LAS VEGAS – Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player for the 2015-16 season.
The 27-year-old sniper recorded a career-high 46 goals, 60 assists and 106 points in a campaign that included a franchise-record 26-game point streak _ the longest in NHL history by a U.S.-born player.
Kane is also the first American to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer and rounds out a season that started in controversy as the NHL’s MVP.
Kane was dealing with off-ice issues early in the season. He was investigated by police following an alleged sexual assault at his home near Buffalo, N.Y. Prosecutors declined to file charges because of a lack of credible evidence. The NHL also investigated, but determined the sexual assault allegation was unfounded.
Also nominated for this year’s Hart Trophy were Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, who finished second and third behind Kane in the scoring race.
Benn set career-highs in goals (41), assists (48) and points (89), becoming the first Dallas player to score 40 goals since Mike Modano’s recorded 50 back in 1993-94.
