Each year the league awards the player with the most points in the NHL with the Art Ross Trophy. In the event of a tie in number of points scored, Art Ross Trophy winners are selected through three tiebreakers: Player with the most goals, player playing the fewest games, player scoring the first goal of the season.
Art Ross Trophy — History
The NHL officially recognized scoring leaders from the league’s very beginning in 1917-18. The Art Ross Trophy was presented to the league in 1948 by Arthur Howey “Art” Ross, a former player, coach and league executive. Also presenting the trophy were his two sons.
Born in Canada in 1885, Ross was head coach of the Boston Bruins from 1924-25 to 1944-45, compiling a 394-313-95 regular-season record. He led the Bruins to two Stanley Cups, in 1928-29 and 1938-39. After coaching, Ross became the Bruins general manager and stayed in that position until he retired in 1954. A Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in 1949, Ross passed away in 1964.
Art Ross Trophy — Trivia
- Ross designed a new, bevel-edged, synthetic rubber puck for the NHL that reduced bounce.
- Ross lived in the Boston area and became a U.S. citizen in 1938.
- Wayne Gretzky recorded the most points in the NHL 10 times.
- Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux each won the Art Ross Trophy six times.
- Five-time Art Ross Trophy winners: Phil Esposito, Jaromir Jagr
- Youngest Art Ross winner: Sidney Crosby, who was 19 years old when he won in 2006-07.
- Oldest Art Ross winner: Martin St. Louis, who won in 2012-13 at the ripe old age of 37.
- Ties occurred in 1961-62, 1979-80 and 1994-95. The first tiebreaker, goals scored, settled the issue each year: Bobby Hull beat Andy Bathgate in 1962; Marcel Dionne beat Wayne Gretzky in 1980; and it was Jaromir Jagr over Eric Lindros in 1995.
- Speaking of the 1979-80 Art Ross tie, Marcel Dionne had 53 goals and Wayne Gretzky had 51 — that’s how close Gretzky was to winning 11 trophies!
Art Ross Trophy Winners — Complete List
(Scoring leaders are shown from 1918. The Art Ross Trophy was first awarded in 1948, to Elmer Lach.)
- 2018: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2015: Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
- 2014: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2013: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2012: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2011: Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
- 2010: Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
- 2009: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2008: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- 2007: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2006: Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins/San Jose Sharks
- 2004: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2003: Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche
- 2002: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
- 2001: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2000: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1999: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1998: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1997: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1996: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1995: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1994: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
- 1993: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1992: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1991: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
- 1990: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
- 1989: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1988: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1987: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1986: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1985: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1984: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1983: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1982: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1981: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
- 1980: Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings
- 1979: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
- 1978: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
- 1977: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
- 1976: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
- 1975: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
- 1974: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- 1973: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- 1972: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- 1971: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- 1970: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
- 1969: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
- 1968: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1967: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1966: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1965: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1964: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackawks
- 1963: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1962: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1961: Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
- 1960: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1959: Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens
- 1958: Dickie Moore, Montreal Canadiens
- 1957: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1956: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
- 1955: Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens
- 1954: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1953: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1952: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1951: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
- 1950: Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings
- 1949: Roy Conacher, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1948: Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens
- 1947: Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1946: Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1945: Elmer Lach, Montreal Canadiens
- 1944: Herb Cain, Boston Bruins
- 1943: Doug Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks
- 1942: Bryan Hextall, New York Rangers
- 1941: Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins
- 1940: Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins
- 1939: Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
- 1938: Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1937: Dave Schriner, New York Americans
- 1936: Dave Schriner, New York Americans
- 1935: Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1934: Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1933: Bill Cook, New York Rangers
- 1932: Busher Jackson, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1931: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
- 1930: Cooney Weiland, Boston Bruins
- 1929: Ace Bailey, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1928: Howie Morenz, Montreal Canadiens
- 1927: Bill Cook, New York Rangers
- 1926: Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons
- 1925: Babe Dye, Toronto Arenas
- 1924: Cy Denneny, Ottawa Senators
- 1923: Babe Dye, Toronto St. Pats
- 1922: Punch Broadbent, Ottawa Senators
- 1921: Newsy Lalonde, Montreal Canadiens
- 1920: Joe Malone, Quebec Bulldogs
- 1919: Odie Cleghorn, Montreal Canadiens
- 1918: Joe Malone, Montreal Canadiens