Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche sniper Nathan MacKinnon, and Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov have been named finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
The Hart is awarded annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team," as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Here's how the three finished in the points race.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDavid | EDM | 82 | 48 | 90 | 138 |
| Kucherov | TBL | 76 | 44 | 86 | 130 |
| MacKinnon | COL | 80 | 53 | 74 | 127 |
MacKinnon already won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal-scorer. He's in search of his second Hart win after claiming the award in 2023-24.
McDavid, 29, is a three-time Hart winner. Only Wayne Gretzky (nine), Gordie Howe (six), and Eddie Shore (four) have won more.
Kucherov was a finalist for the award last year, losing out to Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The six-time All-Star previously won the Hart following the 2018-19 campaign.
Members of the PHWA submitted ballots for the Hart at the conclusion of the regular season.
