Crosby and Gretzky’s Call to MacKinnon
Receiving calls from Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky after his award show was a thrilling moment for Nathan MacKinnon. "I got a call from Sid and Wayne," MacKinnon shared, highlighting the significance of seeing Gretzky’s name. Gretzky, historically dominant with five sweeps of the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, was a fitting congratulator. Crosby, too, has won these honors in multiple seasons.
Recognition and Awards in Hockey
MacKinnon joined an elite group as the 24th player to win both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in one season. This achievement has been accomplished 37 times since the Ted Lindsay Award’s inception in 1970-71. The prestige of these awards is echoed by figures like Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who praised MacKinnon’s exceptional performance and ongoing improvement in the sport.
Dominant Voting and Reflective Moments
In the voting for the Hart Trophy, MacKinnon led convincingly, garnering 137 of the 194 first-place votes. Runner-up Nikita Kucherov received 50 first-place votes, while Connor McDavid and others also earned votes. Reflecting on previous seasons, MacKinnon acknowledged the formidable competition from Kucherov and McDavid but relished his victory this year.
