Which player has won the Hart Memorial Trophy the most times?

Wayne Gretzky has won the Hart Memorial Trophy the most times, capturing it nine times as the NHL’s most valuable player.

Gretzky won eight consecutive Hart Trophies from 1980 through 1987, first with the Edmonton Oilers. He claimed his ninth in 1989, after joining the Los Angeles Kings. No other player has matched his total.

The Hart Trophy is awarded for regular-season value to a player’s team, rather than specifically for scoring the most goals or points. That distinction matters because the Art Ross Trophy recognizes the NHL scoring champion, while the Hart is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

Gretzky’s record is often confused with his other NHL marks, including career goals, assists, and points. His nine Hart wins remain one of the clearest measures of his extraordinary dominance during the 1980s.