NHL Awards History: Oldest & Youngest Winners

We updated this list from the THW Archives of the oldest and youngest winners in NHL history, originally published Jan. 19, 2015.

And, before you say anything, I didn’t do the math to figure out who was older or younger by months if there was a tie, except for the Calder Trophy’s youngest winner.

(All stats and records courtesy of hockey-reference.com)

Hart Memorial Trophy (Season MVP)

Youngest to win the award: 19 years old, Sidney Crosby – 2006-07 & Wayne Gretzky – 1979-80

Oldest to win the award: 35 years old, Herb Gardiner – 1926-27 & Eddie Shore – 1937-38

Average age: 27 years old

Art Ross Trophy (Most Points)

Youngest to win the award: 19 years old, Sidney Crosby – 2006-07, 36 goals and 120 points

Oldest to win the award: 37 years old, Martin St. Louis – 2012-13, 17 goals and 60 points

Average age: 26 years old

Rocket Richard Trophy (Most Goals)

Youngest to win the award: 19 years old, Rick Nash – 2003-04, 41 goals & Steven Stamkos – 2009-10, 51 goals

Oldest player to win the award: 34 years old, Alexander Ovechkin – 2019-20, 49 goals

Average age: 26.5 years old

Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)

Youngest to win the award: 18 years old, Tom Barrasso – 1983-84

Oldest to win the award: 40 years old, Johnny Bower – 1964-65 & Jacques Plante – 1968-69

Average age: 28.9 years old

James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenceman)

Youngest to win the award: 19 years old, Bobby Orr – 1967-68

Oldest to win the award: 40 years old, Nicklas Lidstrom – 2010-11

Average age: 28.3 years old

Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie)

Youngest to win the Calder Trophy: 18 years old, Nathan MacKinnon – 2013-14 (three and a half months younger than 2010-11 winner Jeff Skinner)

Oldest to win the award: 31 years old, Sergei Makarov – 1989-90 (played for the Soviet Red Army teams until joining the Calgary Flames in 1989)

Average age: 21.5 years old

Frank J. Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Forward)

Youngest to win the award: 20 years old, Steve Kasper – 1981-82

Oldest to win the award: 36 years old, Rod Brind’Amour – 2006-07 & Rick Meagher – 1989-90

Average age: 28.2 years old

Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as Voted by the NHLPA)

Youngest to win the award: 19 years old, Sidney Crosby – 2006-07

Oldest to win the award: 33 years old, Jaromir Jagr – 2005-06 & Dominik Hasek – 1997-98

Average age: 26 years old

Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)

Youngest to win the award: 20 years old, Patrick Roy – 1985-86

Oldest to win the award: 36 years old, Tim Thomas – 2010-11

Average age: 26.9 years old