"It's a strange feeling," Sedin said. "I'm very proud, so it's a great honor." Sedin captured the top honor Wednesday at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, receiving 46 first-place votes. Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals was second with 40, followed by Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, who garnered 20.
"These players are second to none," said Sedin, who called Crosby and Ovechkin the faces of the sport.
"I mean, I thought the Hart was going to be really, really tough. I thought that was going to be out of the question," Sedin said. "But I'm happy. I'll take this." Ovechkin was honored earlier in the night by his fellow players, winning the award for top player that is presented by the NHL Players' Association.
"Life goes on, so it's OK," Ovechkin said. "By the players — it's the most important thing." Ovechkin said he was happy to get the Ted Lindsay Award, which he called the "hardest trophy in hockey" to win.
"You play against the guys, and when they vote for you, it's the most important thing," he said.
Ovechkin would have been the first three-peat winner of the Hart since Wayne Gretzky won eight straight from 1980 to 1987.
Sedin posted a career high 112 points, 30 more than his previous best. Crosby tied for the NHL lead with 51 goals and was second with 109 points. He won the Hart in 2007.
Sedin said he never expected his name to be included among league MVPs.
"It's all those great players and it's me that wants to say, 'I'm sure Alex will be on there in the next couple of years, too," Sedin said. "I don't know what to say. It's almost like I'm not really fitting there." Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers won the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year. He beat finalists Colorado center Matt Duchene and Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard.
"I was nervous for my speech," Myers said. "I can't believe I'm at this point right now, and to be able to share it with family and friends was a pretty special moment for me."
Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's most outstanding coach after leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The team set franchise records with 50 wins and 107 points.
Tippett received 57 of 59 first-place votes in balloting by the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks won the Norris Trophy as hockey's top defenseman, and Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk of Russia won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward for the third straight year.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most well-behaved player after recording only 12 penalty minutes all season.
Datsyuk had won the Lady Byng previous four years and wants to reclaim it next year.
"I'm kind of jealous. I want to break history," Datsyuk said.
