The Mark Messier Leadership Award is a National Hockey League (NHL) award that recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport, and as a contributing member of society. The award is given to a player selected by Hockey Hall of Fame center Mark Messier to honor an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes. It was first awarded during the 2006–07 NHL season and sponsored by Cold-fX.
History In its first season, the Mark Messier Leadership Award was awarded quite differently from most other trophies in the NHL. In , five players were honored with monthly awards as selected by the NHL based on the qualification of potential recipients, while the final decision was made by Mark Messier. At the end of the regular season, one player is chosen as the Leader of the Year. The first winner of the annual award was Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings. The league has not announced monthly winners since .
The award's namesake, Mark Messier, played in the NHL for twenty-five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks; his 1,887 regular-season points are third all-time behind Jaromir Jagr and Wayne Gretzky, and his 1,756 regular-season games third to Patrick Marleau and Gordie Howe (he is first in games played, including playoffs). Messier is, to date, the only person to lead two separate franchises to the Stanley Cup as captain, accomplishing this with the Oilers in and with the Rangers in .
Winners +Key C Centre LW Left Wing D Defence RW Right Wing G Goaltender
2006–07 Monthly Award Month Winner Team Position # November Brendan Shanahan New York Rangers LW 1 December Scott Niedermayer Anaheim Ducks D 1 January Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins C 1 February Vincent Lecavalier Tampa Bay Lightning C 1 March Roberto Luongo Vancouver Canucks G 1
2007–present Year Winner Team Position # Chris Chelios Detroit Red Wings D 1 Mats Sundin Toronto Maple Leafs C 1 Jarome Iginla Calgary Flames RW 1 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins C 2 Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins D 1 Shane Doan Phoenix Coyotes RW 1 Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators RW 1 Dustin Brown Los Angeles Kings RW 1 Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks C 1 Shea Weber Nashville Predators D 1 Nick Foligno Columbus Blue Jackets LW 1 Deryk Engelland Vegas Golden Knights D 1 Wayne Simmonds Philadelphia Flyers/Nashville Predators RW 1 Mark Giordano Calgary Flames D 1 Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins C 1Anze KopitarLos Angeles KingsC1Steven StamkosTampa Bay LightningC1Jacob TroubaNew York RangersD1 Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals LW 1 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche LW 1
Notes 1. Crosby previously won the monthly award in January 2007.
See also List of National Hockey League awards
References
External links Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award at NHL.com