The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original trophy was donated to the league in 1923 by David Hart, the father of Cecil Hart, the longtime head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. The Hart Trophy has been awarded 99 times to 61 different players since its beginnings in 1923–24.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Elmer Lach with the original trophy in 1945
Nels Stewart, two-time winner
Bobby Clarke, three-time winner
Julius Francis Joseph Nighbor was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played primarily for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association (NHA) and National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA, Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), and Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. Nighbor won the Stanley Cup once with the Millionaires and four times with the Senators. He was also known as the "Pembroke Peach", "The Flying Dutchman" and as "Peerless Frank."
Nighbor with the Vancouver Millionaires in the 1913–14 season
Nighbor, seated at far right, with the 1910–11 Pembroke Debaters. Harry Cameron is seated at far left.
Nighbor with the Ottawa Senators in 1920