Though it was close, no one in the NHL scored as many goals as Alex Ovechkin this season. With 51 goals, his highest total in five years, Ovechkin wins the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. It’s his 8th time doing so.
How about EIGHT Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies for the #Gr8?!
🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀 🚀
Congrats, @ovi8! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/O2OzsRKNyU
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 7, 2019
Leon Draisaitl hit 50 goals in the final game of the season but failed to catch Ovechkin. John Tavares scored 47 goals for Toronto, and Steven Stamkos scored 45 for Tampa.
At 33, Alex Ovechkin is the oldest player ever to win the Richard. He has passed Alex Ovechkin at age 32.
Here is every winner since the award’s inception.
| Season | Winner(s) | Goals | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Alex Ovechkin | 51 | 33 |
| 2017-18 | Alex Ovechkin | 49 | 32 |
| 2016-17 | Sidney Crosby | 44 | 29 |
| 2015-16 | Alex Ovechkin | 50 | 30 |
| 2014-15 | Alex Ovechkin | 53 | 29 |
| 2013-14 | Alex Ovechkin | 51 | 28 |
| 2012-13 | Alex Ovechkin | 32 | 27 |
| 1999-00 | Pavel Bure | 58 | 28 |
| 1998-99 | Teemu Selanne | 47 | 28 |
| 2011-12 | Steven Stamkos | 60 | 21 |
| 2010-11 | Corey Perry | 50 | 25 |
| 2009-10 | Sidney Crosby (tie) | 51 | 22 |
| 2009-10 | Steven Stamkos (tie) | 51 | 19 |
| 2008-09 | Alex Ovechkin | 56 | 23 |
| 2007-08 | Alex Ovechkin | 65 | 22 |
| 2006-07 | Vincent Lecavalier | 52 | 26 |
| 2005-06 | Jonathan Cheechoo | 56 | 25 |
| 2003-04 | Jarome Iginla (tie) | 41 | 26 |
| 2003-04 | Ilya Kovalchuk (tie) | 41 | 20 |
| 2003-04 | Rick Nash (tie) | 41 | 19 |
| 2002-03 | Milan Hejduk | 50 | 26 |
| 2001-02 | Jarome Iginla | 52 | 24 |
| 2000-01 | Pavel Bure | 59 | 29 |
Ovechkin hit the 50-goal mark at the end of March, and celebrated at a hibachi restaurant. This week Sportsnet published a compilation of every time Ovechkin hit 50 goals. Ovechkin has more 50-goal seasons than all other active players combined (or at least he did until Draisaitl did it; now it’s a tie).
Ovechkin will be presented with the trophy at the NHL awards this summer.
