The Professional Hockey Writers Association published all the individual ballots from those who voted on the various NHL Awards for the 2022-23 season one day after they were announced at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The voting contingent for the 2023 awards was comprised of 180 PHWA members plus 20 invited international broadcasters and among those to submit a ballot was none other than nine-time Hart and five-time Lady Byng winner Wayne Gretzky, who worked as an analyst for TNT’s NHL broadcasts this past season.
“We’re incredibly proud of the countless hours our voters put into their ballots – researching, watching at the rink, and gathering opinions from trusted sources to make sure we get it right,” PHWA president Frank Seravalli wrote. “With more attention and scrutiny on our ballots than ever before, we’ve also put more time and thought into the process.”
There were 200 ballots distributed but due to a handful of procedural errors 196 ballots counted towards the awards voting.
We already know who took home the awards, but who did The Great One choose to put on his 2023 ballot? Find out that, plus Gretzky’s first- and second-team All-Star choices below:
HART MEMORIAL TROPHY
Gretzky’s ballot: Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl
The winner: Connor McDavid
This marks the second consecutive year that Gretzky had McDavid atop his Hart ballot. In 2022, Gretzky had McDavid one spot ahead of eventual winner Auston Matthews.
McDavid received 195 first-place votes out of 196 possible votes in 2023. Pittsburgh Penguins reporter Seth Rorabaugh was the only voter not to have McDavid No. 1 – the Oilers superstar was fifth on Rorabaugh’s ballot.
Gretzky was one of 47 voters to include McDavid’s Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl on a Hart ballot.
JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY
Gretzky’s ballot: Erik Karlsson, Adam Fox, Cale Makar, Hampus Lindholm, Dougie Hamilton
The winner: Erik Karlsson
Karlsson picked up his third career award as the league’s top defenceman after his 101-point campaign with the San Jose Sharks. Gretzky’s top four votes were right in line with the final tally but he put Hamilton, who finished sixth, one spot ahead of fifth-place finisher Josh Morrissey.
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CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Gretzky’s ballot: Stuart Skinner, Matty Beniers, Owen Power, Wyatt Johnston, Matias Maccelli
The winner: Matty Beniers
Gretzky was one of 24 voters to put Oilers netminder Skinner first ahead of Beniers, who received 160 first-place votes. Is this Gretzky’s Edmonton bias showing up? You be the judge!
FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY
Gretzky’s ballot: Anze Kopitar, Patrice Bergeron, Mikael Backlund, Jordan Staal, Nico Hischier
The winner: Patrice Bergeron
This was another award where Gretzky was a bit of a contrarian on his ballot – and another that saw him vote for a player on one of his former teams. Kopitar won the award in 2016 and 2018 but finished in fifth place in 2023. Gretzky represented one of two first-place votes for Kopitar. Sportsnet’s David Amber was the other voter to put Kopitar No. 1 on his Selke ballot.
LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY
Gretzky’s ballot: Jack Hughes, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, David Pastrnak, Anze Kopitar, Mitchell Marner
The winner: Anze Kopitar
Gretzky has five of these trophies in his personal trophy case, as mentioned above, so he knows a thing or two about “sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” for which the award is given. While Kopitar was tops on his Selke ballot, the Kings centre was fourth on Gretzky’s Lady Byng list. Gretzky had runner-up Jack Hughes on top of his ballot and was the only voter to include Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
WAYNE GRETZKY’S 2022-23 FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
C – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
LW – Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
RW – Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
D – Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks
D – Adam Fox, New York Rangers
G – Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
WAYNE GRETZKY’S 2022-23 SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
C – Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
LW – Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
RW – David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
D – Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
D – Hampus Lindholm, Boston Bruins
G – Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
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