Bobby Clarke: All Hart

In 1973 Bobby Clarke was named as the league's most valuable player. In this photo below, none other than Rocket Richard gives Clarke the Hart Memorial Trophy as his reward.

Clarke would win the Hart trophy again, and again. In 1975 and in 1976. But he was kind enough to let others look at the Hart Trophy. Below he shows it off to Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. Nice bow ties, boys.

Clarke outdistanced the two Bruins to win 1973. In 1974 Clarke finished 4th in balloting, behind the same two Bruins and Flyers teammate Bernie Parent. In '75 Clarke edged out LA's Rogie Vachon to regain the title. And in '76 Clarke won in a landslide, easily outdistancing runner up Denis Potvin of the Islanders.

By the way, Clarke finished second in balloting in 1977, too. Guy Lafleur won that year.

Clarke's take on his MVP status?

I played the way I thought was right. My motto was: "Give everything to the team". To some extent, my individual trophies are a result of playing for a very good team. For me it was very important to realize that I was a team player, one of the guys; on the ice, in a fight, and after the game when we went out for a beer with the rest of the guys.