Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid were named finalists for the Hart Trophy on Thursday.
The award is given yearly to the NHL participant voted to be most helpful to his team by the Professional Hockey Writers Affiliation. The winner will most likely be announced as segment of the 2021 NHL Awards offered by Bridgestone during the Stanley Cup Semifinals or Stanley Cup Final.
MacKinnon completed eighth in the NHL with 65 aspects (20 targets, 45 assists) and became as soon as plus-22 in 48 games. Among skaters to play no less than 10 games, the Colorado Avalanche center became as soon as fourth with a aspects-per-sport sensible of 1.35, third in energy-play aspects (25) and pictures on intention (206) with an sensible ice time per sport of 20: 22. MacKinnon scored 26 aspects (9 targets, 17 assists) during a 15-sport level trudge from March 27-April 28, the longest in the NHL this season. He became as soon as 2nd on the Avalanche in scoring, one level in the back of Mikko Rantanen, after leading them every of the outdated four seasons.
MacKinnon helped the Avalanche (39-13-4) derive the Presidents’ Trophy with the exclusively document in the NHL and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season. A Hart finalist for the 2nd straight season and third time in four seasons, MacKinnon became as soon as the runner-as much as Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers closing season and Taylor Hall of the Unusual Jersey Devils in 2017-18. He’ll be the third Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques participant to derive the award and first since Peter Forsberg in 2003. Joe Sakic obtained it in 2001.
Matthews led the NHL with 41 targets in 52 games to change into the first Toronto Maple Leafs participant to enact so in 75 years (Gaye Stewart, 37 targets, 1945-46) and the first United States-born participant in 24 years (Keith Tkachuk, 52, 1996-97). The center, a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as most eminent participant in the NHL as voted by individuals of the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation, led the NHL in sport-winning targets (12) and pictures on intention (222), became as soon as 2nd with 53 even-energy aspects (31 targets, 22 assists). His 66 aspects were tied for fifth in the NHL with Rantanen and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane.
Matthews helped Toronto (35-14-7) stop first in the Scotia North Division and qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight season. He is a important-time finalist and can be the third Maple Leafs participant to derive the award, following Ted Kenney in 1955 and Babe Pratt in 1944
McDavid led the NHL with 105 aspects (33 targets, 72 assists), 21 before Draisaitl, who became as soon as 2nd with 84 aspects. McDavid led the NHL in assists, even-energy aspects (68; 24 targets, 44 assists) and energy-play aspects (37; 9 targets, 28 assists), and became as soon as 2nd in targets and sport-winning targets (11). McDavid scored no less than one level in 45 of 56 games and had 33 multipoint games, at the side of 18 and not using a less than three aspects. A Ted Lindsay Award finalist, it became as soon as the third time McDavid led the NHL in scoring (100 aspects in 2016-17; 108 in 2017-18).
McDavid helped the Oilers (35-19-2) stop 2nd in the North to qualify for the playoffs. A 3-time finalist, he became as soon as MVP in 2016-17 and can be the 2nd straight Oilers participant to derive the award. The captain furthermore can change into the 2nd Edmonton participant to derive it a pair of times. Wayne Gretzky obtained it eight straight seasons from 1979-80 to 1986-87.
