6 Islanders Who Have Won Individual NHL Awards

By Daniel Friedman
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On the eve of the NHL Awards show, and in recognition of John Tavares' second MVP nomination in three years, we'll take a look at the six Islanders who've taken home hardware from the event.

NOTE: Only awards that are handed out at the show are being taken into account for this list (Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP won't be here), and we're also only considering player awards, so the Jack Adams Award (best coach) doesn't appear on this list, either. Additionally, NHLPA awards and leadership and sportsmanship awards don't count for the purposes of this list.

We're talking the basics: Hart Trophy (season MVP), Art Ross Trophy (most points), Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), Vezina Trophy (best goalie), Norris Trophy (best defenseman), Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) and, if applicable, the Rocket Richard Trophy (most goals).

So, without further ado, here we go:

1. Bryan Trottier 

Calder Trophy: 1975-76

Art Ross Trophy: 1978-79

Hart Trophy: 1978-79

Pivoting the Isles' famed "Trio Grande" line (though already an established star before the formation of that unit), Trottier passed and shot his way to a Hall of Fame career. He is the only Islander to ever win the NHL's regular-season MVP award; that is, until Tavares inevitably becomes the next, whether that happens now or later on.

2. Denis Potvin

Calder Trophy: 1973-74

Norris Trophy: 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79

What else can be said about Potvin, other than that he's one of the best defensemen of all time? A three-time Norris winner, no Isles defenseman has won it or really come close to winning it since.

3. Mike Bossy

Calder Trophy: 1977-78

It might shock you that the legendary Bossy has just one of these types of awards (to be fair, he did win the Conn Smythe in 1982 and three Lady Byngs for a combination of skilled play and sportsmanship), but you have to remember that the Rocket Richard Trophy didn't exist in his day. He would've won a few of them, as he led the league in goals on multiple occasions.

4. Billy Smith

Vezina Trophy: 1981-82

One of the most clutch goaltenders in NHL history, Smith did win a Conn Smythe in 1983. His overall performance the previous season, however, was his true masterpiece.

5. Bryan Berard

Calder Trophy: 1996-97

Berard was actually acquired in exchange for Wade Redden, and the 1995 first overall pick didn't disappoint. He won the Rookie of the Year award and impressed from the get-go. But like most promising young players in the Islanders' organization, he was traded away by Mike Milbury during the 1998-99 season.

6. Michael Peca

Selke Trophy: 2001-02

He's the last Islander to win a major individual award (those in consideration for this list), and made an immediate impact upon his arrival from Buffalo. Peca captained the team back to the playoffs, leading a renaissance movement that saw the Islanders return to relevancy. He could not only produce, but was also very effective at shutting down opposing players.