# Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy

The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy is an annual award presented by the [National Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-hockey-league)'s Board of Governors "to the player finishing the regular season as the League's goal-scoring leader."<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> First awarded for the 1998-99 season, it is a purely statistical award: the winner is the player with the most goals at the end of the regular season, with ties shared.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award criteria | Given annually to the player finishing the regular season as the NHL's goal-scoring leader<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> |
| First awarded | 1998-99 season; trophy officially unveiled January 24, 1999<sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> |
| Origin | A gift to the NHL from the Montreal Canadiens<sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> |
| Namesake | Maurice "Rocket" Richard, the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season and 500 in a career<sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> |
| First winner | Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 47 goals in 1998-99<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> |
| Most wins | Alex Ovechkin, nine times from 2007-08 through 2019-20<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> |
| Most recent winner | Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, 53 goals in 2025-26<sup>[3](https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-mcdavid-art-ross-nathan-mackinnon-rocket-richard-avalanche-jennings-trophy)</sup> |

## Origin and namesake

The trophy was a gift to the NHL from the [Montreal Canadiens](https://www.edgepedia.org/montreal-canadiens) and was officially unveiled on January 24, 1999.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> It honors Maurice "Rocket" Richard, the Montreal right wing who spent his entire 18-year career with the Canadiens from 1942-43 through 1959-60. In NHL history, no player before Richard had reached 50 goals in one season or 500 over a career, and he also became the first to notch 50 goals within 50 games.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> He led the League in goals five times, played on eight [Stanley Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/stanley-cup) champion teams, and was inducted into the [Hockey Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/hockey-hall-of-fame) in 1961.<sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-of-washington-capitals-wins-rocket-richard-trophy-299147858)</sup> The Dictionary of Canadian Biography notes that Richard himself would have won the award five times had it existed during his playing career.<sup>[5](https://www.biographi.ca/en/topics/topic-match-list.php?id=1861)</sup>

## Criteria and shared awards

The award goes strictly to the regular-season goal-scoring leader, so it can be shared when two or more players finish level on goals. Three seasons have produced shared trophies: in 2003-04 [Rick Nash](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-nash) of the [Columbus Blue Jackets](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-blue-jackets), Ilya Kovalchuk of the [Atlanta Thrashers](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-thrashers), and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames each scored 41 goals; in 2009-10 Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning each scored 51; and in 2019-20 Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins each scored 48.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup>

The Richard Trophy is distinct from the [Art Ross Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/art-ross-trophy), which goes to the overall points leader. The two can be won by the same player in the same season, as [Connor McDavid](https://www.edgepedia.org/connor-mcdavid) did in 2022-23, when he led the NHL with 64 goals and 153 points.<sup>[6](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/04/16959/ArtRossRichard041423.pdf)</sup>

## Winners and records

Teemu Selanne of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was the first winner, leading the 1998-99 season with 47 goals.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> Early winners included [Pavel Bure](https://www.edgepedia.org/pavel-bure) of the [Florida Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/florida-panthers) in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, [Jarome Iginla](https://www.edgepedia.org/jarome-iginla) in 2001-02, and Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks with 56 goals in 2005-06.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup>

**Ovechkin's dominance.** Alex Ovechkin of the [Washington Capitals](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-capitals) won the trophy nine times between 2007-08 and 2019-20, including a 65-goal season in 2007-08 and a 32-goal season in the pandemic-shortened 2012-13 campaign.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup> His seventh crown, claimed in 2017-18 on the strength of 49 goals, made him only the second NHL player ever to lead the League in goal scoring seven times, a feat matched only by [Bobby Hull](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-hull), who accomplished it seven times with Chicago.<sup>[4](https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-of-washington-capitals-wins-rocket-richard-trophy-299147858)</sup>

**Matthews and the 2020s.** [Auston Matthews](https://www.edgepedia.org/auston-matthews) of the Toronto Maple Leafs won three times in four seasons, taking the award in 2020-21 (41 goals), 2021-22 (60 goals), and 2023-24, when his 69 goals were the highest single-season total by any winner during the trophy's existence.<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/auston-matthews-wins-nhl-maurice-rocket-richard-trophy)</sup> Connor McDavid won in 2022-23 with 64 goals, becoming the first Oilers player to capture the award.<sup>[6](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/04/16959/ArtRossRichard041423.pdf)</sup> Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers then won in 2024-25 with 52 goals in 71 games, finishing seven ahead of Toronto's William Nylander and becoming the second Oilers player to win, after McDavid.<sup>[2](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> In 2025-26 Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche won his first Richard Trophy with 53 goals.<sup>[3](https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-mcdavid-art-ross-nathan-mackinnon-rocket-richard-avalanche-jennings-trophy)</sup>

**Franchise pattern.** Players from an Original Six franchise (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and the New York Rangers) have won the goal-scoring title since the trophy was introduced in 1999, including Toronto's three-time winner, Matthews; the Maple Leafs joined the League in 1917 and are counted among the Original Six clubs, so the observation applies to the trophy era's other winners coming from expansion-era franchises.<sup>[8](https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/trophy-thursday-maurice-rocket-richard-trophy-312191786)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2024AwardsGuide.pdf)</sup> Among European players, Milan Hejduk of Colorado, the 2003 winner, is the only Czech player to hold the trophy.<sup>[9](https://www.nhl.com/cs/news/seznam-vitezu-nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-299594374)</sup>

## Complete list of winners

| Season | Winner | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | 53 |
| 2024-25 | Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers | 52 |
| 2023-24 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 69 |
| 2022-23 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | 64 |
| 2021-22 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 60 |
| 2020-21 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 41 |
| 2019-20 | Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak | Capitals / Bruins | 48 |
| 2018-19 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 51 |
| 2017-18 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 49 |
| 2016-17 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | 44 |
| 2015-16 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 50 |
| 2014-15 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 53 |
| 2013-14 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 51 |
| 2012-13 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 32 |
| 2011-12 | Steven Stamkos | Tampa Bay Lightning | 60 |
| 2010-11 | Corey Perry | Anaheim Ducks | 50 |
| 2009-10 | Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos | Penguins / Lightning | 51 |
| 2008-09 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 56 |
| 2007-08 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 65 |
| 2006-07 | Vincent Lecavalier | Tampa Bay Lightning | 52 |
| 2005-06 | Jonathan Cheechoo | San Jose Sharks | 56 |
| 2003-04 | Rick Nash, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Jarome Iginla | Blue Jackets / Thrashers / Flames | 41 |
| 2002-03 | Milan Hejduk | Colorado Avalanche | 50 |
| 2001-02 | Jarome Iginla | Calgary Flames | 52 |
| 2000-01 | Pavel Bure | Florida Panthers | 59 |
| 1999-2000 | Pavel Bure | Florida Panthers | 58 |
| 1998-99 | Teemu Selanne | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 47 |

<sup>[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)</sup>

## References

1. [NHL Maurice Richard Trophy Winners, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-winners-complete-list-287972892)
2. [MAURICE "ROCKET" RICHARD TROPHY, 2025 NHL Awards Guide, NHL Media](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/2025AwardsGuide.pdf)
3. [McDavid wins Art Ross, MacKinnon wins Maurice 'Rocket' Richard, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-mcdavid-art-ross-nathan-mackinnon-rocket-richard-avalanche-jennings-trophy)
4. [Ovechkin of Capitals wins Rocket Richard Trophy as top goal-scorer in NHL, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-of-washington-capitals-wins-rocket-richard-trophy-299147858)
5. [Maurice Richard Trophy, Dictionary of Canadian Biography](https://www.biographi.ca/en/topics/topic-match-list.php?id=1861)
6. [News Release: McDavid captures Art Ross and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, NHL Media, April 14, 2023](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/04/16959/ArtRossRichard041423.pdf)
7. [Matthews wins Richard Trophy as NHL's leading goal-scorer for 3rd time, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-awards/auston-matthews-wins-nhl-maurice-rocket-richard-trophy)
8. [Trophy Thursday: Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, Seattle Kraken, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/trophy-thursday-maurice-rocket-richard-trophy-312191786)
9. [Seznam vítězů Maurice Richard Trophy, NHL.com/cs](https://www.nhl.com/cs/news/seznam-vitezu-nhl-maurice-richard-trophy-299594374)
10. [media.nhl.com](https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2024AwardsGuide.pdf)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › National Hockey League › NHL awards, records, and drafts*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license