It’s time for the NHL to name some more silverware finalists and this time it’s the Hart Memorial Trophy. The Hart is awarded to the player who is most valuable to their team, which player most elevates his total team’s performance. It is the highest honour an individual can get and always taken with the utmost of respect. This year’s nominees are among the best the league has had to offer in a long time it seems for the Hart Trophy. Furthermore, it kind of follows an unwritten rule, that it goes to the best player in the NHL on the season. That’s why McDavid is a three-time recipient of the award as league’s MVP. From Tuesday’s announcement the 2023-24 finalists are, in no particular order, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon. Let’s check out each of the candidates and why they are deserving of the nod.
Hart Trophy finalists, as voted by @ThePHWA: Nikita Kucherov (TB), Nathan MacKinnon (COL) and Connor McDavid (EDM).
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 7, 2024
The Three Nominees for the 2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy
Nikita Kucherov
First up is the Tampa Bay Lightning Right Winger Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov is more than deserving for the nomination of this award, and is perhaps the best player on the planet of finding the quiet areas in the offensive zone to set up attacks, or in other words, vision. This is shown in the fact he was only the fifth player (McDavid the fourth only days prior) in NHL history to tally 100 assists or more in an NHL regular season.
In addition, he scored 44 goals to go along with those assists, for a total of 144 points. The next amazing stat supporting Kucherov’s MVP case, is how much his 144 points led over second on the club in scoring. Brayden Point finished second on the Lightning in points in 2023-24 with 90. That’s right, Kuch won by 54 points. And what’s more, is that Point and he are very often linemates. Therefore, Kucherov shows how good he is compared to other top players on his club on an even playing field. Also, Kucherov’s ice time was 21:40 a night, an incredible mark.
This season was the second time he won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer. His first time was in 2018-19, when he also collected the Hart and Pearson Trophys. No one will be surprise if Kucherov’s name is called on award’s night. Kucherov just might be the top nominee for this year’s Hart Trophy.
Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon’s Hart Trophy nomination is familiar territory for the Nova Scotia native. The Colorado Avalanche centre is a two-time, runner up for the award, in 2018 and 2020. From an individual statistical standpoint, MacKinnon had a very noteworthy 2023-24. He scored 50 goals for the first time in his career, finishing with 51. Also, he had career-highs in assists (89), points (140), shots on goal (405), and ice time (22:49). MacKinnon is just so dominant, and seems to be at his best when the games are on the line. MacKinnon deserves the nod, for being such a dominant force, and making his team so much harder to play against. One more stat to add, is analytically, he carries a 17.3 CF% Rel. When you consider someone so productive, to be so consistently overperforming his opponents, truly is saying something.
Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid being named as a finalist for the Hart Trophy is the expectation nowadays. His cabinet is littered with silverware. He has won the Hart Trophy (three times), the Pearson Trophy (four times), the Art Ross Trophy (five times), and added the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading the league in goals in 2022-23. Therefore, McDavid as a Hart Trophy nominee is almost a case of who’s going to knock him off the throne. In 2023-24, at the time, as we mentioned, he became the fourth player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season. He had 32 goals to go along with it, for 132 points (good for third in the league behind Kucherov and MacKinnon).
Beyond the statistics, McDavid’s ability to use his speed to catch his defenders seemingly standing still is unmatched. There’s a reason he has three Harts, but don’t count on him making it a third, despite the Oilers 46-18-5 record under Head Coach Kris Knoblauch.
Main photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
