Seven years after Sidney Crosby won his first Hart Trophy, the Pittsburgh captain has been recognized as the NHL's best once again.
Crosby won the NHL's most valuable player award for the second time Tuesday night at the league's postseason awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
After his first full season without major injuries since 2010, the Penguins' 26-year-old center cleaned up at the NHL's awards show to cap a fruitful year that included a second gold medal as Canada's captain at the Sochi Olympics. Crosby also collected the Art Ross Trophy as the league scoring champion and the Ted Lindsay Award as the players' choice for the NHL's most outstanding player.
In a modest acceptance speech, Crosby thanked his teammates and family.
"I appreciate all the sacrifices you've made to allow me to play the game I love every day," Crosby said.
Crosby won his second NHL scoring title with 104 points, including 68 assists in his fifth career 100-point season. Crosby scored in 60 of his 80 games, never going more than two games without a point for the Metropolitan Division champion Penguins.
Crosby hadn't won the Hart Trophy since 2007, when he led the NHL in scoring as a 19-year-old prodigy. This time around, Sid the Kid handily beat out Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf and Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux, receiving 128 of the 137 first-place votes from a panel of hockey writers. Getzlaf finished second.
"You play for the big one that the Kings have here tonight, but this is definitely nice," Crosby told the NHL Network, referring to the Los Angeles Kings' Stanley Cup title.
Crosby was particularly honored by his second straight Ted Lindsay Award. Crosby received the Lindsay from his fellow players last season, but was beaten out by Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the Hart.
"Those are the guys that you compete against every night," Crosby said. "Knowing that and being selected, it's an honor and a compliment, so I definitely appreciate it."
Boston goalie Tuukka Rask won the Vezina Trophy, and Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron won his second Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward. Chicago's Duncan Keith won his second Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman.
Colorado coach Patrick Roy won the Adams Award, while Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon became the youngest player to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.