Art Ross Trophy
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The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring at the end of the regular season.
NHL rules stipulate that if two or more players are tied in points at season's end, the player with the most goals is declared the winner. If the players remain tied in goals, it rules that a player with the fewest games played and the player who scores the earliest goal in the season will then be declared the winner. Should two or more players still remain tied, the players would then share the title.
It is the first of the four major NHL awards to be introduced, that have been named after General Managers and owners of the Original Six teams (the other awards are the James Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Frank J. Selke Trophy while some also say that the Jack Adams Award belongs to that group).
[edit] History
The Art Ross Trophy is named in honour of Arthur Howie "Art" Ross (January 13, 1886-August 5, 1964), who was a professional ice hockey player, referee, coach, and general manager. Ross played defence for 14 years, and was on two Stanley Cup winning teams—the Kenora Thistles in 1907 and the Montreal Wanderers in 1908. He then became a Referee, and finally manager/coach of the NHL's first American franchise, the Boston Bruins. Ross coached the Bruins to three Stanley Cup championships. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as an Honoured Member in 1945.
Elmer Lach was the winner of the first Art Ross Trophy awarded at the conclusion of the 1947-48 NHL season.
Wayne Gretzky won the award a record 10 times during his illustrious 20-year career. For 2 decades, (1980-81 to 2000-01) there were only 3 different winners of the Ross Trophy—Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Jaromir Jagr. The streak finally ended in 2001-02, Jagr's first season in Washington, in which Jarome Iginla won the award.
Joe Thornton won his first Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06, a season that was split with the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks after he was traded mid-season. Thornton is the only player in NHL history to win the award playing for 2 different teams in one season.
Players for the Pittsburgh Penguins have won the trophy more than players for any other team, having won 11 times. Montreal Canadiens have won the trophy 9 times, Chicago Blackhawks 8 times, and Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and Edmonton Oilers 7 times each. In the history of the league (including years prior to the inception of the trophy), Montreal Canadiens have won the scoring title the most times: 16 occasions. Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and Pittsburgh Penguins have earned the distinction 11 times each, and Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs have 7 scoring titles each.
