The NHL announced the three 2021 Hart Trophy finalists: Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche), Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), and Connor McDavid (Oilers). The Professional Hockey Writers vote on the Hart Trophy, awarded to the “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”
McDavid’s Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy in 2019-20. McDavid is the only Hart Trophy finalist to win the award before, taking one in 2016-17.
[NBC 2021 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
Nathan MacKinnon’s Hart Trophy credentials
First, from the NHL:
To put it most succinctly, MacKinnon’s Hart argument is most likely “best player on best team.”
Auston Matthews snipes to Hart Trophy finalist finish
In claiming the 2021 Maurice Richard Trophy, Matthews put together quite a season. From the league:
Impressive stuff all around.
Connor McDavid’s overwhelming Hart Trophy argument
Can you even overstate how incredible Connor McDavid’s 2020-21 regular season was? Scoring 100 points in 56 games went from unthinkable to something McDavid achieved with time to spare.
The NHL summarized many of McDavid’s Hart Trophy-worthy achievements:
[NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2021 Second Round schedule, TV info]
At some point during the 2020-21 NHL season, McDavid’s chase for 100 points changed things from a Hart Trophy argument to McDavid vs. history. Will the PHWA make McDavid the unanimous Hart Trophy winner? Will it be MacKinnon, Matthews, or even someone else who steals a first-place vote or two?
The winners of the 2021 NHL Awards will be announced during the Stanley Cup Semifinals and Stanley Cup Final.
NHL Award finalists announcement schedule:
Vezina Trophy: Marc-Andre Fleury, Philipp Grubauer, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Ted Lindsay Award: Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid
Calder Memorial Trophy: Kirill Kaprizov, Alex Nedeljkovic, Jason Robertson
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Kurtis Gabriel, Pekka Rinne, P.K. Subban
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Auston Matthews, Jaccob Slavin, Jared Spurgeon
Selke Trophy: Aleksander Barkov, Patrice Bergeron, Mark Stone
Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award: Renee Hess, Kevin Hodgson, Howard Smith
Bill Masterton Trophy: Matt Dumba, Oskar Lindblom, Patrick Marleau
Norris Trophy: Adam Fox, Victor Hedman, Cale Makar
Friday, June 11: Jack Adams Award
—
James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.