The NHL Awards were handed out in Tampa Bay between games three and four. For Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the awards were a busy night, especially after such a record-breaking season.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews won numerous awards at the NHL Awards show.
Matthews had a remarkable regular season putting up 60 goals in 73 games, and adding an additional 46 assists giving him 106 points during that time. He had already won the Rocket Richard trophy in 2021 and now he added an additional Rocket Richard, a Ted Lindsay Award, and the Hart Trophy.
Matthews, who won the Calder Trophy during his rookie season, has won basically every trophy imaginable now, outside of the Stanley Cup.
For the Hart Trophy, Matthews beat out Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ star was voted to be the most valuable player for his team, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Here is what Matthews had to say after winning the Hart Trophy:
Matthews also won the Ted Lindsay Award given out to the most outstanding player as voted on by the NHL Players’ Association. For that trophy, Matthews was up against Roman Josi of the Predators and Connor McDavid of the Oilers.
Here is what Matthews had to say after winning the Ted Lindsay Award:
It looks as though Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews could be flip-flopping on these awards for the next handful of seasons. The two star players had remarkable seasons and they have been near the top of the league for the past handful of seasons.
While Matthews had a great season and won multiple trophies, the Leafs missing out on a Stanley Cup once again with a first-round exit does leave many feeling like changes are coming in Toronto. Hopefully next season Matthews and company can get over their playoff curse.
Matthews is the first American to win the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay award since 2016 when Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks won both.