Alex Ovechkin received three of 203 first-place votes for this year’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy — awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Each of the 32 NHL teams has one player nominated for the trophy every season. Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was voted this year’s winner after playing his first full NHL regular season since 2021-22.
Ovechkin finished ninth overall in the voting, netting 39 points (three first-place votes, six second-place votes, and six third-place votes). The Masterton Trophy is one of the few individual awards that Ovechkin has not won during his illustrious career. He finished fourth in voting for the award last year after breaking the NHL goals record during the regular season.
2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy voting
Ovechkin, 40, was the third-oldest player in the NHL this past season, his 21st in the league with the Washington Capitals. Despite his age and suffering a broken leg last year, Ovechkin did not miss a single game for the Capitals, playing a full 82-game season for the first time since he was 32 years old.
The legendary winger also led the Capitals in scoring with 64 points (32g, 32a), a feat he hasn’t accomplished since the 2022-23 campaign.
Landeskog missed three full seasons due to knee injuries, including four major procedures. He made his return during last year’s playoffs, becoming the first NHL player ever to return after having knee cartilage replacement surgery. He also battled a spell out of the lineup this season due to breaking ribs after crashing into the net.
The 33-year-old winger was surprised with the trophy by his wife and children after watching videos of teammates, family, and doctors expressing how proud they are of his rehabilitation journey.
No Russian player has ever won the award since the trophy’s inception following the 1967-68 season. Jose Theodore is the lone Capitals player to receive the honor, winning the trophy in 2010 after the resilience he showed following the tragic death of his infant son.
