What is the name of the trophy awarded to the NHL's leading goal scorer?

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The trophy awarded to the NHL's leading goal scorer is the Maurice Richard Trophy.

Officially called the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, it is presented to the player who scores the most goals during the NHL regular season. It does not include playoff goals. The trophy was donated to the league by the Montreal Canadiens and was first awarded after the 1998–99 season, when Teemu Selanne became its inaugural winner.

The award honors Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the legendary Montreal Canadiens right wing. Richard led the NHL in goal scoring five times and became the first player to score 50 goals in a season, reaching that mark in 50 games during 1944–45. He was also the first NHL player to reach 500 career goals, making him a natural namesake for a goal-scoring award.

The Maurice Richard Trophy is often confused with the Art Ross Trophy. The Richard recognizes goals, while the Art Ross goes to the player with the most total points from goals and assists. The Hart Memorial Trophy recognizes the league's most valuable player, and the Conn Smythe Trophy honors the most valuable player in the playoffs.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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