LAS VEGAS – Taylor Hall was named the NHL's most valuable player Wednesday night, becoming the first New Jersey player to win the award after edging Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon in a close vote for the Hart Trophy.
The hometown Golden Knights also went home with four trophies in recognition of their incredible expansion season from a celebratory and occasionally somber evening at the NHL Awards show at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Hall, who finished sixth in the NHL with 93 points, beat out MacKinnon and Anze Kopitar of Los Angeles.
"It's not all about winning awards," Hall said. "It's about enjoying life and doing what you love."
Late Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan was honored with the inaugural Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, and 10 of the surviving players were reunited for the first time since the Saskatchewan bus crash that killed 16 people in April.
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