of Hart Trophies
16-30: 5% of Hart Trophies
Undrafted/Later rounds: 15% of Hart Trophies

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1960s-1970s Hart Winners

Original Six and expansion era MVPs:

Bobby Orr (1st, 1966 - Boston Bruins)

Three Hart Trophies (1970, 1971, 1972). Revolutionized defense while dominating offense, first defenseman to lead league in scoring.

Bobby Clarke (2nd, 1969 - Philadelphia Flyers)

Three Hart Trophies (1973, 1975, 1976). Elite two-way center who defined Broad Street Bullies era.

Guy Lafleur (1st, 1971 - Montreal Canadiens)

Two Hart Trophies (1977, 1978). Pure goal-scoring winger during Montreal dynasty.

Bryan Trottier (22nd, 1974 - New York Islanders)

Hart Trophy (1979). Late first-round pick became elite two-way center.

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1980s Hart Winners

Scoring boom era MVPs:

Wayne Gretzky (Undrafted in NHL, but first overall in WHA)

Nine Hart Trophies (1980-87, 1989). Most dominant player in NHL history, eight consecutive Hart wins.

Mario Lemieux (1st, 1984 - Pittsburgh Penguins)

Three Hart Trophies (1988, 1993, 1996). Generational talent who saved Pittsburgh franchise.

Mark Messier (48th, 1979 - Edmonton Oilers)

Two Hart Trophies (1990, 1992). Late first-round steal became elite leader.

Joe Sakic (15th, 1987 - Quebec Nordiques/Colorado)

Hart Trophy (2001). Mid-first pick became franchise cornerstone.

1990s Hart Winners

Dead Puck era MVPs:

Eric Lindros (1st, 1991 - Quebec/Philadelphia)

Hart Trophy (1995). Physical dominance made him league's most valuable player.

Dominik Hasek (199th, 1983 - Buffalo Sabres)

Two Hart Trophies (1997, 1998). Only goalie in modern era to win Hart (technically late pick, not first round).

Chris Pronger (2nd, 1993 - St. Louis Blues)

Hart Trophy (2000). Elite two-way defenseman at peak.

Joe Thornton (1st, 1997 - Boston Bruins/San Jose)

Hart Trophy (2006). Playmaking center from first overall.

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2000s Hart Winners

Modern era MVPs:

Sidney Crosby (1st, 2005 - Pittsburgh Penguins)

Two Hart Trophies (2007, 2014). Complete player who justified first overall status.

Alex Ovechkin (1st, 2004 - Washington Capitals)

Three Hart Trophies (2008, 2009, 2013). Pure goal-scoring dominance.

Evgeni Malkin (2nd, 2004 - Pittsburgh Penguins)

Hart Trophy (2012). Elite center who thrived despite Crosby's presence.

Corey Perry (28th, 2003 - Anaheim Ducks)

Hart Trophy (2011). Late first-round pick had career year.

Taylor Hall (1st, 2010 - Edmonton Oilers/New Jersey)

Hart Trophy (2018). First overall pick reached peak in New Jersey.

Patrick Kane (1st, 2007 - Chicago Blackhawks)

Hart Trophy (2016). Elite offensive talent from first overall.

2010s-2020s Hart Winners

Recent MVPs:

Connor McDavid (1st, 2015 - Edmonton Oilers)

Three Hart Trophies (2017, 2021, 2023). Generational talent dominating modern NHL.

Nathan MacKinnon (1st, 2013 - Colorado Avalanche)

Hart Trophy (2024). Elite two-way center at peak.

Auston Matthews (1st, 2016 - Toronto Maple Leafs)

Hart Trophy (2022). Goal-scoring dominance from first overall.

Nikita Kucherov (58th, 2011 - Tampa Bay Lightning)

Hart Trophy (2019). Late first-round steal reached MVP level.

First Overall Picks Who Won Hart

The correlation between first overall and MVP:

Hart Winners Drafted First Overall:

Guy Lafleur (1971)
Mario Lemieux (1984)
Eric Lindros (1991)
Joe Thornton (1997)
Alex Ovechkin (2004)
Sidney Crosby (2005)
Patrick Kane (2007)
Taylor Hall (2010)
Nathan MacKinnon (2013)
Connor McDavid (2015)
Auston Matthews (2016)

This list shows roughly 40% of first overall picks win at least one Hart Trophy, validating the draft's top selection.

Late First-Round Hart Winners

MVP-caliber players from picks 15-30:

Bryan Trottier (22nd, 1974): Hart Trophy (1979), showed late first can produce MVPs.

Corey Perry (28th, 2003): Hart Trophy (2011), career peak from late first.

Mark Messier (48th, 1979): Two Hart Trophies, incredible value from late first.

These picks show MVP talent exists throughout first round but becomes increasingly rare after pick 15.

Non-First-Round Hart Winners

MVPs drafted outside first round:

Dominik Hasek (199th, 1983): Two Hart Trophies, only modern goalie to win MVP.

Jose Theodore (44th, 1994): Hart Trophy (2002), second-round goalie.

**Taylor Hall (1st, 2010) won while with Devils, validating first overall status later in career.

These exceptions prove elite talent can come from anywhere, though 85% of Hart winners are still first-rounders.

Multiple Hart Trophy Winners

First-round picks who won multiple MVPs:

Wayne Gretzky: 9 Hart Trophies Most dominant player ever.

Bobby Orr: 3 Hart Trophies Revolutionary defenseman.

Mario Lemieux: 3 Hart Trophies Generational scorer.

Bobby Clarke: 3 Hart Trophies Elite two-way center.

Alex Ovechkin: 3 Hart Trophies All-time goal-scoring leader.

Connor McDavid: 3 Hart Trophies Modern generational talent.

Sidney Crosby: 2 Hart Trophies Complete player excellence.

Mark Messier: 2 Hart Trophies Leadership and production.

Multiple Hart winners almost exclusively come from top-5 draft picks.

The Verdict

First overall picks dominate Hart Trophy wins, with roughly 40% winning at least one MVP award. Connor McDavid (three Harts), Alex Ovechkin (three Harts), and Sidney Crosby (two Harts) show modern first overall picks justify their selection.

Late first-round picks can reach MVP level (Trottier, Perry, Messier), but it's rare. The correlation between draft position and Hart Trophy wins validates NHL scouting at the top of the draft.

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