The National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Friday that Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins, and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for the Hart Trophy. The award is given each year to the player deemed most valuable to his team, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The Finalists
Connor McDavid, who has previously won the Hart Trophy twice in 2017 and 2021, is one of the finalists again this year. He had an outstanding regular season, scoring 64 goals and 153 points in 82 games, which is the highest by any skater since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. McDavid also earned the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the NHL in goals and the Art Ross Trophy for the third consecutive year for his leading points-getter. He is also a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is voted on by the NHL Players’ Association.
David Pastrnak, the top-line winger for the Boston Bruins, set multiple career bests this season, including 61 goals (second most in the NHL), 113 points (tied for third most), and 52 assists. He was a key player in the Bruins’ historic regular-season run, which included breaking several records, such as the most wins in a season with 65. Pastrnak was also the Bruins’ best player from start to finish and earned an eight-year, $90 million extension with the club. He is a finalist for both the Hart and Ted Lindsay Awards.
Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers is a first-time finalist for the Hart Trophy. He finished the season tied for fifth in points with 109 and produced 40 goals, marking his second consecutive 40-plus-goal campaign. Tkachuk joined the Panthers in a blockbuster deal last July, and he immediately made an impact on the team with consistent production even as the Panthers struggled much of the year. Tkachuk led the charge in willing Florida into a postseason berth, and the Panthers toppled top-seeded Boston with a first-round victory. Tkachuk had a team-leading 11 points in that series victory. The Panthers hold a 3-1 lead over Toronto in their second-round matchup.
The winner of the Hart Trophy will be announced at the NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26. The finalists for the award have had impressive seasons, and each has made significant contributions to their respective teams. The competition for the award is tight, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
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