Most Hart Trophies Won by One Player (Ranked)

1. Wayne Gretzky: 9 Hart Trophies

Gretzky's nine Hart wins stand as one of hockey's most untouchable records. He won eight consecutive from 1979-80 through 1986-87, then added a ninth in 1988-89 after being traded to Los Angeles.

The Dominance:

• Eight straight Hart Trophies (1980-87)
• No other player has won more than six
• Won with two teams (Edmonton, Los Angeles)
• Only unanimous Hart winner alongside McDavid
• Dominated voting throughout 1980s

Why It Matters: Gretzky's Hart run coincided with his statistical dominance. During those eight consecutive years, he averaged over 200 points per season. His 1981-82 campaign (212 points, 92 goals) remains the most dominant offensive season in NHL history.

The fact that Gretzky won the Hart with both Edmonton and Los Angeles (alongside Mark Messier being the only other to do this) shows his value transcended team success. Even after the shocking trade, he immediately became the Kings' MVP.

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2. Gordie Howe: 6 Hart Trophies

Before Gretzky, Gordie Howe set the standard for long-term greatness with six Hart wins, all with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Career:

• Won in three different decades (1950s, 1960s)
• Pre-Gretzky standard for MVP dominance
• Combined scoring with physical play
• Remained elite into his 40s

Why It Matters: Howe's six Harts represented sustained excellence over nearly two decades. Unlike modern players who peak for 5-7 years, Howe remained the league's best player across multiple eras of hockey.

His combination of skill, toughness, and longevity made him the consensus greatest player ever until Gretzky arrived. The fact that he won Hart Trophies in the 1950s and 1960s shows remarkable staying power.

3. Eddie Shore: 4 Hart Trophies

Eddie Shore won four Hart Trophies in the 1930s, all with the Boston Bruins, and remains one of only a few defensemen to dominate MVP voting.

The Achievement:

• Four Hart wins as a defenseman
• Played in 1930s, different era of hockey
• One of oldest Hart winners (age 35)
• Revolutionized defensive position

Why It Matters: Shore's four Harts as a defenseman is remarkable given how rare it is for blue-liners to win MVP. Only Bobby Orr (3) and a handful of others have won Hart as defensemen since.

Shore was known for his toughness and offensive skill from the back end, pioneering the two-way defenseman role decades before it became standard.

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Tied for 4th: Three Players with 3 Hart Trophies

Three modern superstars share the record for third-most Hart wins:

Connor McDavid: 3 Hart Trophies (2017, 2021, 2023)

• Edmonton Oilers center
• Won by late 20s, still playing
• Multiple unanimous wins
• Also won 5 Ted Lindsay Awards
• Could challenge Howe's record

McDavid's three Harts by age 26 puts him on pace to potentially challenge Gretzky's record if he maintains elite play through his 30s. His combination of speed, skill, and vision makes him the closest thing to Gretzky the modern NHL has seen.

Alex Ovechkin: 3 Hart Trophies (2008, 2009, 2013)

• Washington Capitals winger
• Three consecutive (2008-09)
• Goal-scoring dominance
• Combined offense with physical play
• Surpassed Gretzky's all-time goals record

Ovechkin's three Harts came during his peak goal-scoring years when he was the league's most dangerous offensive weapon. His ability to dominate games through pure goal-scoring made him a worthy MVP despite playing wing rather than center.

Mario Lemieux: 3 Hart Trophies (1988, 1993, 1996)

• Pittsburgh Penguins center
• Would have more without injuries
• Broke Gretzky's Hart streak in 1988
• Heroic comeback seasons

Lemieux's Hart total would almost certainly be higher if not for chronic back injuries and Hodgkin's lymphoma. His 1992-93 win came after missing two months for cancer treatment, making it one of the most inspiring MVP seasons ever.

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Notable Two-Time Winners

Several legends won the Hart twice but couldn't break into the top tier:

Sidney Crosby: 2 Hart Trophies

• 2007, 2014
• Injuries limited Hart potential
• Complete two-way dominance

Bobby Clarke: 2 Hart Trophies

• 1973, 1975, 1976 (three total)
• Wait, Clarke actually won three times
• Led Broad Street Bullies

Dominik Hasek: 2 Hart Trophies

• 1997, 1998
• Rare goalie Hart winner
• Individual brilliance on weak Buffalo teams

Mark Messier: 2 Hart Trophies

• 1990, 1992
• Won with two teams
• Leadership and clutch performance

Could Anyone Catch Gretzky?

Connor McDavid represents the only realistic threat to Gretzky's record in the modern era:

McDavid's Path:

• Has 3 Hart wins by age 27
• Needs 6 more to tie Gretzky
• Would need to dominate into mid-30s
• Elite competition makes it harder

Challenges:

• Modern parity makes MVP harder to repeat
• Injury risk increases with age
• Elite competition (Matthews, MacKinnon, Kucherov)
• Voting fatigue (voters tire of same winner)

The reality is Gretzky's nine Harts will likely never be matched. The modern NHL's parity, increased injury management, and voter tendency to spread awards around make sustained MVP dominance nearly impossible.

The Hart Trophy Hierarchy

The complete ranking of most Hart wins:

1. Wayne Gretzky: 9
2. Gordie Howe: 6
3. Eddie Shore: 4
4. Connor McDavid: 3 (active)
5. Alex Ovechkin: 3
6. Mario Lemieux: 3
7. Bobby Clarke: 3

After that, you have the two-time winners including Sidney Crosby, Mark Messier, Dominik Hasek, Bobby Orr, and others.

Why These Numbers Matter

Hart Trophy totals tell the story of hockey's greatest players. Gretzky's nine wins represent unprecedented dominance. Howe's six show sustained excellence across decades. The three-time winners (McDavid, Ovechkin, Lemieux) represent the elite of their respective eras.

For current players, Hart wins define legacies. McDavid's three already cement him as a generational talent. If he can add more, he'll solidify his place among hockey's all-time greats.

The Hart Trophy isn't just an annual award. It's a measuring stick for greatness, and the players with multiple wins represent the absolute best the NHL has ever seen.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

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