STANLEY CUP The Stanley Cup, notably the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America, was donated in 1892 by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston and son of the Earl of Derby. He purchased the trophy to be presented to "the championship hockey club of the Dominion of Canada." The first team ever awarded the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association in 1893.
Since 1910, when the National Hockey Association took possession of the Stanley Cup, the trophy has been symbolic of professional hockey supremacy. Beginning in 1926, only NHL teams have competed for this prized trophy. The Stanley Cup is awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoff winner.
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PRINCE OF WALES TROPHY The Prince of Wales Trophy is awarded annually to the Eastern Conference playoffs champion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With expansion in 1967-68, the trophy became a divisional honor, awarded to the regular season champions of the East Division through the end of the 1973-74 season. Beginning in 1974-75, it was awarded to the regular season winner of the Wales Conference. From 1981-82 to 1992-93 the trophy was presented to the playoff champion in the Wales Conference. Since 1993-94, the trophy has been presented to the playoff champion in the Eastern Conference.
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PRESIDENTS' TROPHY The Presidents' Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League regular season champion.
The award was presented to the National Hockey League by the League Board of Governors in 1985-86. The winner receives $350,000, to be split between the team and its players.
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CONN SMYTHE TROPHY The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winner is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the conclusion of the final game in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Smythe Trophy was presented by Maple Leaf Gardens Limited in 1964 to honor Conn Smythe, the former coach, manager, president and owner-governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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ART ROSS TROPHY The Art Ross Trophy is an annual award given to the player who leads the National Hockey League in scoring points at the end of the regular season.
Arthur Howie Ross, former manager-coach of the Boston Bruins, presented the trophy to the NHL in 1947. If two players finish the season with the same number of points, the trophy is awarded in the following manner: 1. Player with most goals; 2. Player with fewer games played; 3. Player scoring first goal of the season.
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HART MEMORIAL TROPHY The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season.
The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented by the National Hockey League in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1923 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens.
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CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY The Calder Memorial Trophy, named after former National Hockey League president Frank Calder, is awarded to the National Hockey League player judged to be the most proficient in his first season.
Frank Calder was the NHL's president from 1917 until his sudden death in 1943. Although the NHL's best rookie was announced beginning with Carl Voss in 1933, it wasn't until the 1936-37 season and Syl Apps the recipient that the winner actually won the Calder Trophy. Upon Calder's death, the award became the Calder Memorial Trophy.
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JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY The James Norris Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in his position. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
The award was named after James Norris, a grain millionaire, who purchased the Detroit franchise in 1932 and re-named it the Detroit Red Wings.
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LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Lady Byng, wife of Canada's Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy in 1925. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng's death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
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BILL MASTERTON TROPHY The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season. A grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the Masterton Trophy winner.
The trophy was presented by the NHL Writers' Association in 1968 to commemorate the late William Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited, to a high degree, the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after an injury sustained during a game. It was first awarded following the 1967-68 regular season.
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FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
The trophy was first awarded at the end of the 1977-78 NHL season. It was named after Frank J. Selke, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. The Selke Trophy was the fifth and last of the major NHL awards to be introduced that have been named after general managers and owners of the Original Six teams, the other awards being the Art Ross Trophy, James Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Jack Adams Award.
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TED LINDSAY AWARD (LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD) The Ted Lindsay Award (formerly Lester B. Pearson Award) is presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.
The award was first handed out at the conclusion of the 1971-72 NHL season. It honors Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay, an All-Star forward known for his skill, tenacity, leadership, and for his role in establishing the original Players' Association. The players' accolade will continue to be presented annually to the "Most Outstanding Player" in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.
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MAURICE "ROCKET" RICHARD TROPHY The Maurice Richard Trophy is an annual award given to the National Hockey League's top goal scorer by the NHL Board of Governors. The winner(s) are determined based on regular-season play.
The Maurice Richard Trophy, officially unveiled on Jan. 24, 1999, was a gift to the NHL from the Montreal Canadiens to honor the first player in League history to score 50 goals in 50 games, 50 goals in a season and 500 in a career.
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MARK MESSIER NHL LEADERSHIP AWARD The Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award has been awarded since 2006-07 and is awarded "to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season."
Suggestions for nominees are solicited from fans, clubs and NHL personnel, but the selection of the three finalists and the ultimate winner is made by Messier, one of the finest leaders in NHL history; the six-time Stanley Cup champion is one of three players to have captained three teams (Edmonton, N.Y. Rangers, Vancouver).
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JACK ADAMS AWARD The Jack Adams Award is an annual award presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. The winner is selected in a poll among members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association at the end of the regular season.
The award was presented by the NHL Broadcasters' Association in 1974 to commemorate the late Jack Adams, former coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings. His lifetime dedication to hockey has served as an inspiration to all who aspire to further the game.
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GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR An annual award presented to recognize the work of the league's general managers, voting for this award is conducted among the 30 club general managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media at the conclusion of the regular season.
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