The Best NHL Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the National Hockey League player, irrespective of nationality, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year, typically most significantly in the NHL season contested during or immediately prior to the holding of the ESPY Awards ceremony.
Between 1993 and 2004, the award voting panel comprised variously fans, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and retired sportspersons, termed collectively experts; and retired sportspersons. Since then, balloting has been exclusively by fans over the Internet from among choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.
Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented since then are conferred in June and reflect performance from the previous June.
Canadian centers Mario Lemieux Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid, wingers Jarome Iginla and Alexander Ovechkin, and Czech goaltender Dominik Hašek are the only players to have been honored multiple times; Lemieux, having captured the award three times, in 1993, 1994, and 1998, and Crosby having captured the award eight times, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Of the thirty awards conferred, just eight have gone to players not from Canada: two to Hasek and one to countrymate Jaromír Jágr, three to Americans Tim Thomas, Jonathan Quick and Patrick Kane, and two to Russian Alexander Ovechkin. Just one has gone to a defenseman, in 2001 to Canadian Chris Pronger. There were no awards in 2005 due to the NHL lockout and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winners Player was a member of the winning team in the Stanley Cup Final. Player was a member of the defeated team in the Stanley Cup Final. * Hart Memorial Trophy winner† Conn Smythe Trophy winner Year Player Country Team Position1993Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsCenter1994Mario Lemieux (2)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter1995Mark MessierNew York RangersCenter1996Eric LindrosPhiladelphia FlyersCenter1997Joe SakicColorado AvalancheCenter1998Mario Lemieux (3)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter1999Dominik HasekBuffalo SabresGoaltender2000Dominik Hasek (2)Buffalo SabresGoaltender2001Chris ProngerSt. Louis BluesDefenseman2002Jarome IginlaCalgary FlamesRight wing2003Jean-Sebastien Giguere †Mighty Ducks of AnaheimGoaltender2004Jarome Iginla(2)Calgary FlamesRight wing2005 No award given (2004–05 NHL lockout)2006Jaromír JágrNew York RangersRight wing2007Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsCenter2008Sidney Crosby (2)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2009Sidney Crosby (3)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2010Sidney Crosby (4)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2011Tim Thomas †Boston BruinsGoaltender2012Jonathan Quick †Los Angeles KingsGoaltender2013Sidney Crosby (5)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2014Sidney Crosby (6)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2015Jonathan ToewsChicago BlackhawksCenter2016Sidney Crosby † (7)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2017Sidney Crosby † (8)Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter2018Alexander Ovechkin †Washington CapitalsLeft wing2019Alexander Ovechkin (2) Washington CapitalsLeft wing2020Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Patrick KaneChicago BlackhawksRight wing2022Connor McDavidEdmonton OilersCenter2023Connor McDavid (2) *Edmonton OilersCenter2024Connor McDavid (3) †Edmonton OilersCenter2025Leon DraisaitlEdmonton OilersCenter2026Connor McDavid (4)Edmonton OilersCenter
Notes Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance between February 2001 and June 2002.
See also Hart Memorial Trophy Lester B. Pearson Award Ice hockey trophies and awards National Hockey League awards Vezina Trophy
References
External links