The Edmonton Oilers have done as well as anybody since entering the NHL in 1979-80. Since this time, they are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for most Stanley Cup wins at five, and lead the way with most Final appearances, at eight.
However, this level of success extends to individual awards, including 13 Art Ross Trophies, which is second all-time to the Penguins. The Oilers have also done very well when it comes to the Hart Memorial Trophy.
As per NHL.com, the Hart Trophy has been awarded since 1923-24 and is given annually to the MVP of the regular season, as voted for by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Here are some interesting facts and figures for new and existing Oilers fans alike, when it comes to the team's association with this prestigious trophy:
1) The Great One
It surely comes as no surprise to Oilers fans that we're starting with Wayne Gretzky, who has won the Hart Trophy a record nine times. This includes eight with the Oilers which were also in consecutive years -- another record -- between 1979-80 and 1986-87. He's one of just two players to ever win the Hart with two teams, with the other occasion coming with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988-89. Just for good measures he's also one of only two unanimous Hart winners in NHL history, with his coming in 1981-82.
2) The Oilers' best ever leader
Gretzky may well be the best Oiler in franchise history, but the title of best team leader goes to Mark Messier. It's telling that he was able to lead the Oilers to a fifth Stanley Cup win after his more esteemed teammate was traded to Los Angeles. That 1989-90 season was also memorable, for Messier becoming the second Oiler to ever win the Hart Trophy. He would then join Gretzky as the only player to win the trophy with two different teams, taking it home in 1991-92 as a member of the New York Rangers.
3) The other Great One
Aside from actual Stanley Cup wins -- at least so far -- wherever Gretzky goes, Connor McDavid follows. Although McDavid still has a long way to go if he's going to catch the Great One's Hart Trophy haul, having 'only' won three to date. The first came in his second NHL season in 2016-17, followed by 2020-21 and 2022-23. His 2020-21 capture of the Hart Trophy is also notable for only being the second time in NHL history, that it was won via a unanimous vote.
4) A special place in team history
Leon Draisaitl will forever be second-best to McDavid, but we have a feeling he can deal with this just fine. Besides Draisaitl has done great in his own right, including becoming the fourth Oiler to win the Hart Trophy, in 2019-20. It was clearly a big honour for him, as the first German-born player to ever win the Trophy. The season is also notable in that it could have been even better for Draisaitl, with him limited to 71 regular season games due to the lockdown which came as a result of COVID-19.
5) Oilers as a whole
As most of you will have worked out, Oilers players have won the Hart Trophy 13 times when combined together. This is tied for the second-most times in NHL history with the Boston Bruins, both behind the Montreal Canadiens at 17 times. For what it's worth however, the Oilers have the most Hart Trophies since the entered the NHL, with the Penguins second since then with seven. (The Canadiens have just two of their 17 Hart Trophies since 1979-80, while the Bruins have none.)
Other notes
Overall, the Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded on 99 occasions, to 61 different players. Following Gretzky, Gordie Howe is second all time with six Hart Trophies, then Eddie Shore with four, meaning McDavid will have to double his current output to tie for second place all-time. Team-wise, 25 different teams have had players win the Hart Trophy, including five which no longer exist. The Detroit Red Wings are fourth all-time with nine, while the Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are tied fifth with seven apiece.