Welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s 2025-26 end-of-season NHL award candidates. In this installment, we will look at the top candidates for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s regular season most valuable player. We have already discussed our Vezina Trophy candidates as well as the Norris Trophy candidates. Let us now take a look at our finalists for the Hart.
Credit Image: © Federico Manoni/ZUMA Press Wire
2025-26 Hart Memorial Trophy Candidates
In our mid-season Hart Trophy candidates list, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Macklin Celebrini were the finalists. These three players have continued to have exemplary seasons, but will these three all make it to the finalist ballot? All statistics are accurate as of the end of season for 2025-26.
1. Nathan MacKinnon – Centre – Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon looks to be the odds-on favourite to win the 2025-26 Hart Memorial Trophy, and for good reason. He will be taking home the Rocket Richard Trophy with his league-leading 53 goals, and he also leads the league in even-strength goals with 42. He also continues to be an elite playmaker, making him the best player on the best team this season. MacKinnon also had a career high in faceoff percentage this season with 51%, which is a marked increase from his career average of 46.8%. The one weakness that the Avalanche had this season was their power play. Although MacKinnon still had 11 power play goals, maybe he could have won the Art Ross Trophy, as well. MacKinnon has won the Hart Trophy once in his career, in 2024.
2. Nikita Kucherov – Right Wing – Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov looks to be the other player in firm competition with MacKinnon to win the trophy this year. He has the highest points per game this season at 1.71 and was second in the NHL in total points behind Connor McDavid. According to NHL.com’s trophy tracker series, the latest polling revealed that Kucherov was the favourite to win the trophy, receiving 62.5% of the first-place votes. The most compelling argument for Kucherov to win the Hart may be that he stepped up when the Lightning were decimated with injuries. In 14 games where Brayden Point and Victor Hedman were both out of the lineup, Kucherov scored six goals and 21 assists for 27 points.
3. Connor McDavid – Centre – Edmonton Oilers
McDavid could honestly be a contender for the Hart Trophy every single year. He will be taking home the Art Ross Trophy this season with 138 points in 82 games. Obviously, he and Leon Draisaitl are big reasons why the Oilers are in cup contention every year. Without Draisaitl late in the season, McDavid and the Oilers stepped up big-time to secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs. However, we do not believe that he is the favourite to win the trophy this year, because the Oilers as a team were not as strong as the others on this list. McDavid has won the Hart Trophy three times in his career, in 2017, 2021, and 2023.
Honourable Mentions and Emerging Young Stars
A rising young star in Macklin Celebrini is our honourable mention. The 19-year-old scored 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points in 82 games this season. Singlehandedly, he almost carried the young San Jose Sharks team into playoff contention. Had the Sharks made the postseason, Celebrini could have been the favourite to win the trophy. His great endeavours have garnered plenty of attention around the league, pushing him into the Team Canada Olympic roster. There are not many players who have scored this many points as a teenager. He is in elite company with the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby in that regard. Additionally, Celebrini also surpassed Joe Thornton for the most points in a season in franchise history. He may not win the Hart this year, but he will certainly be in those conversations for many years to come.
Other young players who have had admirable seasons include Cole Caufield, who recorded an impressive 51-goal season. His teammate, Nick Suzuki, also had a 100-point campaign. Matthew Schaefer, the likely Calder Trophy winner, as league’s top rookie, also had an impressive season, bringing life to his Islanders squad. These young stars, alongside veterans such as David Pastrnak, were key to bringing their teams close to, or into, playoff contention.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
