Home / News / Alex Ovechkin’s ninth Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy confirmed as NHL officially announces award winners for 2019-20 regular season

Alex Ovechkin’s ninth Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy confirmed as NHL officially announces award winners for 2019-20 regular season

By Ian Oland

 2 Comments

May 28, 2020 12:26 pm

While announcing the league’s 24-team playoff, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman declared the 2019-20 regular season over. That meant Alex Ovechkin would win his ninth Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and share it with the Bruins’ David Pastrnak after both players scored 48 goals this past year. NHLPA boss Donald Fehr later cast doubt on that result, saying there had been no decision yet on where the stats would go for the NHL’s play-in games and round-robin games during the 24-team playoff.

Two days later, the NHL is officially announcing several of its 2019-20 regular-season award winners, suggesting this issue has been put to bed. Ovechkin and Pastrnak are confirmed to have won the Rocket while Leon Draisaitl won the Art Ross Trophy, the Boston Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy, and the goaltending duo of Tuuka Rask and Jaroslav Halak won the William Jennings Trophy.

Now for some quick facts about Ovi’s latest achievement.

  • Ovechkin (48-19—67 in 68 GP) topped the NHL in goals for the third straight season and a record ninth time overall, two more than left-wing Bobby Hull (7x).
  • Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, the Capitals captain has scored 244 more goals than any other player (706‑572—1,278 in 1,152 GP).
  • Ovechkin’s career average of 0.61 goals per game ranks fourth in league history among skaters with at least 500 appearances, trailing only Mike Bossy (0.76), Mario Lemieux (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62).
  • Ovechkin is just the third player in NHL history to lead the league in goals at the age of 34 or older.
  • Ovechkin is just the fourth player in NHL history to score 48 or more goals in a season at age 34 or older
  • Ovechkin is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, a Calder, an Art Ross, a Hart, a Ted Lindsay, and a Maurice Richard Trophy

More from the Capitals about Ovi’s ninth Rocket Richard Trophy:

Ovechkin Wins His NHL Record Ninth and Third Straight Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
The Capitals captain is just the third player in NHL history to lead the League in goals at the age of 34 or older

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin won his third straight and NHL-record ninth overall Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Ovechkin tied Boston’s David Pastrnak for the NHL lead with 48 goals during the 2019-20 regular season. No other player has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy more than twice since its creation in 1998-99. This marks the seventh time Ovechkin has received the trophy in the last eight seasons.

Ovechkin is the third player in NHL history to lead the League in goals at the age of 34 or older, joining Bill Cook (1932-33: 28g in 48 games) and Gordie Howe (1962-63: 38g in 70 games). Additionally, Ovechkin is just the fourth player in NHL history to score 48 or more goals in a season at age 34 or older, joining Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06 (54g; age 34), Johnny Bucyk in 1970-71 (51g; age 35) and Teemu Selanne in 2006-07 (48g, age 36). Of Ovechkin’s 48 goals, 35 were scored at even strength, the fourth-highest total of his career. His 48 goals were the second-most Ovechkin has scored in a single season when scoring 13 or fewer power play goals (2009-10: 50G, 37 ESG, 13 PPG).

With 13 games remaining prior to the season suspension, Ovechkin was on pace for 57 goals, which would have been the second-highest total of his career, his highest total since 2007-08 (65g) and the ninth time Ovechkin would have reached the 50-goal mark. Ovechkin was on pace to join Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players in NHL history with nine 50-goal seasons. He would have also joined Phil Esposito as the only players in NHL history to record at least three 50-goal seasons after their 30th birthday (Esposito: four). Additionally, Ovechkin would have become the second-oldest player in NHL history to record a 50-goal season, only trailing Buyck (35 years, 308 days old at the conclusion of the 1970-71 season).

On Feb. 22 against the New Jersey Devils, Ovechkin became the eighth and the second fastest player in NHL history to reach the 700-career goal mark. Ovechkin reached the milestone in his 1,144th career game, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (886 games). With 706 career goals, Ovechkin is three goals shy of passing Mike Gartner (708) for the seventh most goals in NHL history. During the 2019-20 season, Ovechkin passed Luc Robitaille (668), Selanne (684), Mario Lemieux (690), Steve Yzerman (692) and Mark Messier (694) on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

From Jan. 13 through Feb. 4, Ovechkin scored 14 goals over a span of seven games, a stretch which included three hat tricks. On Feb. 4 against the Los Angeles Kings, Ovechkin recorded his first career natural hat trick with three goals in the final seven minutes of regulation, additionally becoming the first player to score three hat tricks over a span of six games (also Jan. 16 vs. New Jersey and Jan. 18 at New York Islanders) since 1992-93, when Alexander Mogilny (Buffalo) and Selanne (Winnipeg) combined for the feat.

In addition to his nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophies, Ovechkin has won a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Calder Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, three Hart Memorial Trophies and three Ted Lindsay Awards. He is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, a Calder, an Art Ross, a Hart, a Ted Lindsay, and a Maurice Richard Trophy.

And here’s more from the NHL about all the award winners:

NEW YORK (May 28, 2020) – The 2019-20 National Hockey League regular season concluded with the Boston Bruins capturing three of the League’s major awards, including the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the best overall record.

Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin each earned the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leaders, while Boston’s Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak combined for the William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltenders who played for the team allowing the fewest goals. Joining these winners was Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, who finished 13 points ahead of the field for his first career Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion.

The Bruins (44-14-12 in 70 GP) topped the NHL in both points (100) and points percentage (.714) to claim their third Presidents’ Trophy, adding to wins in 2013-14 and 1989-90. (They also finished first in the NHL standings 11 times before the Presidents’ Trophy was introduced in 1985-86.) Boston finished ahead of its 2019 Stanley Cup Final opponent, the St. Louis Blues (42-19-10, 94 points), on the strength of a League-best 44 wins, including 22 victories as both hosts (22-4-9) and visitors (22-10-3). The Bruins, who reached the 40-win milestone for the seventh consecutive season, also posted an NHL-best +53 goal differential while ranking in the top three in both power play (2nd; 25.2%) and penalty kill (3rd; 84.3%) efficiency.

Pastrnak powered Boston’s offense with 48 goals to earn his first career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy along with Ovechkin, who captured the award for the third straight season and ninth time overall. Pastrnak (48-47—95 in 70 GP) became the first Bruins player to win the Richard Trophy (which was introduced in 1998-99) and the fifth Boston player to top the NHL in goals (outright or shared), joining Phil Esposito (6x, most recently in 1974-75), Bronco Horvath (1959-60), Roy Conacher (1938-39) and Cooney Weiland (1929-30). Pastrnak, who also paced the League with 20 power-play goals and 10 game-winning tallies (tied), produced eight multi-goal performances, highlighted by four hat tricks and a career-high four goals Oct. 14 vs. ANA. The 24-year-old Havirov, Czech Republic, native – who scored the most goals by any Bruins player since 1993-94 (Cam Neely: 50) – became the youngest Richard Trophy winner since Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos in 2011-12 (22 years, 60 days).

Ovechkin (48-19—67 in 68 GP) topped the NHL in goals for the third straight season and a record ninth time overall, two more than left wing Bobby Hull (7x). The Moscow, Russia, native became the eighth member of the NHL’s 700-goal club on Feb. 22 at NJD, making him both the second-youngest (34 years, 158 days) and second-fastest (1,144 GP) player to reach the milestone behind only Wayne Gretzky (29 years, 342 days; 886 GP). Ovechkin achieved the feat after compiling four hat tricks earlier in the season, including consecutive three-goal performances Jan. 16 vs. NJD and Jan. 18 at NYI. Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, the Capitals captain has scored 244 more goals than any other player (706‑572—1,278 in 1,152 GP). Ovechkin’s career average of 0.61 goals per game ranks fourth in League history among skaters with at least 500 appearances, trailing only Mike Bossy (0.76), Mario Lemieux (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62).

Rask (41 GP, 26-8-6, 2.12 GAA, .929 SV%, 5 SO) and Halak (31 GP, 18-6-6, 2.39 GAA, .919 SV%, 3 SO) combined to help the Bruins claim their third William M. Jennings Trophy, following wins in 2008-09 (Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez) and 1989-90 (Andy Moog and Reggie Lemelin). Boston allowed a League-low 174 goals in 70 contests, three fewer than its closest competitor despite playing one more game (DAL: 177 GA in 69 GP). Rask, who earned his first Jennings Trophy, led the NHL in goals-against average (2.12), ranked second in save percentage (.929) and shared second place in shutouts (5). Halak, who won the Jennings Trophy for the second time (also 2011-12 w/ STL), placed sixth in the League in goals-against average (2.39). The duo combined to backstop the Bruins to an NHL-high eight shutouts (one more than both CBJ and NSH) and a League-best .921 team save percentage.

Draisaitl (43-67—110 in 71 GP) finished 13 points ahead of teammate and two-time scoring champion Connor McDavid (34-63—97 in 64 GP) to capture his first career Art Ross Trophy. Draisaitl found the scoresheet in 56 of his 71 appearances (78.9%), powered by a League-best 33 multi-point performances – four more than the next-closest players (Pastrnak and Nathan MacKinnon: 29). That included a pair of career-high, five-point outings: March 2 at NSH (4-1—5) and Nov. 14 vs. COL (0-5—5). Draisaitl also topped the NHL in assists (67), power-play points (44) and game-winning goals (t-10) while ranking in the top five in the League in power-play goals (2nd; 16), power-play assists (2nd; 28), shooting percentage (3rd; 19.7%) and goals (4th; 43). The 24-year-old Cologne native became the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy. He and McDavid (2017-18 and 2016-17) have combined for three of the past four NHL scoring titles, making the Oilers the first team to achieve the feat since the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed seven straight from 1994-95 through 2000-01 (Jaromir Jagr: 5x, Lemieux: 2x).

, , , , , , , , , ,