Fansided

Buffalo Sabres History: Richard Trophy Winners

By Melissa Kania |

The National Hockey League will hold its annual year-end awards ceremony this year on June 24 in Las Vegas. The league will celebrates its top players in both on-ice and off-ice performances, rewarding representatives from the top scorers to the best goaltenders and everything in between. As the NHL continues to announce its nominees for the yearly awards, we’ll take a look back at the history of each award and when – if ever – a member of the Buffalo Sabres franchise has won it.

Some of these awards have been given out for 90 years, while others are newer. Regardless, it’s a true honor for any player to receive these awards.

Today, we’ll look at the NHL’s Rocket Richard Trophy.

The Maurice Richard Trophy, named in honor of the Montreal Canadiens legend, has been awarded annual by the NHL to its top goal scorer. The winner – or winners – is determined based on regular-season play only, and is honored by the NHL Board of Governors.

The award was initially unveiled on January 24, 1999 and honors the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games, 50 goals in a season, and 500 goals overall in a career.

Maurice “Rocket” Richard played in the National Hockey League between 1942 and 1960, spending 18 seasons with the Habs. His 50-goal season – the lone of his career – came in the 1944-45 season.

More from Buffalo Sabres History

Honors he received during his time in the NHL include the Hart Trophy (1947), the Lou Marsh Trophy for Canadian athlete of the year (1957) and Canadian Press male athlete of the year three times (1952, 1957 and 1958). He was also named to the first- or second-team All Stars in 13 seasons.

Since 1999, 12 different players have won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer. It’s another award that has yet to be won by a member of the Buffalo Sabres, but… maybe someday. Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart — get working.

Teemu Selanne was the first winner after recording 107 points, including 47 goals, with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1998-99 season. Pavel Bure then won it in two consecutive years, registering 58 and 59 goals.

Alexander Ovechkin, the 2015 recipient, will receive his fifth Maurice Richard Trophy. In addition to 2015, Ovechkin won the award in each of the past two seasons after putting up 65 and 56 goals in those seasons.

The highest-scoring year was 2008, when Ovechkin registered 65 goals to win the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Other current NHLers who have won include Jarome Iginla (2002, 2004), Steven Stamkos (2010, 2012) and Sidney Crosby (2010).

Could the day come soon – or perhaps further down the line – where a member of the Buffalo Sabres could lead the NHL in goals at the culmination of the regular season?

Who knows… it might not be too far off.

Next: Sabres Fans Next Piece of Rebuild

More from Buffalo Sabres History

Home / Buffalo Sabres History