NHL History: Today in 1960, Gordie Howe wins NHL record fifth Hart Trophy

Until a player name Wayne Gretzky rolled around, Gordie Howe was the best player in NHL history. This fact, of course, could be debated for hours, but Howe did many things during his storied career others only dreamed of.

One of those was winning multiple Hart Trophies as the league’s most valuable player. Howe won a total of six during his career, an NHL record until Gretzky got his seventh in 1985-86.

Howe’s fifth Hart came today in 1960. In 70 games that year, Howe scored 28 goals and 73 points — good enough for fifth in the NHL.

The 31-year-old led his Red Wings in all three scoring categories as they stumbled to a 26-29-15 record. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in six games by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Howe’s final Hart Trophy would come three years later, when at 34 he scored 38 goals and 86 points in 70 games.

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