NHL ANNOUNCES 2024 HART TROPHY FINALISTS

The NHL has named its three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid are all in the running for the award.

The Hart Trophy is given “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association sent in ballots for the Hart Trophy at the end of the regular season, and these three picked up the most votes.

Kucherov, 30, had a sensational regular season, posting 44 goals and a league-leading 144 points in 81 games. He also made history this campaign, becoming the first winger in the NHL ever to hit the 100-assist mark in a single season.

Kucherov was the main reason for the Lightning's success this season, so seeing him be a finalist for the Hart is not shocking. As a result, there's undoubtedly a real shot that he will secure his second career Hart Trophy. His first came in 2018-19 after also winning the Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

MacKinnon, 28, also had a remarkable regular season. In 82 games with the Avalanche, he posted new career highs with 51 goals, 89 assists and 140 points. He also had at least one point in a league-leading 69 games, demonstrating his immense consistency.

MacKinnon is looking to secure his first Hart Trophy. He has a big chance of winning the award after finishing fifth in voting last year.

McDavid, 27, is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and has a shot at repeating. The superstar center had another excellent season, posting 32 goals, 132 points, and a plus-35 rating in 76 games. With that, he became the fourth player in NHL history to hit 100 assists in a season, just beating Kucherov to the big-time achievement.

McDavid has three Hart Memorial Trophy wins on his resume, and it would be justifiable if he added a fourth. He was the primary reason the Oilers turned their season around after their horrendous start.

2024-05-07T15:57:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd