With approximately ten days remaining in the NHL season, we are witnessing a rare situation in the Hart Trophy race. It seems that about half a dozen players are still legitimate contenders for the MVP award. In fact, this number could even be seven if a certain player, recently celebrated as the all-time leading goal scorer, hadn`t been sidelined for a month due to a broken leg.
Leaving Alex Ovechkin, a three-time Hart Trophy recipient, aside for the moment, the six players realistically in contention for the award include the Colorado Avalanche duo, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar; Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, currently injured; Nikita Kucherov from the Tampa Bay Lightning; Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights; and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, who is considered a strong dark horse.
While none of these athletes had particularly standout weekends, each has built a compelling argument for the Hart Trophy. They all have the opportunity to solidify their cases with strong performances as the season concludes. Furthermore, each player brings unique qualities, and a Hart Trophy victory would distinctly shape their legacies.
Let`s begin with MacKinnon, who leads the scoring charts. He received his first Hart Trophy last year, and if the 29-year-old were to win consecutive MVP awards, he would join an exceptionally elite group of superstars, especially among those who have played in the last 35 years. To illustrate, consider this brief list of exceptional players who never won the Hart Trophy in successive years: Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and virtually every other player currently active besides Ovechkin.
Focusing on the Avalanche further, Makar has already achieved a feat unmatched by any other defenseman in over 15 years – scoring 30 goals in a single season. An MVP award for him would mark the first time a defenseman has won it since Chris Pronger 25 years ago. In a league boasting immense defensive talent like Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Victor Hedman, a Hart Trophy win would unequivocally establish Makar as the premier defenseman in the sport today.
Hellebuyck`s Vezina Trophy win last year, with another likely on the way this season, has already cemented his status as the top goaltender in the world. However, if he were to secure a league MVP award, it would elevate Hellebuyck to a level comparable to Carey Price in 2015. He would not only be regarded as the best goalie but also as one of the best players in the entire league, regardless of position.
This level of recognition should consistently be afforded to Kucherov, yet it sometimes feels as though the Lightning`s scoring sensation and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner is undervalued. This might stem from his draft position as the 58th overall pick in 2011, rather than a high lottery pick, or perhaps because he plays in a non-traditional hockey market, despite his team`s remarkable success. It could also be because he plays exclusively as a winger, a position sometimes perceived as less crucial than others. Regardless, if Kucherov secures his second Hart Trophy, especially after being the runner-up to MacKinnon the previous year, it should become mandatory to include his name in any discussion about the world`s leading hockey players from the outset.
Tristan Blackwood