Brett Hull Joins His Dad as an NHL MVP : Hockey: Gretzky gets Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship. Taylor wins two awards.

Capping the third-best individual goal-scoring season in league history, wing Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues was named winner of the Hart Trophy Wednesday as the NHL’s most valuable player.

Hull had 86 goals in 78 games and a total of 131 points.

Hull thus follows the path skated by his father, Bobby, who won the Hart Trophy in 1965 and ’66 as a member of the Blackhawks.

King wing Dave Taylor won two honors--the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication, and the King Clancy Trophy for leadership and humanitarianism.

Fellow King Wayne Gretzky won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and clean play and the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in scoring. With 163 points (41 goals and 122 assists), Gretzky gained his ninth scoring title in his 12 years in the league.

Other winners at the awards presentation in Toronto were Ed Belfour of the Chicago Blackhawks (Calder Trophy for rookie of the year, Vezina Trophy for best goalie and Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against by one club), Brian Sutter of the Blues (Adams Award for coach of the year), Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins (Norris Trophy for best defenseman) and Dirk Graham of the Blackhawks (Selke Trophy for best defensive forward).

Named to the all-star team were Gretzky at center, Hull at right wing, the Kings’ Luc Robitaille at left wing, Bourque and Al MacInnis of the Calgary Flames as defensemen, and Belfour in goal.

“I’m very excited for him,” Gretzky said of Hull. “In the long run, it’s better for the game that he was the winner. He handles himself in a first-class manner. He had a great year and no one can question the award.

“The way our team played, I don’t think I have to be embarrassed or ashamed. I came up short. That’s fine.”

Gretzky has won the Hart Trophy a record nine times.

“I’m not disappointed,” Gretzky said. “Everyone who is a pro athlete has a lot of pride and likes to win. But I’m not going to worry. I’m not about to lose any sleep over it. It would be different if I lost to a guy I didn’t think deserved it.”

Hull had 277 points and 44 first-place votes to Gretzky’s 220 points and 20 first-place votes. Belfour was third with 63 points and two first-place votes in balloting by the Professional Hockey Writers Assn.

King Coach Tom Webster, who has been named as an assistant coach for Team Canada in this summer’s Canada Cup competition, finished second in the voting for the Adams Award. Sutter had 127 points and 15 first-place votes, Webster 106 points and 14 first-place votes. The winner is selected by the league’s broadcasters.

Taylor was honored for his work with the homeless, child cancer victims, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and people with speech impediments.

“I’ve been in Los Angeles for a lot of years,” said the 14-year veteran who overcame his own speech impediment, “and it’s nice to be recognized. These are exciting times for the Kings and it’s nice to be a part of it, both on and off the ice.”