Last fall I visited the Hockey Hall of Fame with a friend before a Toronto Maple Leaf game (if you are a hockey fan a visit to the HHOF is a must on your to do list while in Toronto).

We spent a great couple of hours at the Hall with a ½ hour to 45 minutes dedicated to the Great Hall where all of the trophies are located. Yes, including the greatest team sports trophy of all time the ” Stanley Cup “. 

One thing that jumped out to me were the names of the individual trophies. 

As a lifelong, die – hard hockey fan, I knew these trophies very well. Or…at least I thought I did. To my amazement there were a few that I had to stop and think for a moment about what they were for.

This got me to thinking, why is this is the case? Well, I believe it is because of the nature of who has and still are in charge of running the league.

For the most part a bunch of older privileged white men who are strong believers in tradition. As such, they made sure to honour the past with their hardware. And when I say past, I do mean the past, basically cavemen time. Why do I use this analogy?

Well, basically Gary Bettman and the rest of the NHL executives are ok with keeping the names of their trophies and awards limited to (for the most part) the beginnings of the NHL.

It is great to honour your beginnings and past, however, at some point everything needs to get with the times so to speak! If the NHL wants to attract young and new fans to the league what better way to start then to have a refresh of their awards!!

What if I was commissioner of the NHL? How would I approach this rebranding, so to speak?

I would go on a renaming spree and use players names rather than continue to use the names of dead executives and owners of NHL teams. These names would be stars of the NHL’s more recent past. Let’s see what you think!

Hart Memorial Trophy

The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team in the regular season.  Dr David Hart, a Canadian, donated the original trophy to the NHL in 1923. He was the father of Cecil Hart, a former coach and GM of the Montreal Canadiens. Really?? …wow…I am a lifelong die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan and even I had no idea who Cecil was. And I am 58 years old. Definitely time for an update to the name.

How about the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. I would guess that most, if not all sports fans and even some that are not, know who the ” Great One ” is. He won this trophy 9 times, 8 seasons in a row. He basically owned it in the 80’s. He is still involved in the game today. Yes, I know the 1980’s were quite some time ago but, like I said, everyone knows the Great One.

Wouldn’t it be cool if Wayne actually was the one to present the trophy to the winner at the NHL awards show. He can do this since he actually is alive and kicking.

Art Ross Trophy

The Art Ross Trophy given to the NHL player who has the most points during a season – most goals + assists. The Art Ross Trophy was given to the NHL in 1947 by Arthur Howey “Art” Ross. Who is Art?.

Art was the general manager and head coach of the Boston Bruins. Before that, he won Stanley Cup as a player before the NHL was the NHL. Wow, that is a long time ago. Again, who is Art I ask? First of all, as a Habs fan I can’t stand the Bruins, so I really don’t care who he is (just kidding).

As mentioned, after his playing career, back in the stone ages, he was the Boston Bruins GM and coach. When exactly you may ask? He was their first coach and GM in 1924 and until 1954 was their coach and GM at various times.

If I was the commissioner, I would rename this trophy the Gordie Howe Trophy. He was the first player to dominate winning it, 4 years in a row from 1950 to 1954 then again in 1957 and 1963. Dominance and longevity, plus maintaining recognition of the past by going back to a player in the 1950’s. Still an update from the early 1900’s. Renaming it for Gordie checks all the boxes I think.

I know what you are thinking, Gretzky won this trophy 7 times in a row and 9 overall. We already renamed the Hart after him, so we can’t name this one all after him as well (we could..but then the NHL trophies would be like George Forman’s kids.. George 1, George 2 , George 3 , etc.

Besides, Gordie was Wayne’s favorite player when he was growing up. So, we still have included Wayne..sort of. 

 James Norris Memorial Trophy

No, this trophy was never for the champion of the NHL’s old division , the Norris division. (remember the nickname… The “Chuck Norris” Division).

It is named after James E. Norris, the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings. He was the owner from 1932 – 1952. After his death, his daughter, Marguerite assumed his role with the Red Wings. She and her two brothers donated a trophy to the NHL to honour their late father. It became known as the James Norris Memorial Trophy awarded to the NHL’s best all around defenseman.

With all due to respect to the late James Norris and to the Norris family, it’s time for an upgrade. Anyone want to guess who it should be named after? I will give you three guesses and the first 2 don’t count.

Of course, it’s Bobby Orr, to some, the greatest player to ever play the game. He won this award 8 seasons in a row from the mid 1960’s to the mid 1970’s. Yes, you could make the case for a few other players, however in my mind, Bobby Orr is hands down who this trophy should be named after. And remember, I am the commissioner! Kidding of course, let me know if you have a different opinion.

Frank J Selke Trophy

Named after Frank J. Selke, former executive of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1926-1943 and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens from 1943-1964

In 1977, the Board of Governors of the NHL decided to create an award that would recognize the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. It was decided that the award would honour Frank J. Selke.

Certainly, would not have been my choice. However, I was only 11 years old at the time so I doubt my opinion would have carried much weight anyways! Now, in my make believe world as commissioner it should.

So, with one magic swipe, I rename this trophy the Bob Gainey Trophy. Why Bob Gainey? Great question.

In his prime, the Russians referred to Gainey as the best 2 way hockey player in the world. No joke, he was that good of a complete 200 foot player. Oh and he won this award 4 times as well as being the inaugural winner.  

For all you Boston Bruin fans, yes, I realize that Patrice Bergeron won it 6 times. He just retired. His time will come. Besides, remember, I am a Habs fan and I already have Bobby Orr on my list.  

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

The trophy is named in honour of Marie Evelyn Moreton (Lady Byng), wife of the Viscount Byng of Vimy who commanded Canadian forces at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and who was Governer General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. Lady Byng, an avid hockey fan, decided to donate the trophy to the NHL in 1924–25.

Again, the NHL is remembering and honouring a very important part of history. A past that is near and dear to me as a proud Canadian. However, we can still honour the past while updating it just a bit to add some relevance for today’s fan. 

Mike Bossy, won this trophy 3 times..yes i know there are other players who won it multiple times. I remember Mike’s staunch stance against fighting in the game so his name stands out to me.

After all this trophy is for sportsmanship and most gentlemanly conduct combined with high standards of play. I vote for Mike, he definitely qualifies.

 Vezina Trophy 

 The Vezina Trophy is named after George Vezina who was a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens from 1910 until 1925, This trophy was first awarded in 1927 and has gone thru a few changes as far as eligibility is concerned.

Since 1981, it is awarded to the most outstanding goaltender with Billy Smith the first winner and Linus Ullmark the most recent under the current system.

From the 1993-94 season until the 2000-01 season Dominik Hasek was the most outstanding goaltender as voted by the general managers 6 times. That is 6 seasons out of 8. He was by far the most dominant goalie in those 8 years. He is deserving of the honour of having this trophy renamed after him.

William M Jennings Trophy

The William M. Jennings Trophy since the 1981-82 season has been given to the goaltenders of the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Who is William M. Jennings you ask? Great question. I had no idea to be honest.

He was the longtime governor and president of the New York Rangers from 1962 -1981. This trophy was first awarded in 1982, basically to replace the original Vezina Trophy. 

Since you could say that this trophy is based on goals against average which relies not only on the goaltender to make clutch timely saves but also good overall team defense, I am going to nominate Martin Brodeur as the goalie that we rename this trophy for.

Not only was he a clutch goalie who won the Stanley Cup 3 times and the Vezina 4 times, he also played on one of the most noted defensive teams ever, The New Jersey Devils. so, to me this makes total sense. I can connect the dots.

Well folks with 7 down and 6 more to go, I will stop for now. Let me know your thoughts on which players you would like to see used to re name these trophies.

Or maybe, you don’t agree with this process at all and want to keep the status quo. Let me know. Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon.

By: Jeff Stanzel

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